| City: | Sanders, Arizona |
| Names to Avoid: | Burnt Water |
| County: | Apache County |
| Timezone: | Mountain (GMT -07:00) |
| Local Time: | 10:22:29 AM |
| Population: | 2,146 [See All] |
| Area Code: | 928 |
| Classification: | PO Box |
| Coordinates: | 35.1497, -109.2943 |
| Land Area: | 466.745 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Sanders serves as the postal hub for a vast section of the Navajo Nation in Apache County, Arizona. Across 492 square miles of tribal territory, PO Box mail is the only option. This is a PO Box Only Zone, and there's no alternative mail delivery across the entire area.
The post office maintains 978 PO Boxes for 706 households, an adoption rate of 1.39. That's not resident preference, it's geographic necessity. People travel from across the territory to Sanders to collect mail, packages, prescriptions, and government documents. The community also goes by Burnt Water, though that name isn't valid for mailing addresses.
Of the 2,146 residents, 89% are Native American (1,912 people). This is a Navajo community with multi-generational households. The population-to-household ratio is 3.04, typical for tribal areas where extended families live together. Median age is 36.2 years.
Most delivery routes are rural or highway contract routes. Only three street names appear in postal records: Highway 191, County Road 7396, and Parker Draw Boulevard. That's three roads covering 492 square miles. There are no city carrier routes. What looks like street addressing is actually rural route delivery serving scattered homesteads across the reservation.
This is a working-class community. Median household income is $31,602, and per capita income is $14,760. The largest employment sectors are transportation and warehousing (389 workers) and public administration (292 workers), which includes tribal government. Educational attainment is low, with just 5% holding a bachelor's degree or higher among adults 25 and over.
The post office opened before October 2004, when USPS began tracking introduction dates. For decades, it has been the mail lifeline for this part of the Navajo Nation. General Delivery service is available for those without boxes.
PO Box format (required):
PO Box [number]
Sanders, AZ 86512Rural route format (if applicable):
HC [number] Box [number]
Sanders, AZ 86512Do not use "Burnt Water" as the city name. While recognized by USPS, it's not valid for mailing.
Minimal street addressing across vast territory; rural and highway contract routes serve scattered homesteads.
ZIP Code 86512 has 2,146 residents and 706 households (average 3.04 persons per household). The median age is 36.2 years, slightly younger than the state (38.9) and slightly younger than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 50.0% male and 50.0% female, which is about the same as the national male share (49.1%). Largest groups are American Indian & Alaska Native (89.1%, much higher than the state average of 4.5% and well above the national average of 1.1%) and White (5.3%, much lower than the state average of 60.4% and well below the national average of 61.6%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.6%, which is much lower than the state average (30.7%), and American Indian & Alaska Native share is much higher than both the state (4.5%) and national averages (1.1%).
Explore More:Population Over TimeBy Age & GenderBy RaceBy GenderNativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 2,146Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 2,557Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 4.6 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $31,087Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 706Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $76,300Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 3.04Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 4.83Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 3,022 | 3,041 | 2,771 | 2,704 | 2,608 | 2,530 | 2,634 | 2,889 | 2,787 | 2,867 | 2,513 | 2,594 | 2,391 | 2,557 |
| Decennial Census | 2,439 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2,146 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 36.2
Male Median Age: 34
Female Median Age: 39.5
| Group | < 5 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 94 | 78 | 63 | 71 | 71 | 88 | 96 | 60 | 48 | 57 | 73 | 66 | 59 | 64 | 37 | 17 | 24 | 8 |
| Female | 46 | 60 | 87 | 80 | 50 | 89 | 70 | 61 | 54 | 59 | 60 | 81 | 86 | 80 | 45 | 28 | 20 | 16 |
| Total | 140 | 138 | 150 | 151 | 121 | 177 | 166 | 121 | 102 | 116 | 133 | 147 | 145 | 144 | 82 | 45 | 44 | 24 |
| White: | 113 | 5.33% |
| Black: | 17 | 0.80% |
| Hispanic:* | 56 | 2.64% |
| Asian: | 11 | 0.52% |
| American Indian: | 1,912 | 90.15% |
| Hawaiian: | 1 | 0.05% |
| Other: | 11 | 0.52% |
| Total: | 2,121 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 1,074 | 50.05% | 34.0 years |
| Females: | 1,072 | 49.95% | 39.5 years |
| Total: | 2,146 | 100% | 36.2 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 2,553 | 99.84% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 4 | 0.16% |
| Total Population: | 2,557 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 2,553 | 99.84% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 4 | 0.16% |
In 2024, the Median household income is $31,087, which is considerably lower than the national median ($80,734), is down $1,413 (4.3%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $1,201. Family households earn a median of $31,865 versus $17,222 for nonfamily households (a difference of $14,643). By gender, male median income is $46,250 and female is $31,586, which is far less than the national female median ($55,274), with a current gap of $14,664 that has widened from 2011 to 2024. The labor-force participation rate is 40.9%, which is considerably lower than the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 8.6%, which is markedly higher than the national rate (5.2%). The largest occupation group is Management (29.2%).
