Payson

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Payson

Total population

16,622

Median home value

$382,400

24.5%

Bachelor's+

Median income

$67,710

Payson$68k

National$74k

Weather78°F · Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Coordinates34.24°, -111.32°

Demographic figures from US Census Bureau · ACS 5-year estimates. Overview below cites Wikipedia and may reference a different year.

Overview

Payson is a town in northern Gila County, Arizona, United States. Due to Payson's location being very near to the geographic center of Arizona, it has been called "The Heart of Arizona." Payson is also considered part of the colloquially defined Northern Arizona region, and the town serves as a gateway to the vast wilderness of the Colorado Plateau. The town is surrounded by the Tonto National Forest, the largest of the six national forests in Arizona—and the ninth largest national forest in the United States.

Demographics & economy

Source: US Census Bureau — American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

Geography

Coordinates & boundaries from the US Census TIGER/Line shapefiles.

Current forecast

Forecast for Payson, AZ from NOAA NWS API.

Wildlife & biodiversity

Citizen-science & research observations from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

Earthquake history

Events from the USGS Earthquake Catalog (global) (FDSN Event Web Service).

Nearby places in Arizona

• Mesa del Caballo
  3.2 mi away
• East Verde Estates
  4.6 mi away
• Oxbow Estates
  4.6 mi away · pop. 44
• Deer Creek
  12.2 mi away
• Mead Ranch
  12.3 mi away · pop. 218
• Hunter Creek
  17.8 mi away
• Haigler Creek
  19.9 mi away
• Tonto Basin
  27.7 mi away
• Black Canyon City
  47.5 mi away
• Rock House
  47.6 mi away · pop. 8
• Oak Creek Canyon
  54.5 mi away
• Dewey-Humboldt
  56.3 mi away

Browse all places in Arizona →

Geography & sun

Elevation, sunrise/sunset and daylight from Open-Meteo. Solar climatology from NASA POWER.

Public attention

Pageview totals from the Wikimedia Pageviews API.

Books about Payson

Search results from Open Library.

Recent natural events nearby

• Prescribed Fire D2 Vincent RX, Coconino, Arizona
  Wildfires · 2026-09-17 · 25 mi
• Prescribed Fire D2 Dye RX, Coconino, Arizona
  Wildfires · 2026-09-17 · 27 mi
• Prescribed Fire D7 Morgan Unit 5 RX, Navajo, Arizona
  Wildfires · 2026-09-14 · 68 mi
• Wildfire Butte, Gila, Arizona
  Wildfires · 2026-08-03 · 83 mi
• Prescribed Fire D7 Apprentice RX, Apache, Arizona
  Wildfires · 2026-09-14 · 86 mi
• Prescribed Fire D7 Rhoton Seep RX, Apache, Arizona
  Wildfires · 2026-09-14 · 87 mi
• Prescribed Fire D7 Brushy Mtn South RX, Apache, Arizona
  Wildfires · 2026-09-14 · 87 mi
• Prescribed Fire D7 Butler West RX, Apache, Arizona
  Wildfires · 2026-09-14 · 91 mi

Wildfires, storms and other events from NASA EONET (last 12 months, within 250 mi).

Recently spotted species

Ornate Tree Lizard

Urosaurus ornatus

Seen 2026-09-24

Red Harvester Ant

Pogonomyrmex barbatus

Seen 2026-09-23

Grant's Hercules Beetle

Dynastes grantii

Seen 2026-09-22

Hydnellum sp. 'peckii-BE16'

Hydnellum sp. 'peckii-BE16'

Seen 2026-09-20

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Seen 2026-09-18

Checkered White

Pontia protodice

Seen 2026-09-17

Grand Western Flood Plain Cicada

Megatibicen cultriformis

Seen 2026-09-16

Wapiti

Cervus canadensis

Seen 2026-09-15

Madrean Alligator Lizard

Elgaria kingii

Seen 2026-09-14

Research-grade observations from iNaturalist (within ~15 mi).