Your EZ Search Guide on Moving to Tempe, AZ

Can you handle the heat? Don’t worry; it’s a dry heat. That’s the familiar refrain of those who call Tempe, Arizona, home. This part of the “Valley of the Sun” lies on the edge of the Sonoran desert. But it’s not just the temperatures that get hot; life in Tempe sizzles day and night with entertainment, golfing, hiking, and adventure sports.

If you’re soon considering moving to Tempe, AZ, you’re in luck. Yes, you’re about to discover a friendly community in the heart of a major metropolitan area–one of the largest in the US. We’ve assembled this move-in guide to familiarize you with what to expect when you meet your new neighbors in Tempe:

Overview on Tempe

Tempe, AZ, is a city of 185,950 (as per the US Census) just east of Phoenix. It’s part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metropolitan area, which includes cities like Glendale, Scottsdale, and Chandler. In other words, despite being in the Sonoran desert, Tempe has a lot of neighbors.

The area along the Salt River used to belong to the Hohokam people, who supported an agricultural society from the river by building canals throughout the region. The surprisingly fertile landscape was a rarity in the desert and offered some respite from the heat. 

In the 1800s, the US military established Fort McDowell about 25 miles upstream on the Salt River. Soon, they needed a community to grow food and help supply the fort. By the late 1800s, the Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad crossed the Salt River at Tempe, forever making the city a critical transportation link. 

It’s seen steady growth since then, mainly due to its status as a Phoenix suburb, where many Tempe residents still spend their days working.

A higher cost of living

Many residents move to Tempe for job opportunities and quality of life but aren’t available at a discount. According to Best Places, Tempe’s cost of living index is 112, placing it higher than the national mean of 100. 

This isn’t unusual, given that Arizona’s cost of living (106) also comes above the national index. Healthcare costs are generally low relative to the mean (92.5 on the index), while the median home cost ($426,900) tends to keep land at a premium. 

What will it cost to afford daily life in Tempe? According to LivingCost, one person can expect to pay $2,185 per month living in Tempe before paying rent or housing. You can use this number to explore prices in Tempe but remember, it’s just a broad reference point for comparison.

Tempe job market

Given Tempe’s access to the entire Phoenix metropolitan area, one positive aspect of moving to Tempe is access to the labor market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Arizona’s job openings rate is on par with what you can expect to see around the country. 

The easy commute to other cities opens up doors to multiple employers in growing industries like technology and medical research. But you don’t have to go far to find well-paying work in Tempe, thanks to its strong education, business services, and hospitality sectors.

Top employers in the area include Wells Fargo, Carvana, and Honeywell. Given that Arizona State University is one of the most locally relevant and large employers. It’s also a source of local entertainment, as Arizona State is an NCAA Division I school in several major sports.

Exceptional access to education

Speaking of Arizona State, higher education dominates Tempe’s culture and life. Some 73,000 students enroll at Arizona State, making it one of the largest universities in Arizona, let alone the country. As a public research university, Arizona State has a lot going on. 

It’s particularly regarded as a top public affairs, criminology, and education school. Notably, US News ranked its criminology program #2 in the nation.

But it’s not all about Arizona State. Tempe has about five school districts that service the area, including some that cross borders with other cities. Some school districts serve a dedicated age bracket, like K-8 only or high school only. That focus helps keep it a solid place to raise children. 

According to Niche, Tempe’s Union High School District ranks as #23 in the list of best districts for public education in Arizona. US News and World ranked Tempe Preparatory Academy, a charter school, as the no. 22 in the state for 2023. 

There are also private academies serving Tempe families. US News rankings generally put Tempe elementary schools in the average category across the state, with no particular standouts.

Tempe real estate

With the Salt River moving east-west through north of town, Tempe is mostly a flat community with wide-open space, big skies, and plenty of room for walking. According to data from TownCharts, Tempe is in the mid-range for total housing units available for the Phoenix metro, outdone by other suburbs like Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa. Tempe also ranks high on the “housing density” scale, reflecting its many single-family home neighborhoods.

Renting is common in Tempe. TownCharts notes that the number of owned homes in Tempe is below the national average. It’s also lower than the surrounding communities like Chandler and Mesa. Being home to ASU lends the town to have more part-time housing to accommodate the transient student population. 

Generally, median home prices in Maricopa County remain high: $465,000 as of August 2023, according to recent data. The greater Phoenix metro’s available listings are down, a trend that has stuck throughout 2023. For the year-to-date, total new listings were down 28%.

