Population 190,901 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Tempe: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Tempe
Household size in Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.83 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.91 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.91 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Tempe are small: just 2.31 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 2.42 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.4 | 35.6 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.7 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.9 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.2 | 39.1 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +3.5 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 33.2, Tempe is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 31.4, in line with the national trend. Of the 110 Arizona cities with 5,000+ people, only nine are 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 Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 14.0% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.2% of households in Tempe, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Tempe
Renters in Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.1% | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 57.3% | 37.7% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.2% | 36.6% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 57.5% | 33.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Tempe rent: 57.5% 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 4.4 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Arizona city with 5,000+ people 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 Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 14.1% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 14.1% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 10.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 8.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −5.6 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Tempe is close to the national rate: 10.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider Phoenix area (8.4%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.0 points, as it has 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 Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1988 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1989 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1990 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Tempe are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. Locally, though, homes here are older than in the Phoenix area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1993. The median year built has moved up from 1979 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the east has the oldest housing.
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 Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,044 | $1,123 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,113 | $1,158 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,292 | $1,342 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,844 | $1,927 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$800 | +$804 | +$694 | +$606 |
The median renter in Tempe pays $1,844 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $800 a month from 2006–10, a 77% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.1% of the typical renter's income, 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 Tempe
Bachelor's degrees in Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3% | 27.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.8% | 28.5% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.8% | 31.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.7% | 35.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.4 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Tempe is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (52.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 10.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 110 Arizona cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.0% | 85.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 86.0% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.1% | 87.2% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Tempe: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.6 points from 2006–10, 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 Tempe
| Period | Tempe | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 5.3% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.7%, unemployment in Tempe is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in the wider Phoenix area (4.8%). Unemployment is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
Tempe compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tempe | 2.31 | 33.2 | 8.2% | 57.5% | 10.3% | 1987 | $1,844 | 52.7% | 94.6% | 5.7% |
| Guadalupe | 3.17 | 33.2 | 25.8% | 51.5% | 8.5% | 1992 | $1,049 | 18.1% | 80.3% | 4.4% |
| Chandler | 2.66 | 38.4 | 11.4% | 35.6% | 6.4% | 1998 | $2,079 | 48.5% | 93.8% | 3.6% |
| Mesa | 2.69 | 40.2 | 11.9% | 33.7% | 9.7% | 1990 | $1,815 | 32.3% | 90.7% | 4.2% |
| Gilbert | 2.95 | 36.2 | 10.8% | 27.6% | 5.2% | 2003 | $2,299 | 48.6% | 96.4% | 3.4% |
| Sun Lakes | 1.66 | 72.5 | 4.4% | 12.0% | 15.5% | 1991 | $2,289 | 39.6% | 96.9% | 4.1% |
| Laveen | 3.54 | 32.7 | 18.5% | 21.0% | 4.1% | 2004 | $2,091 | 28.6% | 86.6% | 4.9% |
| Sacate | 11.71 | 19.3 | 94.1% | 100.0% | 22.7% | 1993 | $2,120 | 26.9% | 73.1% | 0.0% |
| Higley | 2.84 | 32.7 | 9.0% | 28.6% | 3.5% | 2005 | $2,107 | 32.3% | 92.0% | 2.1% |
| Laveen Village | 4.98 | 28.5 | 33.5% | 36.4% | 3.5% | 2004 | $1,632 | 8.8% | 77.9% | 6.8% |
| Maricopa Colony | 5.11 | 28.1 | 31.3% | 32.9% | 3.1% | 2006 | $2,120 | 10.1% | 78.0% | 6.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Burleson, TX · Bloomington, IN · Bothell, WA · Bloomington, MN · Boston, MA · Bossier City, LA · Broken Arrow, OK · Bronx, NY · Burlington, NC · Bloomington, IL
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 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.