Tempe, Arizona

Tempe: The third most populous city in Arizona.

About

Tempe is a city located in the county of Maricopa in the U.S. state of Arizona. Its population at the 2010 census was 161,719. After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 200,402 inhabitants.

The city was created 147 years ago in 1878.

Tempe is a city located in Maricopa County, Arizona, within the Phoenix metro area. Home to around 200,000 people, it is a major suburb of Phoenix.

History and Development

Tempe was founded in 1871 and was incorporated in 1894. It emerged as a hub for education.

Key historical facts:

  • Founded in 1871 by Charles Trumbull Hayden
  • Home to the first schoolhouse in the Salt River Valley in 1872
  • Arizona Normal School established in 1886, now Arizona State University
  • Saw major population growth as a suburb starting in 1970s

Economy and Major Industries

Major sectors include technology, healthcare, education, aerospace, and financial services. Top employers are:

  • Arizona State University
  • State Farm Insurance regional center
  • Silicon Valley Bank operations center
  • Edward Jones financial services

Attractions and Things to Do

Well-known Tempe attractions include:

  • Arizona State University campus
  • Mill Avenue with shops, dining, and nightlife
  • Tempe Town Lake for recreation and events
  • Papago Park with hiking trails and desert views
  • Arizona Cardinals football at nearby State Farm Stadium

Tempe provides education, technology, amenities, and desert scenery in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Tempe locator map
Location of Tempe on Arizona map.

Quick Facts about Tempe

Population 200,402 (2020)
Country United States of America
State Arizona (United States)
County Maricopa County
Postal code 85281, 85282, 85283, 85284, 85285, 85287
Phone Area Codes 480
Water as percent of area 0.65%
Land as percent of area 99.35%
Latitude & Longitude 33.4148,-111.9093
Named for Vale of Tempe
Altitude 1,496 feet / 456 meters
Establishment January 01, 1879 (147 years ago)
Time Zone Mountain Time Zone
Local time 13:27:29 (22nd April 2026)
Population growth 19.3% (2010-2020)
Weather 63℉ Mostly Clear 7-days weather
Tempeskyline3 image
Tempeskyline3 image

Geography

Tempe is located at 33°24'53"N 111°54'34"W (33.4147700, -111.9093100).

Tempe map

Click "full screen" full screen map icon to open full mode. View satellite images

Weather

63°F
Mostly Clear
0 to 10 mph SSW Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 63. South southwest wind 0 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

7-Day Forecast

Official website of Tempe

Official Website
  • Lower Hutt
  • Regensburg (1978 )
  • Skopje
  • Timbuktu
  • Zhenjiang

Demographics

The population of Tempe increased by 19.3% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
2010 161,719 - census
2011 164,477 1.68% estimation process
2012 168,549 2.42% estimation process
2013 170,740 1.28% estimation process
2014 175,636 2.79% estimation process
2015 179,114 1.94% estimation process
2016 184,877 3.12% estimation process
2017 185,792 0.49% estimation process
2018 191,746 3.11% estimation process
2019 195,805 2.07% estimation process
2020 200,402 2.29% estimation process

Demographic Facts

Estimated population as of July 1, 2019 : 141,664
Based on demographic estimates as of April 1, 2010 : 117,473
Based on demographic estimates as of 1 April 2010 : 20.6%
April 1, 2020 Population : 143,148
April 1, 2010 Population : 117,517
People under 5 years old, percentage : 5.6%
People under 18 years old, percentage : 24.4%
People over 65 (%) : 22.6%
Female persons, % : 51.7%
White only, percent : 84.3%
Black or African American alone, percent : 6.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native only, % : 0.3%
Asians alone % : 2.8%
Only Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, % : 0.1%
% of people who have participated in two or more races : 2.9%
% of Hispanic or Latino : 19.6%
White people, not Hispanic or Latino people, make up the majority of the population. : 68.7%
2015-2019 Veterans : 12,032
Percentage of foreign-born people, 2015-2019 : 8.5%
Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : 75.9%
Tempe zip code is 85281. County name: Maricopa, County fips: 04013
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Economic Facts

Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : 75.9%
Owner-occupied housing unit median value, 2015-2019 : $239,500
From 2015 to 2019, the median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage : $1,440
Monthly owner costs, without a mortgage, at the median, 2015-2019 : $426
2015-2019 median gross rent : $1,349
2015-2019 Households : 48,618
Population per household, 2015-2019 : 2.78
Living in the same house a year ago, percentage of people aged one year and up, 2015-2019 : 86.7%
Languages other than English spoken at home, as a percentage of people aged 5 and up, 2015-2019 : 13.6%
Households with computers, %, 2015-2019 : 95.6%
Percentage of households with a broadband Internet subscription, 2015-2019 : 91.8%
Percentage of people aged 25 and up with a high school diploma or higher, 2015-2019 : 92.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, proportion of people aged 25 and up, 2015-2019 : 28.6%
Percentage of people under the age of 65 who have a disability, 2015-2019 : 7.2%
Persons under the age of 65 who do not have health insurance, as a percentage : 8.0%
Total civilian labor force, percent of population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 55.5%
Female labor force participation in the civilian labor force, as a percentage of the population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 51.8%
Total sales of lodging and food services in 2012 ($1,000) : 151,765
Total receipts/revenue for health care and social assistance in 2012 ($1,000) : 138,107
Manufacturers' total shipments in 2012 ($1,000) : 143,676
2012 total retail sales ($1,000) : 1,137,039
2012 total retail sales per capita : $9,375
Mean commute time to work (in minutes), workers aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 30.4
2015-2019 median household income (in 2019 dollars) : $69,076
Income per capita in the previous 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019 : $30,605
Percentage of people living in poverty : 7.3%
Total number of businesses in 2012 : 7,048
Men-owned businesses in 2012 : 3,471
Women-owned businesses in 2012 : 2,746
Minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 1,429
Non-minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 5,361
Veteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 935
Nonveteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 5,716
2010 population per square mile : 1,111.3
2010 land area in square miles : 105.75
Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : 66.2%
Owner-occupied housing unit median value, 2015-2019 : $475,300
From 2015 to 2019, the median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage : $2,176
Monthly owner costs, without a mortgage, at the median, 2015-2019 : $621
2015-2019 median gross rent : $1,365
2015-2019 Households : 115,401
Population per household, 2015-2019 : 2.16
Living in the same house a year ago, percentage of people aged one year and up, 2015-2019 : 82.8%
Languages other than English spoken at home, as a percentage of people aged 5 and up, 2015-2019 : 13.2%
Households with computers, %, 2015-2019 : 96.1%
Percentage of households with a broadband Internet subscription, 2015-2019 : 92.0%
Percentage of people aged 25 and up with a high school diploma or higher, 2015-2019 : 96.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher, proportion of people aged 25 and up, 2015-2019 : 58.4%
Percentage of people under the age of 65 who have a disability, 2015-2019 : 5.1%
Persons under the age of 65 who do not have health insurance, as a percentage : 7.4%
Total civilian labor force, percent of population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 62.1%
Female labor force participation in the civilian labor force, as a percentage of the population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 56.1%
Total sales of lodging and food services in 2012 ($1,000) : 1,370,613
Total receipts/revenue for health care and social assistance in 2012 ($1,000) : 2,664,668
Manufacturers' total shipments in 2012 ($1,000) : 4,532,533
2012 total retail sales ($1,000) : 5,848,090
2012 total retail sales per capita : $26,164
Mean commute time to work (in minutes), workers aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 22.3
2015-2019 median household income (in 2019 dollars) : $88,213
Income per capita in the previous 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019 : $62,682
Percentage of people living in poverty : 7.6%
Total number of businesses in 2012 : 36,625
Men-owned businesses in 2012 : 18,724
Women-owned businesses in 2012 : 11,164
Minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 3,440
Non-minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 31,002
Veteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 3,155
Nonveteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 30,565
2010 population per square mile : 1,182.0
2010 land area in square miles : 183.92
Residential units, July 1, 2019 : 73,862
Rate of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 : 68.4%
Owner-occupied housing unit median value, 2015-2019 : $226,000
From 2015 to 2019, the median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage : $1,467
Monthly owner costs, without a mortgage, at the median, 2015-2019 : $476
2015-2019 median gross rent : $892
Permits for construction, 2020 : 1,397
2015-2019 Households : 66,385
Population per household, 2015-2019 : 2.34
Living in the same house a year ago, percentage of people aged one year and up, 2015-2019 : 84.1%
Languages other than English spoken at home, as a percentage of people aged 5 and up, 2015-2019 : 3.9%
Households with computers, %, 2015-2019 : 91.5%
Percentage of households with a broadband Internet subscription, 2015-2019 : 84.3%
Percentage of people aged 25 and up with a high school diploma or higher, 2015-2019 : 94.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher, proportion of people aged 25 and up, 2015-2019 : 32.1%
Percentage of people under the age of 65 who have a disability, 2015-2019 : 8.8%
Persons under the age of 65 who do not have health insurance, as a percentage : 8.3%
Total civilian labor force, percent of population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 66.8%
Female labor force participation in the civilian labor force, as a percentage of the population aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 61.9%
Total sales of lodging and food services in 2012 ($1,000) : 452,246
Total receipts/revenue for health care and social assistance in 2012 ($1,000) : 1,527,576
Manufacturers' total shipments in 2012 ($1,000) : 6,880,315
2012 total retail sales ($1,000) : 3,272,215
2012 total retail sales per capita : $21,544
Mean commute time to work (in minutes), workers aged 16 and up, 2015-2019 : 19.0
2015-2019 median household income (in 2019 dollars) : $61,264
Income per capita in the previous 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019 : $34,451
Percentage of people living in poverty : 11.3%
Total number of employer establishments, 2019 : 5,649
2019 total employment : 70,762
2019 total annual payroll ($1,000) : 3,366,588
Total employment, change in percentage terms, 2018-2019 : 0.8%
2018 total non-employer establishments : 12,253
Total number of businesses in 2012 : 15,344
Men-owned businesses in 2012 : 7,995
Women-owned businesses in 2012 : 4,715
Minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 725
Non-minority-owned businesses in 2012 : 13,775
Veteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 1,460
Nonveteran-owned businesses in 2012 : 12,709
2010 population per square mile : 56.2
2010 land area in square miles : 2,633.29

