Cost of Living in Maricopa County, Arizona
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Maricopa County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Maricopa County ranks #2,927 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 7%)
Sourced county brief
Maricopa County Median Gross Rent Was $1,708 in ACS Estimates
In Maricopa County, the median gross rent was $1,708 per month, which is $634 above the Arizona unweighted county mean of $1,074. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 31.4%. This figure differs by 5.5 percentage points from the unweighted county mean for Arizona of 25.9%. Median home values for the county were estimated at $452,800, which is $187,080 higher than the state’s unweighted county mean of $265,720. For households in owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,493, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $849. The median renter-household income during this period was $63,203. These data points from the ACS 5-year estimates provide a housing cost summary without considering external market factors. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Maricopa County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.4% of renter household income in Maricopa County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,708 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,493. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $68,320 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Arizona unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,074 per month. Maricopa County's $1,708 median is 59.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Maricopa County
Rent Burden
23.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,084
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.1%
of gross income
The median home in Maricopa County may be a stretch
Median home value is $452,800. Estimated monthly cost: $3,615 vs. your max of $2,084.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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