Tempe
ASU, Mill Avenue & Town Lake at the Valley's Crossroads
Why People Move Here
Tempe is the geographic and cultural center of the Phoenix metro — a landlocked 40-square-mile city wrapped around Arizona State University, Tempe Town Lake, and the Mill Avenue entertainment district. Valley Metro Rail's A Line and the new 3-mile Tempe Streetcar connect the downtown core to Phoenix and Mesa, while the Orbit neighborhood shuttle runs free on six routes 365 days a year. The Novus Innovation Corridor (a 10-million-square-foot mixed-use ASU-Catellus development) and State Farm's Marina Heights waterfront campus anchor an economy built on higher education, insurance, tech, and semiconductors.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD)
A-#18 Best School Districts in Arizona (Niche 2025)
- Corona del Sol HS (Niche A)
- Desert Vista HS (Niche A)
- Mountain Pointe HS (Niche A-)
- McClintock HS, Tempe HS, Marcos de Niza HS round out the district
Tempe Elementary School District No. 3 (TESD)
BTempe Elementary Schools rated B on Niche (2025)
- Ward Traditional Academy (Niche A)
- Arredondo Elementary, Fees College Prep Middle
- International Baccalaureate programs at several campuses
Kyrene Elementary School District
AServes south Tempe + Ahwatukee + parts of Chandler/Guadalupe, K-8
- Kyrene del Norte (A-)
- Kyrene de la Mariposa (A-)
- Kyrene de los Niños (B+)
- Kyrene Middle (B+)
Arizona State University — Tempe Campus
A-~80,000+ students on Tempe campus; largest US university by enrollment (~150,000+ across all ASU campuses); Carnegie R1 research institution
- Main ASU campus flagship
- W. P. Carey School of Business, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Walter Cronkite School nearby in downtown
- Novus Innovation Corridor (10M sq ft research/mixed-use district embedded in campus)
FAQ — Tempe
What are the school ratings in Tempe?
Tempe is split across three public districts: Tempe Union HSD (9-12) carries a Niche B+, with Corona del Sol and Desert Vista HS both rated Niche A. Tempe Elementary District No. 3 (K-8, north/central) is rated Niche B, and Kyrene Elementary District (K-8, south Tempe) is rated Niche A. ASU Tempe is the university's flagship campus at ~80,000 students. Verify enrollment eligibility by address — the TESD/Kyrene boundary runs through the middle of the city.
What is the commute from Tempe to downtown Phoenix?
Downtown Phoenix is 8-10 miles NW of Tempe, approximately 15 minutes off-peak and 25 minutes in rush hour via I-10 Maricopa Freeway or Loop 202. Valley Metro Rail's A Line also runs directly from Tempe (7 stations including Mill Ave/3rd St and University/Rural) to downtown Phoenix on a single seat.
What are home prices like in Tempe in 2026?
Median home prices range $475K-$506K citywide as of early 2026, with wide neighborhood variation: Downtown Tempe $683K (+16.7% YoY), Corona-South Tempe $715K (+23.9%), zip 85281 (ASU/downtown) $470K (+7.9%), and zip 85282 (central) $468K (-5.6%). Average days on market is 50. Zillow reports -3.2% YoY while Redfin reports +2.2% — the market is leveling after prior appreciation.
What transit options serve Tempe?
Valley Metro Rail's A Line has 7 stations in Tempe including Mill Ave/3rd St and University/Rural; the 3-mile Tempe Streetcar (opened 2022) loops through downtown with free A Line transfer. The city-run Orbit neighborhood shuttle operates 6 routes free 365 days per year. Sky Harbor International Airport is 5-10 minutes via Loop 202. Valley Metro operates 20+ bus routes across the city.
What are the crime statistics in Tempe?
The Tempe Police Department Crime Analysis & Intelligence Center reports violent crime at approximately 584 per 100,000 and property crime at approximately 4,334 per 100,000 (2024 data). Both total crime and property crime decreased 17% and 19% respectively year over year, with violent crime down 7%. Crime is geographically concentrated around Mill Avenue nightlife and arterial commercial corridors; residential neighborhoods like Warner Ranch and The Lakes carry substantially lower rates.
Who are the major employers in Tempe?
Arizona State University is the dominant employer. State Farm Insurance runs its Marina Heights regional HQ on Town Lake with approximately 8,000 employees. Other major employers include PayPal, Carvana (HQ on Rio Salado Pkwy), Gen Digital, Microchip Technology (corporate HQ; 2025 fab closure), Insight Enterprises, JPMorgan Chase, and Silicon Valley Bank. The Novus Innovation Corridor on ASU's campus projects 40,000 additional jobs by 2035.
What dining and nightlife options are in Tempe?
Mill Avenue District has the metro's highest concentration of restaurants, microbreweries, and live music venues. Notable spots include Culinary Dropout at The Yard, Postino WineCafe Annex, House of Tricks, Snooze A.M. Eatery, Cornish Pasty Co., and The Chuckbox (since 1972). Four Peaks Brewing — Arizona's largest craft brewer — is headquartered here. The Novus Place entertainment district has added North Italia, Flower Child, Blanco Cocina+Cantina, and Blue Sushi.
What outdoor recreation does Tempe offer?
Tempe Town Lake is a 2-mile urban reservoir hosting IRONMAN Arizona (November), Tempe Festival of the Arts (225,000 attendees per event), kayaking, paddleboarding, and dragon-boat racing. Papago Park (shared with Phoenix) offers 1,500 acres and 91 trails including Hole-in-the-Rock. Kiwanis Park has a USTA-recognized 15-court tennis center and an Indoor Wave Pool. The city holds League of American Bicyclists Gold status with connected off-street paths along Rio Salado, Western Canal, and Crosscut Canal.
Compare Communities
Other communities in East Valley.