How much is a home worth in ZIP code 85281?

The typical home in 85281 is worth $401,277, based on the Zillow Home Value Index.

Are home values rising in 85281?

Home values in 85281 are down 2.8% over the past year, and up 3.6% a year over five years.

What is the typical rent in 85281?

A typical home in 85281 rents for about $1,668 a month, a gross rental yield of 5.0%.

What is the property tax rate in 85281?

The effective property tax rate in 85281 is 0.4% — roughly $1,633 a year on a typical home.

ZIP code 85281 has a population of 72,762 and a median household income of $64,538.

HousingHandbookReference data

…

U.S. ZIP Code · AZ85281

Maricopa County · Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Typical home value

$401,277^[1]

Zillow Home Value Index, as of April 2026

Appreciation

1-year: -2.8%
5-year / yr: +3.6%
10-year / yr: +6.7%

Relative price

vs U.S.: +41.3%
vs metro: -10.0%
vs state: +3.1%

Price history

Zillow Home Value Index — monthly, smoothed and seasonally adjusted.

The typical home in 85281 is worth $401,277 — 10.0% below the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ median. Over the past year, values have fallen 2.8%. Homes here rent for a typical $1,668 a month — a 5.0% gross rental yield. The effective property tax rate is 0.4%.

#Rent & investment

Typical asking rent, and the returns it implies at the current home value.

Monthly rent: $1,668^[2]
Gross yield: 5.0%^[2]
Cap rate: 3.0%^[2]

#Property tax

Effective rate — total real estate taxes paid relative to total home value.

Effective tax rate: 0.4%^[3]
Typical annual tax: $1,633^[3]

#Climate risk

FEMA National Risk Index ratings for Maricopa County. "Not Applicable" means the hazard does not threaten the county.

Overall risk: Very High^[4]
Riverine flood: Very High
Coastal flood: Not Applicable
Wildfire: Relatively High
Drought: Relatively High
Heat wave: Very High
Hurricane: Very Low
Tornado: Relatively Moderate
Earthquake: Relatively Moderate
Winter weather: Relatively Low

#Who lives here

Population: 72,762^[3]
Median household income: $64,538^[3]

#Migration

Household moves in and out of Maricopa County over a year, from IRS tax-return data.

Net migration: +5,261^[5]
Moved in: 91,952
Moved out: 86,691

Schools

Open public schools in this ZIP, from the NCES Common Core of Data.

Public schools: 12
Elementary: 4
Middle: 2
High: 5

ASU Preparatory Academy Digital
Other · Grades K–12 · ASU Preparatory Academy Digital (522074)
3,563 students
Student Choice High School
High · Grades 9–12 · GAR LLC dba Student Choice High School (78997)
1,781 students
Tempe High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Tempe Union High School District (4287)
1,485 students
Geneva Epps Mosley Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Tempe School District (4258)
708 students
Cecil Shamley School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Tempe School District (4258)
489 students

Run the numbers

Interactive calculators pre-filled with this ZIP's typical home value, rent, and property-tax rate. Edit any field to recompute.

Home value$Monthly rent$

Gross yield5.0%

Net yield (after ~40% expenses)3.0%

Annual rent$20,011

Gross and net yield are estimates based on the inputs and the selected expense ratio. Actual income and expenses will vary by property and market. Not investment advice.

Home price$Down payment%Interest rate%Loan termyears

Monthly payment$2,029

Loan principal$321,022

Down payment$80,255

Total interest paid$409,446

Estimated monthly payments include principal and interest only. Actual costs will include property tax, insurance, possibly PMI, and HOA fees not modeled here. Loan terms shown are estimates; consult a licensed lender for current rates and qualification.

Home price$Monthly rent$Down payment%Mortgage rate%Property tax rate% / yrMaintenance% / yrRule of thumb: 1% of home value per year.

Own : rent ratio1.50

Monthly cost to own$2,501

Monthly rent$1,668

Renting is meaningfully cheaper month-to-month.

This calculator projects multi-year scenarios based on assumptions about appreciation, rent growth, and investment returns — none of which are guaranteed. Actual outcomes depend on variables this tool cannot know. Not financial or real estate advice.

#Metro ranking

Where this ZIP sits among others in its metro area.

Appreciation: 18th percentile^[1]
Rental yield: 63rd percentile^[2]
Property tax: 28th percentile^[3]

Rankings

Top-10 lists this ZIP code appears on.

5th for most populous in AZView list →

Frequently asked

How much is a home worth in ZIP code 85281?: The typical home in 85281 is worth $401,277, based on the Zillow Home Value Index.
Are home values rising in 85281?: Home values in 85281 are down 2.8% over the past year, and up 3.6% a year over five years.
What is the typical rent in 85281?: A typical home in 85281 rents for about $1,668 a month, a gross rental yield of 5.0%.
What is the property tax rate in 85281?: The effective property tax rate in 85281 is 0.4% — roughly $1,633 a year on a typical home.
Who lives in 85281?: ZIP code 85281 has a population of 72,762 and a median household income of $64,538.

#Comparable ZIPs

Same metro, nearest typical home value. Each card shows the comparable ZIP's headline numbers so you can scan at a glance.

85202 vs 85281 →
Mesa, AZ
Typical home
$398,390
Gross yield
4.1%
85119 vs 85281 →
Apache Junction, AZ
Typical home
$396,600
Gross yield
5.2%
85353
Phoenix, AZ
Typical home
$396,015
Gross yield
5.9%
85304
Glendale, AZ
Typical home
$406,616
Gross yield
6.3%
85205
Mesa, AZ
Typical home
$406,987
Gross yield
5.2%
85020
Phoenix, AZ
Typical home
$407,640
Gross yield
4.1%

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Pit ZIP 85281 against any other ZIP — full side-by-side table.

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#Jump to section

U.S. ZIP Code · AZ85281

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