Real Estate Investing in Apache Junction, Arizona (85120)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Pinal County • Population: 29,308 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 85120 (Apache Junction, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (42/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 19.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Apache Junction, AZ (85120)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $355,597
Avg Monthly Rent $1,815
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,291
% Renters 18.5%

Market Analysis: 85120 Apache Junction

This part of Pinal County is not an easy win. The 85120 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 85120 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 85120 sits on the difficult end of the AZ spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 85120 ZIP's population of 29,308 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reports the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 85120 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Apache Junction:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,815/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
64 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 85120

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$109,029/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $290,572 $1,530 3.8% +6.9% $145,286
3BR $356,094 $2,070 4.2% +7.7% $118,698
4BR $436,115 $2,350 3.9% +8.1% $109,029

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$407K$337K$268K$198K$129K$59KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,876$1,824$1,772$1,720$1,668$1,616Feb 2023Nov 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 85120 Compare?

Metric 85120 Apache Junction Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Arizona
Home Value $355,597 $374,854 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 3.1% 3.1% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,815 $1,766 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 85120? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 85120 (Apache Junction, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $355,597
Monthly Rent $1,815
Price-to-Rent 16.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.1%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 7.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
19.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 85120

Population: 29,308

💰 Median Household Income
$53,291
This area
$53,291
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.5%
This area
18.5%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.3 years
This area
57.3 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.4%
This area
19.4%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.5%
Other/Mixed 12.3%
Hispanic/Latino 7.9%
Asian 1.3%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
13.9%
This area
13.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
36.6%
This area
36.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.0%
This area
9.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 85120

C+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
13.0:1 Avg Class Size
$69,645 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

EVIT East Apache Junction

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
1 Students
👨‍🏫
0.3:1 Class Size
💰
$268,451 Per Student
B Good

EVIT - Apache Junction High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$268,451 Per Student
B Good

Cactus Canyon Junior High

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
620 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,825 Per Student
C+ Average

Apache Junction High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
864 Students
👨‍🏫
18.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,825 Per Student
C+ Average

Avalon Elementary

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
298 Students
💰
$16,870 Per Student
C+ Average

ARCHES Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
53 Students
💰
$15,439 Per Student
C+ Average

Imagine Prep Superstition

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
283 Students
💰
$11,362 Per Student
C Below Average

Imagine Superstition Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter Limited Data
👥
148 Students
💰
$10,701 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Apache Trail High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter Limited Data
👥
215 Students
💰
$9,884 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 3,401 Off-Campus Students
C
Pima Medical Institute-East Valley
373 students · 7.3 mi
C
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
14,725 students · 14.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,401 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly do rentals get leased in Apache Junction, AZ?

Vacancy risk in Apache Junction, AZ is elevated. That supports measured cash flow for typical rental holds.

What kind of tenants rent in Apache Junction, AZ?

Tenant quality in Apache Junction, AZ ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $1,815/mo.

Is Apache Junction, AZ a smart market for rental property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Apache Junction, AZ ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $356K and rents of $1,815/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What strategy should investors use in Apache Junction, AZ?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Apache Junction, AZ. With home values at $356K and rents near $1,815/mo, other strategies can work but produce consistent rather than outsized returns.

What are rental rates like in Apache Junction, AZ?

Rental rates in Apache Junction, AZ average $1,815/mo. Tenant demand and $356K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

You know 85120 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 85120 ranks in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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