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". 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.
Payson boasts a lively festival calendar, including The World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo, established in 1884, as well as the Arizona State Old Time Fiddlin' Championship which celebrates the area's musical heritage.
As of the 2020 census, the population of Payson was 16,361.
| Ethnicity | Payson | USA |
|---|---|---|
| White | 84.8% | 60.1% |
| African American | 0.7% | 12.2% |
| American Indian | 3.6% | 0.6% |
| Asian | 1.3% | 5.6% |
| Hawaiian | 0% | 0.2% |
| Multiracial | 0.9% | 2.8% |
| Hispanic | 8.6% | 18.2% |
| Other | 0% | 0.3% |
| HOUSEHOLD INCOME | Payson | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 4.5% | 5.8% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 2.8% | 4.1% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 9.7% | 8.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 10.7% | 8.6% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 15.9% | 12.0% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 25.1% | 17.2% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 12.6% | 12.8% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 8.6% | 15.6% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 5.4% | 7.1% |
| Education | Payson | USA |
|---|---|---|
| < 9th Grade | 1% | 5.0% |
| 9-12th Grade | 5% | 7.0% |
| High School or GED | 26% | 27.0% |
| Other College | 33% | 20.0% |
| Associate's Degree | 10% | 9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 14% | 20.0% |
| Master's Degree | 8% | 9.0% |
| Professional Degree | 2% | 2.0% |
| Doctorate Degree | 1% | 1.0% |