Payson town, Arizona Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Payson town is a small city located in Arizona. The total population is 16,494. It ranks as the 47th most populous out of 445 cities and towns in Arizona.

Age Demographics

The median age in Payson town is 58.9 years. This is 52% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 16.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Payson town is $65,175. This is 15% lower than the state median of $76,872. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 17% lower. The poverty rate stands at 8.3%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.8%. The unemployment rate is 7.8%. This is 51% higher than the state rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $343,200. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $358,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Payson town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (83.7% vs 53.4%). The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 4.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (11.5%) is well below the state average of 31.0%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

26.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 32.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Payson town, Arizona is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Arizona state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 445 Census-designated places in Arizona. For official data, visit data.census.gov.