1st Advantage MortgageIn Maricopa County, Arizona, the typical household earns $89,300 a year and the typical rent is $1,708. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Maricopa County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Maricopa County
- What Maricopa County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Maricopa County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Maricopa County
- Room for a loan payment in Maricopa County
- Maricopa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Maricopa County data as a borrower
- Who licenses lenders for Maricopa County residents
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Maricopa County at a glance
Maricopa County is home to about 4,559,748 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 1st most populous of 15 county-level areas in Arizona. Packed into 9,202 square miles, that is close to 496 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 42 places in the county (22 incorporated, 20 census-designated); the largest is Phoenix, with about 1,642,323 residents, or 36% of the county.
Renting and owning in Maricopa County
A typical Maricopa County rental runs $1,708 a month including utilities, which is 11% above Arizona. By the Census definition, 53% of Maricopa County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $452,800, a typical Maricopa County house costs 5.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 65% of Maricopa County households own their home and 35% rent.
| Cost | Maricopa County | Arizona figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,708/mo | $1,543/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $452,800 | $394,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% | 9.3% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
What Maricopa County households earn
The median household income in Maricopa County is $89,300; statewide it is $79,964, so Maricopa County runs 12% above Arizona as a whole. In the state ranking that is 1st of 15.
| Household income | Maricopa County | vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.6% | -3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.9% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.3% | +2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.1% | +2.6 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 44% have six-figure incomes. 11.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.5%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.458 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Maricopa County median.
Employment and commuting in Maricopa County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Maricopa County residents work in education and health care and 13% in professional and administrative services. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 65% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Maricopa County | Gap to Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.0% | -1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.5% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% | +0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Pinal County at 72 miles out to Gila County at 102. Pinal County leads the group on income ($80,266), La Paz County trails ($49,478), and Maricopa County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County | - | $89,300 | $1,708/mo | 65% |
| Pinal County, AZ | 72 mi | $80,266 | $1,537/mo | 82% |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 89 mi | $69,613 | $1,351/mo | 75% |
| Yuma County, AZ | 91 mi | $62,876 | $993/mo | 71% |
| La Paz County, AZ | 93 mi | $49,478 | $802/mo | 72% |
| Pima County, AZ | 94 mi | $70,315 | $1,212/mo | 65% |
| Gila County, AZ | 102 mi | $61,986 | $1,030/mo | 78% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Maricopa County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 42 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 94% of Maricopa County residents live in one of the 42. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $34,620 in Maricopa Colony to $247,159 in Paradise Valley. 12 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | city | 1,642,323 | $81,332 | $1,582 | 28 mi |
| Mesa | city | 511,764 | $82,752 | $1,620 | 45 mi |
| Gilbert | town | 280,262 | $122,551 | $2,110 | 44 mi |
| Chandler | city | 280,136 | $108,095 | $1,902 | 38 mi |
| Glendale | city | 252,833 | $73,530 | $1,528 | 22 mi |
| Scottsdale | city | 243,821 | $110,886 | $2,013 | 44 mi |
| Peoria | city | 196,906 | $95,815 | $1,843 | 32 mi |
| Tempe | city | 188,065 | $79,663 | $1,743 | 33 mi |
| Surprise | city | 154,948 | $96,711 | $2,033 | 23 mi |
| Goodyear | city | 107,645 | $103,319 | $1,956 | 10 mi |
| Buckeye | city | 104,923 | $99,486 | $1,963 | 10 mi |
| Avondale | city | 92,477 | $86,123 | $1,832 | 10 mi |
| Sun City | CDP | 37,486 | $54,586 | $1,569 | 22 mi |
| El Mirage | city | 36,088 | $78,050 | $1,806 | 20 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Room for a loan payment in Maricopa County
Maricopa County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,442 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,708, or 23 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $971 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,492 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Maricopa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 37% of the adult population. 10.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Maricopa County | Arizona | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.7% | 33.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 10.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 20.8% | 18.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Maricopa County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Reading the Maricopa County data as a borrower
Where the Maricopa County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Higher earners. 44% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Renters under pressure. When 53% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Who licenses lenders for Maricopa County residents
Consumer lenders serving Maricopa County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Arizona that is the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Arizona guide.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Maricopa County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Maricopa County, and the statewide guide:
- Phoenix, AZ
- Mesa, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- Chandler, AZ
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Peoria, AZ
- Tempe, AZ
- Surprise, AZ
- Goodyear, AZ
- Buckeye, AZ
- Avondale, AZ
- Queen Creek, AZ
- Arizona state guide
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Maricopa County earn?
The median is $89,300; 44% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Maricopa County rent compare with Arizona?
$1,708 locally versus $1,543 for the state, 11% above.
I live in a small Maricopa County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Glendale and 37 more.
Does living in Maricopa County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Maricopa County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Maricopa County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Arizona it is the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.