Explore More:Income Over TimeHousehold IncomeEmployment StatusBy Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $32,500 | $24,958 | $25,000 | $23,482 | $24,904 | $25,069 | $25,399 | $27,868 | $29,886 | $26,904 | $27,463 | $29,365 | $31,602 | $31,087 |
| Median Family Income | $36,065 | $37,500 | $34,875 | $33,000 | $26,683 | $26,116 | $28,958 | $38,281 | $37,833 | $27,455 | $28,580 | $29,688 | $31,841 | $31,865 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $14,583 | $12,176 | $12,026 | $12,135 | $11,607 | $13,281 | $9,970 | $10,481 | $11,607 | $9,575 | $16,645 | $17,750 | $15,625 | $17,222 |
| Median Male Income | $35,595 | $35,087 | $35,199 | $38,681 | $0 | $36,667 | $36,375 | $37,393 | $37,986 | $39,712 | $40,598 | $42,717 | $44,310 | $46,250 |
| Median Female Income | $25,132 | $26,739 | $27,202 | $22,083 | $0 | $31,979 | $28,333 | $35,144 | $35,375 | $27,092 | $27,230 | $29,476 | $31,726 | $31,586 |
| Employed: | 692 | 37.39% |
| Unemployed: | 65 | 3.51% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 1,094 | 59.10% |
| Total: | 1,851 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 202 | 29.19% |
| Service: | 112 | 16.18% |
| Sales and Office: | 170 | 24.57% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 86 | 12.43% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 122 | 17.63% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 692 | 100% |
In 2024, the median home value is $76,300, which is considerably lower than the national median ($332,700), is down $8,500 (10.02%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $3,700. The median gross rent is $625, which is considerably lower than the national median ($1,413), is up $29 (4.87%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $229. Of occupied housing, owners make up 69.16% (1.06% with a mortgage, 98.94% free-and-clear) and renters 30.84% - making this ZIP Code under national rental averages. The vacancy rate is 12.81%, which is markedly above the national rate (10.12%).