Tempe’s real estate market was above those prices, with an August 2023 median sales price of $570,000, a 10% year-over-year increase. Notably, overall median sale prices were down 8.2% for the year-to-date. And Tempe is plagued by the same problem faced across the metro. It had 10% fewer new listings year-over-year and 42% fewer for the year-to-date.

Getting around Tempe 

Tempe’s key location as the railroad crossing over the Salt River highlights its current status as a transportation hub. For many, there’s no getting across the Valley of the Sun without going through Tempe. 

The city offers multiple modes of public transportation: bus, light rail, and even streetcars. The Tempe streetcar, for example, works on a 3.1-mile circuit with 14 stops, operating daily to service the Tempe area.

During the Arizona State school year, a “FLASH” free local area transportation route operates throughout the business day, showing up at some stops every 10 minutes. It’s primarily through and around the ASU campus.

If you have your own transportation, Tempe is generally a side-road-heavy city with borders touching significant highways like Hwy 101, 202, and I-10, which can take you into the Phoenix area. Superstition Freeway (Hwy 60) connects east-west to I-10 through the middle of town.

Hot and dry

One word for you: hot. The key to understanding Tempe’s climate is the Sonoran Desert, where the Valley of the Sun borders the northern edge. The Sonoran Desert is part of a larger ecosystem that moves through Mexico and Baja California.

Sharing this location without a moderating coastline to keep temperatures cool will mean you can expect scorching summers and comfortable winters. Around Christmastime, the mean temperature in Tempe will be about 65 Fahrenheit. Once the area reaches February, the temperature starts climbing rapidly until it hits its summer highs. The Tempe area is also dry, often with minimal cloud cover during the summer months. Still, you can expect more cloud cover and occasional rain during fall and winter.

Tempe things to do

Arizona State is one of the biggest attractions in the Tempe area. Yes, it’s all about football, but that’s not the only thing you can expect to see. Arizona State is also a top name in the college baseball world, not to mention its presence in golf, ice hockey, tennis, volleyball, and basketball. If you’re a fan of any sport, you’ll enjoy watching the local student-athletes playing at a high level in Tempe.

But it’s not all about the Sun Devils. Let’s look at a few things you can think about doing once you get settled into Tempe.

The top 6 for your Tempe bucket list

• Tempe Town Lake. You can’t miss this watercourse on the town’s northern border. It is an important water resource for the metro and one of the few in-town places where you can swim at a beach, paddleboard, or rent a kayak. Over 100 events happen lakeside or on the lake, like the Arizona Ironman.
• Papago Park. Hiking is a popular activity in the Valley of the Sun thanks to the easy access to many parks plus the wild, largely undisturbed landscape in the surrounding preserves and parks. Papago Park is a particular favorite of locals who love walking or trail running.
• Sea Life Arizona Aquarium. That’s right: sea life in Arizona. A 360-degree ocean tunnel is a major attraction for kids and families who want something other than fun in the sun. 
• The Heard Museum. The Heard Museum dates to 1929 and displays the rich history of Native American arts and crafts. It highlights the area’s roots and unique cultures.
• Live music, including local spots like The Marquee and the Low Key Piano Bar, which host a wide range of musical performers to entertain you on a night out.
• Spring training. Major League Baseball takes a detour through Tempe. According to Tempe Tourism, Cactus League Spring Training sees 15 MLB teams play across 10 local stadiums, adding up to more than 200 games locally. It’s a chance to see major-league talent at a fraction of the price.

Food culture

Given Arizona’s proximity to Mexico, don’t be surprised to find all sorts of authentic and delicious Mexican food across Tempe, AZ. There are cultural mainstays like Rostia’s and Sorrano’s, as Tempe Tourism points out, which have been favorites in the Tempe area for decades.

But Tempe also has a rich food culture balanced with vegan & vegetarian restaurants, coffee shops, and local craft breweries that take advantage of all the outdoor-friendly weather. 

Staying active 

Pack a water bottle and snacks! There’s lots to do outside, from kayaking on the Tempe Town Lake to playing a round at Ken McDonald Golf Course. Tempe residents stay fit through hiking, biking, and golf. The Shalimar Golf Club is a casual course with both standard and footgolf, which gives you plenty to do if you want to keep it light.

Moving to Tempe, AZ

The Valley of the Sun is a growing area because people love it. Find multiple ways to stay busy when you’re not at work or school, between enjoying a day at the lakeside or hiking at nearby South Mountain. Families love the suburban lifestyle with its great schools and multiple sports clubs for their families. If you can find a Tempe home at the right price, you’ll find it’s an investment in desert living that will pay dividends for years.