Top 1% AZ Realtor | David R Brown
Living in Tempe, AZ: Homes, Neighborhoods, and Local Life
Farm roots, open desert, room to grow. David R. Brown works this market every day from his office on Ellsworth Road.
Welcome to Tempe
Long before stadium lights, this was just a spot to cross the Salt River. Charles Hayden ran a ferry there in the early 1870s, and the settlement briefly carried his name. In 1879, a pioneer renamed it after a Greek valley he thought it resembled. Close to 190,000 people live here now, and with Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Chandler pressing on every border, there’s nowhere left to spread.
Why Live in Tempe, AZ
ASU is hard to miss. Roughly 51,200 students attend the main campus, so Mill Avenue gets rowdy on home game nights. Yet plenty of residents never set foot in a lecture hall. They work for State Farm, Honeywell, or headquartered names like Carvana, GoDaddy, and First Solar. Their drives stay short, too. Census figures peg the average commute just under 21 minutes.
Going car-light is realistic here, which you can’t say about most Valley suburbs. Light rail runs downtown into Phoenix and Mesa. One dollar buys a streetcar ride past campus and the waterfront. If you ride a bike, there are about 175 miles of bike paths and lanes to explore. For a lot of locals, though, the favorite spot is Tempe Town Lake. It opened in 1999 and runs about two miles along the old Salt River bed. People kayak, row, and fish there, and in the evening you’ll see plenty of joggers on the paths around it.
Who Lives Here?
- Students and ASU staff: A lot of them rent close enough to bike to class. University Park and Daley Park are easy to get around on foot. Faculty tend to like Maple-Ash for its older bungalows. Living this close to campus does get loud, though. Bars are open late, and some neighbors have complained about street racing at night.
- Young professionals: Downtown is a popular pick, and so are the condo towers near the lake. Restaurants are within walking distance, and light rail can get you to the office. Plenty of people here only own one car.
- Families: Most look south, where streets quiet down, yards grow bigger, and A-rated Corona del Sol High sits nearby. Younger kids typically attend Kyrene through eighth grade. Warner Ranch, Alta Mira, and Tally Ho Farms come up often.
- Investors: Renters dominate. Just 42 percent of residences are owner-occupied, and median rent hovers around $1,743. No wonder buyers with rental plans watch the blocks near ASU.
- Downsizers and retirees: Two areas suit anyone wanting lighter upkeep. The Lakes offers waterfront paths plus a clubhouse, while Shalimar borders a nine-hole golf course.
Real Estate in Tempe, AZ
Prices have come down a bit this year, so buyers have more room to work with than they did in 2025. In mid-October 2026, a typical single-family home in Tempe sold for about $540,000. That’s roughly 4 percent less than a year earlier. Sellers now wait longer, typically 58 days, and with supply more than doubling to five and a half months, buyers can afford to be choosy. Closings average about 97% of list price. None of this leaves sellers stuck. It simply means pricing must rest on local comparable sales, backed by a real negotiation plan. That’s where an experienced Tempe real estate agent earns their keep.
Types of Homes Available
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Condos and lofts: Downtown units in ZIP code 85281 generally cost between $465,000 and $675,000.
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Mid-century ranches: Tempe Gardens is full of single-story houses on big lots, many with carports and citrus trees. Expect $450,000 to $750,000.
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Starter homes: Meyer Park and Hudson Manor, near Papago Park, open the door at around $400,000.
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Established family homes: Broadmor typically runs $500,000 to $850,000. South Tempe’s larger parcels climb from $650,000 past $1.3 million.
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Flood-irrigated properties: Here’s a perk tied to certain older neighborhoods. Some 850 households still get SRP irrigation water, delivered weekly from 10 p.m. Sunday, with a pause each November and December. That’s why those streets stay so green.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tempe a good place to live?
For most people, yes. Niche awards an overall A, with high marks for nightlife, diversity, and commuting. Affordability is the weak spot. Housing earns a C, cost of living a C-minus.
Will I hear planes from my house?
Depends where you buy. Sky Harbor departures follow the Salt River bed overhead and don’t turn until the 101. Shopping up north? Check the airport’s published flight paths before making an offer.
Are any Kyrene schools closing?
Yes. Kyrene plans to close six schools over the next two school years. The district has about 12,000 students now, down from close to 20,000 at its peak. If you’re looking at a home in South Tempe, find out which school it’s zoned for before you buy.
How good are the high schools?
Strong. Tempe Union holds an A for 2025–26, and McClintock, Marcos de Niza, and Tempe High each earned one individually.
What’s the difference between North and South Tempe?
North sits closer to transit, ASU, and the water, so it feels busier. South is calmer, with bigger lots, though errands mean more driving.
How safe is Tempe?
That varies by neighborhood. Niche gives crime and safety a C, and a few reviewers feel uneasy riding light rail late. Visit any area after dark before deciding.
How do locals handle the summer heat?
Temperatures can top 110 degrees, so people head out early. Families cool off at The Cloud, a Kiwanis Park splash zone open April through October.
Search Homes For Sale by Neighborhood
Tempe Homes For Sale
Overview for Tempe, AZ
66,369 people live in Tempe, where the median age is 37.2 and the average individual income is $50,866. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
66,369
Total Population
37.2 years
Median Age
High
Population Density
$50,866
Average individual Income
Around Queen Creek, AZ
Dining, shopping, fitness and everyday essentials close to Queen Creek.
Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Walking Score
Bike Score
Points of Interest
Demographics and Employment Data for Queen Creek, AZ
A snapshot of who lives in Queen Creek.
Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Population
Households
Schools in Queen Creek, AZ
Schools in and around Queen Creek. Ratings are a starting point - confirm details with the school or district.
School ratings via GreatSchools.
| Type | Name | Category | Grades | School Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | Queen Creek High School | High | 9-12 | 8/10 |
| Public | Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School | Primary | PreK-6 | 8/10 |
| Public | Dr. Gary and Annette Auxier Elementary School | Primary | PreK-6 | 8/10 |
| Public | Queen Creek Elementary School | Primary | PreK-5 | 8/10 |
| Public | Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary School | Primary | PreK-5 | 8/10 |
| Charter | Legacy Traditional School – Queen Creek | Mixed | K-9 | 8/10 |
| Charter | Benjamin Franklin High School | High | 7-12 | 7/10 |
| Public | Jack Barnes Elementary School | Primary | PreK-6 | 7/10 |
| Public | Queen Creek Middle School | Middle | 5-8 | 5/10 |
| Type | Name | Category | Grades | School Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary School | Primary | PreK-6 | 8/10 |
| Public | Dr. Gary and Annette Auxier Elementary School | Primary | PreK-6 | 8/10 |
| Public | Queen Creek Elementary School | Primary | PreK-5 | 8/10 |
| Public | Frances Brandon-Pickett Elementary School | Primary | PreK-5 | 8/10 |
| Public | Jack Barnes Elementary School | Primary | PreK-6 | 7/10 |
| Type | Name | Category | Grades | School Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | Queen Creek Middle School | Middle | 5-8 | 5/10 |
| Type | Name | Category | Grades | School Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | Queen Creek High School | High | 9-12 | 8/10 |
| Charter | Benjamin Franklin High School | High | 7-12 | 7/10 |
| Type | Name | Category | Grades | School Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charter | Legacy Traditional School – Queen Creek | Mixed | K-9 | 8/10 |