Living in Tempe, AZ
College town in Arizona
Tempe is a college town in Arizona, home to about 186,000 people, with 4.0 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Tempe a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 11 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: PHX is 6 mi away
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
👎 Cons
- Hot summers: highs around 105°F
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Tempe ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Tempe: common questions
What is the cost of living in Tempe?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $452k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,450 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 103, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Tempe?
Arizona collects about $755 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.52% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Tempe safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.2× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Tempe?
Tempe is warm all year: winter days average around 71°F and summer days around 105°F.
Does Tempe get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and heat waves: 3 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.64 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Tempe?
The nearest major airport is PHX, about 6 mi away.
How Tempe scores
Each bar compares Tempe with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Tempe right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.