City profile
Payson, AZ
Gila County · Population 16,622
Payson is a town in Gila County, AZ with about 16,622 residents and a typical home value near $382,000. It is 62 miles from Scottsdale, AZ, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Dry desert
Winter avg
55°F
Summer avg
93°F
Sunny days / yr
299
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$382,400
Typical monthly housing
$2,268
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
100
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.60%
- State income tax (top)
- 2.5%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.38%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 90/100
Top hazards: Wildfire, Lightning, Riverine flooding
Nearest major airport
68 mi to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Republican · 31% Democratic / 68% Republican
Community
Population
16,622
Black population
0.4%
County
Gila County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸AZ is gaining retirees — a sign of strong retiree services and community
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: extreme heat, water scarcity
Highlights
- About 16,622 residents
- Typical home value about $382,000
- 62 miles from Scottsdale, AZ
Trade-offs
- Smaller community with fewer local amenities
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.