Moving to Tempe: Your Ultimate Guide to Life in the Valley of the Sun

Surrounded by mountain wilderness but connected to the bustling streets of one of America’s busiest cities, Tempe is a fast-growing suburb of Phoenix with a personality all its own. Learn about this fun-loving, tech-centric, Southwestern hub in our moving guide. We’ll give you an inside look at the climate, cost of living, job market, real estate and best places to visit in Tempe.  

Population, Location and Climate: Key Facts About Tempe’s Appeal 

Population

With a population of 189,834, Tempe has grown nearly twice as fast as its suburban Phoenix counterparts. Nearly 30,000 new residents have arrived in Tempe since 2010. Tempe is one of 27 cities in Maricopa County — the country’s fastest-growing county — and the metro Phoenix area is now home to more than 4.5 million residents across its 9,200 square miles.  

Tempe’s population is also diverse, with 54% of residents identifying as white, 24% as Hispanic/Latino, 11% as multi-racial, 9% as Asian, 7% as Black, 2.6% as American Indian/Alaska Native, and 0.6% as Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander. 

Location 

An eastern suburb of Phoenix, Tempe is only 20 minutes from downtown and just 10 minutes from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Valley Metro offers convenient bus, BRT, streetcar and rail service, which can easily take you from the center of Tempe to the center of downtown Phoenix in just 30 minutes, without the parking hassle. The city of Mesa lies east of Tempe, and Scottsdale lies to the north, just across the Salt River. Tempe is located close to I-10, which makes it easy to head south to Tucson, or to access I-17, which leads north to Flagstaff, or to connect to I-8, which leads west to Tijuana and San Diego. 

Climate 

The desert climate of central Arizona keeps the average annual temperature in Tempe a dry 72°F, but if you have ever wondered how hot the surface of the sun is, Tempe can give you a close approximation. From June through September, the 100 F mark is likely to be in your thermometer’s rearview and temperatures are likely to hit 110 F or higher. In 2024, heat advisories continued well into October.  

Make sure you’re prepared for the extreme heat with plenty of water and sunscreen whenever you’re out. When regular A/C isn’t enough, don’t be ashamed to hang out in the freezer section of the grocery store. Go ahead — pick up that bag of edamame. And that corn. Sweet, icy corn. That will pair perfectly with the frozen pizzas, lasagnas and popsicles you will either consume for dinner or strap to your body as an arctic shield. 

Winter transforms Tempe into a completely different city. The average temperature is only in the mid-50s F, and you might occasionally even have a frosty windshield when you leave for work in the morning. Don’t expect a white Christmas, though. Santa has yet to run his sled through anything but sand in Tempe.  

Throughout the year, temperatures will fluctuate dramatically from night to day. Because there is so little moisture in the air, it may feel cooler than you’re accustomed to, especially if you’re moving to Tempe, a humid region like the Southeast. Wearing layers is key, especially in spring and fall. 

Housing in Tempe: An Overview of Real Estate and Rental Options 

Like most parts of Arizona, real estate prices in Tempe have been rising. But compared to other suburbs of Phoenix, housing and rent in Tempe are relatively moderate. At $382,100, the median home value in Tempe is more than $100,000 above the U.S. average, but it’s a far cry from Scottsdale’s median of $651,800. The most affordable prices among Phoenix’s most popular burbs are in Mesa, where homes average $327,700.  

Rental rates in Tempe also fall in the middle of the Phoenix market. The median gross rent in Tempe is $1,472/month — more than in Mesa or Phoenix proper but less than in Chandler or Scottsdale. 

Although income levels across the greater Phoenix metro area nearly meet or exceed the U.S. average of $75,149, there is a noticeable disparity in home ownership and poverty rates. In Chandler, where the median household income is nearly $100,000/year, 65% of residents are homeowners and only 7.7% live below the poverty line. In Tempe, however, nearly 17% of the population lives below the poverty line, and only 41% of residents own their own homes. Several factors may be at work here, including the presence of ASU, which naturally keeps a younger, renting population in the city. 

If you’re in the market for a single-family home, you’ll find mostly newer dwellings in the Tempe market, ranging from modern ranch houses and neo-Spanish colonials to contemporary townhomes. Buyers looking for lower-maintenance living will find plenty of condos throughout the city, especially near ASU, where apartments abound. Some buildings do cater expressly to college and graduate students, so be sure to ask your real estate agent if other families are living in the building. That is unless you are hoping to find a place with 24-hour beer pong. 

Education in Tempe: A Path for Innovation

As the home of Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe is truly a college town, and the youthful, energetic vibe can’t help but spill out from the coffee shops, the taco stands and many bars. A whopping 57,000 students are enrolled at the Tempe campus, and ASU has been ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as the #1 most innovative school in the nation, just one of its many other accolades.  

Though ASU looms large, it isn’t the only college game in town. Maricopa County’s Community College District is the largest system of its kind in the country, and this can be an ideal steppingstone to pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution. Other Tempe-area schools include the University of Advancing Technology (UAT) and the Sonoran University of Health Sciences (previously known as the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine).  

