Payson is a town in Gila County, Arizona, home to about 16,622 people across 19 square miles. Its ZIP code is 85541.
Homes sold for a median of $298 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Mostly Payson; also Star Valley and Mesa del Caballo
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Payson. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Payson’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)68 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Mesa, AZ62 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Phoenix, AZ64 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Payson; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Payson had 16,351 residents in the 2020 census, up 20% since 2000.
It’s the 47th largest of 441 towns in Arizona by population.
Gila County grew from 4,973 residents in 1900 to 53,272 in 2020.
Gila County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 93°F in summer, and winter lows average 26°F. About 19.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 19 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Payson, AZ weather station (3 miles away).
12,495 jobs at 1,065 businesses in Gila County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
148 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Payson.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 29 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 26 |
| Dentists | 16 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 29 |
| Mental health providers | 20 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 20 |
| Optometrists | 2 |
| Chiropractors | 6 |
| Pharmacies | 8 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (2 nearby)
Grocery stores (3 nearby)
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
Libraries
Museums
Counts are within about 3 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Established in 1973.
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Payson Unified District (4209), Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technolog (78786). Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payson Elementary SchoolPayson | K–2 | 430 | Public | 3.3 mi |
| Julia Randall Elementary SchoolPayson | 2–5 | 503 | Public | 3.3 mi |
| Rim Country Middle SchoolPayson | 6–8 | 478 | Public | 2.6 mi |
| Payson Center for Success - OnlinePayson | 7–12 | — | Public | 2.8 mi |
| NAVIT - Gila Community CollegePayson | 9–12 | — | Career and Technical | 2.0 mi |
| Payson High SchoolPayson | 9–12 | 733 | Public | 2.8 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payson Community Christian SchoolPayson | Pre-K–8 | 139 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 1.4 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Star Valley, Mesa del Caballo, Round Valley, Gisela, East Verde Estates, Deer Creek, Mead Ranch, Kohls Ranch, Whispering Pines, Tonto Village, Jakes Corner, Christopher Creek, Beaver Valley, Geronimo Estates, Freedom Acres, Hunter Creek, Oxbow Estates, Flowing Springs, Rye, Washington Park and Bear Flat.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.