Explore More:Compare Home ValueHome Value Over TimeRent & Over TimeHousing Occupancy
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $84,800 | $80,300 | $81,700 | $74,300 | $84,500 | $82,700 | $79,800 | $72,700 | $72,600 | $76,500 | $62,800 | $71,500 | $74,800 | $76,300 |
| Less than $500: | 24 | 9.52% |
| $500 to $999: | 171 | 67.86% |
| $1,000 to $1,499: | 5 | 1.98% |
| $1,500 to $1,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,000 to $2,499: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,500 to $2,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $3,000 or more: | 0 | 0.00% |
| No Rent: | 52 | 20.63% |
| Total: | 252 | 100% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Rent | $596 | $515 | $550 | $523 | $512 | $542 | $552 | $522 | $396 | $518 | $563 | $614 | $614 | $625 |
| Owner Occupied (with mortgage): | 6 | 0.73% |
| Owner Occupied (free and clear, no mortgage): | 559 | 68.42% |
| Renter Occupied: | 252 | 30.84% |
| Total Occupied Housing Units: | 817 | 100% |
| Occupied Housing Units: | 817 | 87.19% |
| Vacant Housing Units (not graphed): | 120 | 12.81% |
| Total Housing Units: | 937 | 100% |
| Single-Family Units: | 667 | 71.18% |
| Multi-Family Units: | 38 | 4.06% |
| Other Units: | 232 | 24.76% |
| Total Housing Units: | 937 | 100% |
In 2024, 5.00% of adults (25+) have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is far lower than the national rate (35.70%). High school or higher is 81.20%, which is far lower than the national rate (89.60%). The uninsured rate is 18.80%, which is far higher than the national rate (8.40%). Private coverage is 11.70%, which is far lower than the national rate (67.10%). Public coverage is 72.30%, which is far higher than the national rate (36.70%). The share of people in poverty is 38.30%, which is far higher than the national rate (8.80%), up 4.60 percentage points since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by 4.20 percentage points. This signals a sharp increase in hardship - a shrinking consumer base, heavy pressure on public services, and job-market contraction risks. Among residents ages 3+, the largest enrollment group is elementary (67.71%). College enrollment is 1.09%, which is far lower than the national rate (26.70%), indicating the community may be more oriented toward vocational/trade or direct-to-workforce opportunities.
Explore More:Educational AttainmentHealth InsurancePoverty Over TimeSchool Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 89 | 5.64% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 208 | 13.18% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 640 | 40.56% |
| Some college, no degree: | 372 | 23.57% |
| Associate's degree: | 190 | 12.04% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 48 | 3.04% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 31 | 1.96% |
| Total: | 1,578 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 1,281 | 81.18% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 79 | 5.01% |
| Private Insurance: | 300 | 11.41% |
| Public Insurance: | 1,848 | 70.29% |
| No Insurance: | 481 | 18.30% |
| Total: | 2,629 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 2,148 | 81.70% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | 29.3% | 39.2% | 40.7% | 41.6% | 40.0% | 40.6% | 33.5% | 33.5% | 29.7% | 27.8% | 28.9% | 33.1% | 33.9% | 38.3% |
Note: Counts of Families & People in poverty are not published at the ZIP Code level due to small sample sizes. Percentages shown are survey estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). They may differ from official poverty statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty status by comparing a family's or individual's total income with federal poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition.
| Nursery School, Preschool: | 11 | 1.72% |
| Kindergarten: | 48 | 7.49% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 434 | 67.71% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 141 | 22.00% |
| College or graduate school: | 7 | 1.09% |
| Total: | 641 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 59 | 9.20% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 623 | 97.19% |
ZIP Code 86512 supports both business and residential activity. According to the Business Census (2024), there are 11 business establishments, employing about 255 people with an annual payroll of $9,478,000.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 995Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 11Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $2,654,000Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $9,478,000Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 255Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 86512 is located in Apache County, Arizona, within the Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA ) and Arizona's 2nd Congressional District. This area has a population of 0 people, about 0.00% of whom live in ZIP Code 86512. It covers 466.745 sq mi of land and a water area of 0.312 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Number: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 0Source: Census |
| MSA: | Source: Census |
| Land Area: | 466.745 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 0.312 sq miSource: Census |
| Congressional District: | 02Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 7838.12 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | Source: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | 0463050Source: Census |
| Place Name: | Sanders CDP; ArizonaSource: Census |
ZIP Code 86512 is in the Sanders Unified District, which serves grades Pre-Kindergarten thru 12th. There are 5 public school(s) in this ZIP Code, and we have located 3 private school(s). It also has 6 colleges, universities or post secondary education institutions nearby which would be a short commute to.
Our sources include trusted federal and licensed data from the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with proprietary datasets created by ZIP-Codes.com. Data last updated on March 1, 2026.