Population 6,249 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Peterson
Household size in Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.42 | 2.83 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.81 | 2.49 | 2.91 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.32 | 2.46 | 2.91 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.31 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | −0.11 | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Peterson are small: just 2.21 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. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.38, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Tempe neighborhoods have smaller households: only two of 10.
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 Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.5 | 31.4 | 35.6 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 26.8 | 31.7 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 29.8 | 32.9 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 28.7 | 33.2 | 39.1 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +1.8 | +3.5 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Peterson is young: half of its residents are under 28.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 27.5, as it has nationally.
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 Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 10.8% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 11.2% | 14.0% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 8.5% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.5% | 8.2% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | −2.7 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Peterson: 17.5% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has risen 5.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only one other Tempe neighborhood has a higher 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 Peterson
Renters in Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.3% | 53.1% | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 83.7% | 57.3% | 37.7% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 77.4% | 59.2% | 36.6% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 74.7% | 57.5% | 33.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +4.4 pts | +0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Peterson: 74.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. About three in ten owners (29.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 14.3% | 14.1% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 12.5% | 14.1% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −5.6 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Peterson than nationally: 5.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.5 points, in line with the national trend. Only one other Tempe neighborhood has a lower vacancy rate.
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 Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1979 | 1988 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1981 | 1989 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1983 | 1990 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1987 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +8 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Peterson was built around 1982, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in Tempe overall, where the median home dates to 1987. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the northeast. Only two of Tempe's ten neighborhoods have older 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 Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $886 | $1,044 | $1,123 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,006 | $1,113 | $1,158 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,188 | $1,292 | $1,342 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,723 | $1,844 | $1,927 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$838 | +$800 | +$804 | +$694 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Peterson costs $1,723 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in Tempe overall ($1,844). Rents are up $838 a month from 2006–10, a 95% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 35.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Peterson
Bachelor's degrees in Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.0% | 42.3% | 27.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.8% | 42.8% | 28.5% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.1% | 47.8% | 31.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.9% | 52.7% | 35.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +10.4 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in Peterson (40.9%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Even so, the share is lower than in Tempe as a whole (52.7%). The share with a degree is up 9.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.3% | 90.0% | 85.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.1% | 90.3% | 86.0% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.7% | 93.1% | 87.2% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.2% | 94.6% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +4.6 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Peterson is above the national rate: 93.2% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Tempe as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 Peterson
| Period | Peterson | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.1% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 9.4% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 5.7% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Peterson: 9.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only two of Tempe's ten neighborhoods have higher unemployment. Unemployment has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Peterson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peterson | 2.21 | 28.7 | 17.5% | 74.7% | 5.6% | 1982 | $1,723 | 40.9% | 93.2% | 9.3% |
| Baseline-Hardy | 2.67 | 32.5 | 11.0% | 63.4% | 9.1% | 1986 | $1,708 | 30.0% | 77.9% | 4.2% |
| 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% |
| Meyer Park | 2.29 | 33.8 | 6.2% | 43.9% | 9.3% | 1975 | $1,721 | 45.6% | 98.6% | 4.7% |
| Tempe Junction | 2.35 | 30.1 | 8.5% | 59.2% | 21.6% | 1964 | $1,613 | 60.5% | 93.1% | 12.5% |
| Downtown Tempe | 1.82 | 21.6 | 1.8% | 84.8% | 19.0% | 2006 | $2,011 | 78.3% | 98.7% | 6.1% |
| Sunset | 2.74 | 27.0 | 14.5% | 79.0% | 11.6% | 1983 | $1,669 | 54.2% | 92.3% | 8.7% |
| Riverside | 1.84 | 27.1 | 4.0% | 86.7% | 14.5% | 1994 | $1,741 | 51.2% | 93.4% | 13.0% |
| Escalante | 2.60 | 32.4 | 3.1% | 55.2% | 5.9% | 1991 | $1,832 | 41.9% | 79.7% | 6.6% |
| 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: Willowcreek, Sacramento, CA · Washington Village, Boulder, CO · Downtown Charlotte, Charlotte, NC · Culebra Park, San Antonio, TX · Columbia Heights, San Antonio, TX · Cazenovia Park, Buffalo, NY · Cal-Gisler, Oxnard, CA · Buffalo Charles, Detroit, MI · Brookside, Tulsa, OK · Brookland, Washington, DC
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 Peterson. 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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