Population 9,199 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downtown Tempe
Household size in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.99 | 2.42 | 2.83 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.24 | 2.49 | 2.91 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.91 | 2.46 | 2.91 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.82 | 2.31 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | −0.11 | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Downtown Tempe are small: just 1.82 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 1.99 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Tempe neighborhood has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.5 | 31.4 | 35.6 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 20.6 | 31.7 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 20.5 | 32.9 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 21.6 | 33.2 | 39.1 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +1.8 | +3.5 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Downtown Tempe is young: half of its residents are under 21.6, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults in their twenties. The median age has climbed from 20.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. No other Tempe neighborhood is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 10.8% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.1% | 11.2% | 14.0% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 8.5% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 8.2% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −9.3 pts | −2.7 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 1.8% of households in Downtown Tempe, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 9.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Tempe neighborhood has a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Downtown Tempe
Renters in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 62.9% | 53.1% | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 74.6% | 57.3% | 37.7% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 82.9% | 59.2% | 36.6% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 84.8% | 57.5% | 33.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +21.8 pts | +4.4 pts | +0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Downtown Tempe rent: 84.8% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. The renter share is up 21.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Tempe neighborhood has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.2% | 14.3% | 14.1% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 12.5% | 14.1% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −27.2 pts | −4.0 pts | −5.6 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Downtown Tempe: 19.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 27.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1979 | 1988 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1981 | 1989 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1993 | 1983 | 1990 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2006 | 1987 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +19 | +8 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Downtown Tempe has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2006, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southeast. No other Tempe neighborhood has newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $717 | $1,044 | $1,123 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,444 | $1,113 | $1,158 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,628 | $1,292 | $1,342 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,011 | $1,844 | $1,927 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,294 | +$800 | +$804 | +$694 | +$606 |
Rent in Downtown Tempe runs $2,011 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,294 a month from 2006–10, a 180% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 43.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Downtown Tempe has the highest rents of any Tempe neighborhood.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Downtown Tempe
Bachelor's degrees in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.1% | 42.3% | 27.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 65.8% | 42.8% | 28.5% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 67.4% | 47.8% | 31.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 78.3% | 52.7% | 35.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +19.2 pts | +10.4 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Downtown Tempe: 78.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 19.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Downtown Tempe has the highest share of college graduates of any Tempe neighborhood.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.9% | 90.0% | 85.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.5% | 90.3% | 86.0% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.1% | 93.1% | 87.2% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.7% | 94.6% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +4.6 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Downtown Tempe: 98.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Downtown Tempe has the highest share of high school graduates of any Tempe neighborhood.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Downtown Tempe
| Period | Downtown Tempe | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 8.1% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 9.4% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 5.7% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −14.7 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Downtown Tempe than nationally: unemployment was 6.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 14.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Downtown Tempe compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Tempe | 1.82 | 21.6 | 1.8% | 84.8% | 19.0% | 2006 | $2,011 | 78.3% | 98.7% | 6.1% |
| Tempe Junction | 2.35 | 30.1 | 8.5% | 59.2% | 21.6% | 1964 | $1,613 | 60.5% | 93.1% | 12.5% |
| Riverside | 1.84 | 27.1 | 4.0% | 86.7% | 14.5% | 1994 | $1,741 | 51.2% | 93.4% | 13.0% |
| Sunset | 2.74 | 27.0 | 14.5% | 79.0% | 11.6% | 1983 | $1,669 | 54.2% | 92.3% | 8.7% |
| Meyer Park | 2.29 | 33.8 | 6.2% | 43.9% | 9.3% | 1975 | $1,721 | 45.6% | 98.6% | 4.7% |
| Escalante | 2.60 | 32.4 | 3.1% | 55.2% | 5.9% | 1991 | $1,832 | 41.9% | 79.7% | 6.6% |
| Baseline-Hardy | 2.67 | 32.5 | 11.0% | 63.4% | 9.1% | 1986 | $1,708 | 30.0% | 77.9% | 4.2% |
| Peterson | 2.21 | 28.7 | 17.5% | 74.7% | 5.6% | 1982 | $1,723 | 40.9% | 93.2% | 9.3% |
| Wood Park | 2.57 | 33.8 | 19.3% | 64.5% | 4.2% | 1987 | $1,715 | 27.8% | 90.3% | 2.8% |
| Tempe Royal Estates | 2.30 | 31.7 | 3.1% | 65.6% | 7.6% | 1990 | $1,688 | 34.2% | 96.0% | 2.4% |
| Southwest Mesa | 2.39 | 35.3 | 13.2% | 50.9% | 8.6% | 1981 | $1,675 | 32.6% | 91.6% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Barton Hills, Austin, TX · Behind The Rocks, Hartford, CT · Southwest Detroit, Detroit, MI · Reservoir, Newport News, VA · South Park, Beaumont, TX · Foothills, Fortuna Foothills, AZ · Hickory Ridge, Charlotte, NC · Hosford-Abernethy, Portland, OR · Kempsville Gardens, Virginia Beach, VA · Lovejoy, Buffalo, NY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Downtown Tempe. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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