Tempe is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Arizona. The city has a population of 174,708 people. With a population density of 4,370 people per square mile, Tempe is well above the nation's average density level. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (70% White). Given that fact, Tempe could be considered less diverse than other cities. With an average age of 29 years old, Tempe could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Tempe is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before relocating to any new city in Arizona, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Finding the best places to live in Tempe and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes cost of living, weather, education, employment and other important metrics.
The livability score in Tempe is 72 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 71st percentile of all cities across America. There are seven total categories that form the livability score. Tempe scores well for amenities (A+), weather (B+) and housing (B). There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Tempe. The following was graded with a less than perfect score: crime (F) and education (F).
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, librairies, etc., Tempe has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. Some of the notable things to do include: Mill Avenue District, SEA LIFE Aquarium, and Arizona Mills Mall.
Jobs are always a hot topic for anyone looking to relocate to a new area. Your chances of finding new employment in Tempe is actually far better than most areas. With a low unemployment rate of 1.36%, finding work should be much easier than the average city.
For buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Tempe apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city.
Tempe real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Tempe. The median home price for Tempe homes is $219,900, which is 24.3% higher than the Arizona average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Tempe, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.4, which is 25.7% higher than the Arizona average. Knowing if your home will appreciate on a long term or even a short term basis should be factored into your decision making. An increase in your home’s value can be a good way to generate tax-free equity that can create long term financial security. In the past year, appreciation rates for homes in the Tempe area were 7.3% and 5 year appreciation rates were 8.5%.
| Statistic | Tempe | Arizona | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 72.3% | 76.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.4% | 10.9% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 5.0% | 2.0% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 4.0% | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 4.3% | 2.0% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.3% | 5.7% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
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