Job Market in Tempe: Opportunities for Growth and Success 

Much like the sun, ASU is the hub of Tempe’s culture and commerce. And just like that hot star in the sky, ASU keeps many important things within its orbit, a feat accomplished by way of the ASU Research Park (ASURP) rather than by actual gravitational pull. Dozens of major corporations and enterprises make their home in the ASURP, from Edward Jones to US Foods and the FOX Media Center. The park facilitates collaboration and connection, and with the park-like amenities of the campus, it’s hard to find a prettier spot to do business.  

Education and healthcare are among the primary areas of business in this college town, and Cigna Healthcare of Arizona, Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital and Express Scripts are all major employers. Technology is central to the job market in Tempe. An estimated 20% of Tempe’s workforce is now in tech, a fact underscored by the presence of companies like Honeywell, Microsoft and L3 Communications, as well as the growing biotechnology field.  

Recreation and Entertainment in Tempe: From Outdoors to Arts and Culture

Although Tempe is a college town, the city isn’t just a playground for ASU students. This is a proper suburb, so there are plenty of recreation destinations for every age group. There are fun national chains, like the SEA LIFE Arizona and the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, but it’s the only-in-Tempe attractions that make this city great. Here are some top picks from locals.  

First, there are many regional parks within a short drive of the city. In 20 minutes or less, you can be at popular hiking spots at Camelback Mountain or South Mountain, one of the largest municipal parks in the country, where you’ll find horseback riding and mountain biking trails through the rocky terrain. Some of the hiking through Tempe’s valleys can be curiously barren. You may feel the need to check that you have not accidentally stumbled onto the ballistics testing ground for an episode of MythBusters. But if you don’t meet a taciturn fellow named Buster, you should be okay.   

Papago Park is one of the busiest outdoor spots in town, mainly because it has so many attractions of its own — the Phoenix Zoo, the Hall of Flame Fire Museum and, most unexpectedly, a 20-foot-tall pyramidal tomb where a former governor and his wife were laid eternally to rest. If you do nothing else in Papago Park, you must hike the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail at least once. It’s like a city ordinance or something. This mountain peek-a-boo gives you a natural window to gaze out onto the amazing landscape below. 

Located in the heart of downtown, Tempe Town Lake is Arizona’s second-most-visited attraction. Every year, the lake vies for the top spot, and every year it loses out to that giant — ahem, grand — hole in the ground. Always a bridesmaid, as the saying goes. But really, who wants to trail a cranky burro down the arid slopes of Arizona’s famous canyon when you could be enjoying the spoils of the state’s second-best destination? Tempe Town Lake has a lovely jogging and bike path — which you can enjoy sans pack mule — and the water is perfect for boating. As tempting as it may be to dip your toes in, the lake is a reservoir for the town’s drinking water, so swimming is not permitted. Head to Kiwanis Park if you need a place to cool off — they even have an indoor wave pool. 

If you want to see the most popular destination in Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park is less than four hours north of the city, and Las Vegas is only five. We won’t judge if you prefer slot machines to slot canyons. 

Some days, it will be way too hot to do anything outdoors, and that’s when you’ll be glad for all the great indoor attractions in Tempe. Check out an exhibition at the ASU Art Museum or see a Broadway show at the ASU Gammage Theatre. Get a guided tour of the historic Eisendrath House, a Pueblo revival built in the 1930s. Or learn about the history of this Southwestern city at the Tempe History Museum. Downtown Phoenix is just a short trip by car or train, and you can immerse yourself in American Indian art at the Heard Museum or visit the Children’s Museum of Phoenix if the youngsters are antsy. 

Back in downtown Tempe, the Mill Avenue District is the city’s premier destination for shopping, nightlife and events. Fan faves like the New Year’s Eve Block Party draw huge crowds. The Tempe Festival of the Arts is one of the oldest gatherings of its kind in the region, and you can see — and purchase — works by more than 350 artists while you eat, drink and dance your way through this fun event.  

Moving to Tempe With Mayflower®: A Seamless Relocation Experience 

For nearly a century, Mayflower has been helping families move across the country to cities all over the U.S. Let our trusted movers help you relocate to Tempe.  

Get a moving quote for Tempe. 

Are you moving cross-country to Tempe? With our nationwide network of long-distance movers, Mayflower will be with you Every Step of the Way®. We provide professional, reliable and personalized moving services tailored to your needs. You can customize a full-service moving package to handle all your moving needs. Leave the packing and unpacking to us. We can also provide storage, debris removal and car shipping services. 

Making a local move? If you’re moving within Tempe, the greater Phoenix metro area or the Grand Canyon State, Mayflower’s interstate Arizona movers can assist you with local moves independently under their businesses and brands.  

Going the DIY route? If you’re handling your move, you can still benefit from Mayflower’s resources. No matter how you move, you can use this moving checklist and planner to keep yourself on schedule before the big day arrives. And get pro tips on moving in our digital moving guide, Welcome HOME magazine.  

Before you arrive, why not learn a bit more about the Grand Canyon State? See what it’s like living in Arizona in our local moving guide. And check out even more of the nation in our city guides and state guides. 

Want to get a jump on the last phase of the move? Follow this helpful advice on settling in to make things easier on your kids, your spouse, your parents and, of course — the favorite members of your family — your pets. (Tip one: don’t let your cat pack your boxes.) 

Get a quote on moving to Tempe, Arizona.