85251 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
85209
85251
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 19%
vs45 · Bottom 30%
Growth
39 · Bottom 32%
vs45 · Bottom 41%
Climate
59 · Bottom 12%
vs59 · Bottom 12%
Physical resilience
47 · Bottom 37%
vs47 · Bottom 37%
Housing affordability
61 · Bottom 23%
vs58 · Bottom 20%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
46 · Bottom 27%
vs63 · Top 45%
Measured values
| Metric | 85209 | 85251 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,150 | 40,780 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,432 | $92,851 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,424 | $85,871 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,661/sq mi | 5,645/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $402,900 | $554,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,864 | $1,867 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.1% | 48.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.9% | -3.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.3% | 60.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 8.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,478 | 1,128 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 4.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -35.1% | -38.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 107°F | 107°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 46°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 7.2" | 7.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 22.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.8 | 38.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 9 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.21 | 12.69 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
85209
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
85251
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: 85209 — Mesa, AZ · 85251 — Scottsdale, AZ · How this is calculated: methodology