Services and Civic Places in Tempe

1City of Tempe City Hall

Rating: 4 (20)

31 E 5th St, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

Phone: +14803504311 | Website available

2Tempe City Hall

Rating: 4.3 (16)

31 E 5th St, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

Phone: +14803504311 | Website available

3City of Tempe Human Resources

Rating: 2.6 (5)

20 E 6th St, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

Phone: +14803504311 | Website available

4Tempe Mayor

Rating: 2.3 (3)

31 E 5th St, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

Phone: +14803504311

5Tempe Fire Department Station No. 5

Rating: 5 (2)

723 E Curry Rd, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

Phone: +14808587200 | Website available

6Tempe Economic Development

Rating: 5 (2)

31 E 5th St, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

Phone: +14803508028 | Website available

7City of Tempe Az

Rating: 5 (1)

900 W 9th St, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

Phone: +14803504311 | Website available

8Tempe Engineering Department

31 E 5th St, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

Phone: +14803508200 | Website available

9Escalante ARIZONA

Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

10Tempe City Clerk

31 E 5th St, Tempe, AZ 85281, United States View details

Phone: +14803508241 | Website available

People born in Tempe (50)

People born in Tempe, including federal politician Carl Hayden, drummer Chad Taylor, politician Robert Finch, .

More notable people

  • Sally Meyerhoff (American athletics competitor) she was born in 27/12/1983
  • Sean Delaney (American musician) he was born in 08/01/1945
  • Rachel Campos-Duffy (American television personality) she was born in 22/10/1971
  • Madison Scott (American movie actress) she was born in 13/07/1988
  • Zach Miller (American football player, tight end) he was born in 11/12/1985
  • Alma Dayer LeBaron, Sr. (American Mormon leader) he was born in 15/03/1886
  • Charles Daggs (American hurdler) he was born in 14/04/1901
  • Danny Martinez (American martial artist) he was born in 14/06/1985
  • DeAnna Robbins (actress) she was born in 07/06/1959
  • Estevan Payan (American martial artist) he was born in 03/04/1982
  • James Shumway (American politician) he was born in 08/07/1939
  • Jason Kyle (American football player) he was born in 12/05/1972
  • Jessica Makinson (American actress and comedian) she was born in 29/11/1978
  • Joel Filani (American football player) he was born in 08/12/1983
  • John E. Casida (American entomologist) he was born in 22/12/1929
  • Jules Asner (television personality and model) she was born in 14/02/1968
  • Kemper Goodwin (NRHP-listed Arizona architect) he was born in 28/04/1906
  • Long Jeanne Silver (American movie film actress) she was born in 15/06/1960

Nearby Schools and Colleges

Schools and campuses linked to Tempe, AZ. Select a name to open its map and contact details.

Code Name City ZIP
104151 Arizona State University-Tempe Tempe (AZ) 85287
442879 Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Tempe (AZ) 85282
420246 Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences Tempe (AZ) 85282
262341 Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences Tempe (AZ) 85282-1707
482990 Arizona College-Mesa Mesa (AZ) 85201

Nearby Transit Stations (4)

Rail and bus stations connected to Tempe, AZ. Select a station to open its map and address details.

Code Name Address Type
PHA Phoenix (Airport), Arizona 3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd. BUS
PHG Phoenix (Greyhound), Arizona 2115 East Buckeye Road BUS
PXN Phoenix (Metro Center Transit Station), Arizona 9617 North Metro Parkway West BUS
MRC Maricopa 19427 N. John Wayne Parkway RAIL

Closest post offices linked to Tempe.

Post Office Name City ZIP
Tempe Apache Station Post Office Tempe (AZ) 85281
Mesa Dobson Post Office Mesa (AZ) 85202
Tempe Retail Stor Post Office Tempe (AZ) 85281
Tem Post Office Tempe (AZ) 85282
Scottsdal Post Office Scottsdale (AZ) 85257

Other cities in Maricopa County

Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Maricopa County , AZ. (more)

City Name Population Title
Phoenix 1,708,127 The fifth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Mesa 528,159 The fourth most populous city in Arizona and the center of the Mesa metropolitan area.
Chandler 265,398 The second most populous city in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Scottsdale 262,647 The fourth most populous city in Arizona and the center of the Scottsdale metropolitan area.
Gilbert 257,658 The fifth most populous city in Arizona.
Glendale 255,307 The second most populous city in Arizona.
Maryvale 208,189 Urban village in Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Peoria 179,872 The second most populous city in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Tempe Junction 158,368 A census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Surprise 147,965 The seventh most populous city in Arizona.
Goodyear 90,622 The most populous city in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Avondale 88,914 The most populous city in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Buckeye 85,224 Town in Maricopa County, Arizona
Queen Creek 60,097 Town in Arizona, United States
Sun City 37,499 Census designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
El Mirage 36,481 City in Arizona

Distance to Other Cities

Tempe distances to largest Arizona cities