City profile · Arizona · Census ACS 2023

Tempe, AZ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Tempe - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

186,419
Residents
$77,643
Median income
$421,900
Median home
$1,839
Median rent (state)

Tempe - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Tempe lands in the 59th percentile for household income and the 12th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

59th
percentile, household income
79th
percentile, home value
77th
percentile, median rent
12th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Tempe, AZ

Arizona's Tempe is a mid-sized U.S. city, with 186,419 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $77,643 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.0%. Typical homes in Tempe are valued around $421,900, and the median resident age is 29.9 years. Educational attainment runs 49.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 67.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1,075 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 23% from five years earlier. Tempe's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 3364.1 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Arizona tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Arizona at 100.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,839 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Arizona's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). Workers in Tempe report an average commute of 17.2 minutes, with 60.6% driving alone and 19.4% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

186,419 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arizona

Median Household Income

$77,643 /yr

Poverty 8.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.7 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arizona average

How does Tempe compare to other US cities?

Here's how Tempe stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 59% higher than other cities
Home value 79% pricier than other cities
Median rent 77% pricier than other cities
Safety 12% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Arizona and the picture shifts: Tempe ranks #52 of 61 Arizona cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Tempe's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Arizona, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

59thIncome percentile
12thSafety percentile

59th percentile nationally for median household income · 12th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Tempe's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Tempe's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 31 Avg. percentile National median
Tempe's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Tempe's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$421,900 21st percentile more affordable than 21% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Tempe $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Tempe, AZ Tempe, AZ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Tempe, AZ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Tempe, AZ median $77,643/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Tempe, AZ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Tempe, AZ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 49.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
186,419
Median Income
$77,643
Median Home Value
$421,900
Median Age
29.9
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Labor force participation
67.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
49.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3364.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
470.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2893.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
49
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
182,000 residents184,000 residents186,000 residents188,000 residents190,000 residents192,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 185,298 residents 190,571 residents ▲ +2.8%
Tempe's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
1,075
housing units authorized
Single-Family
99
detached homes
Multifamily
976
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,401
2020 1,339
2021 1,758
2022 1,745
2023 1,496
2024 1,075

Permit volume decreased 23% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.2 minutes
Drive Alone
60.6%
Carpool
8.1%
Public Transit
3.3%
Walk
3.9%
Work from Home
19.4%
Other
4.7%

Based on 107,109 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arizona - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$34
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arizona state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arizona state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Tempe sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.7
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,839/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arizona

Peoria
194,338 people
Surprise
149,519 people
Scottsdale
242,169 people
Glendale
250,193 people
San Tan Valley
105,231 people
Goodyear
102,891 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Tempe's 186,419 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Paradise, NV
186,178 people
Mobile, AL
185,097 people
Brownsville, TX
188,023 people
Newport News, VA
184,774 people
Shreveport, LA
183,483 people
Akron, OH
189,526 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Tempe's $77,643 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lake Shastina, CA
$77,645 median income
Boronda, CA
$77,639 median income
Lower Grand Lagoon, FL
$77,639 median income
Finesville, NJ
$77,647 median income
Artesia, NM
$77,647 median income
Ellport, PA
$77,639 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Tempe, AZ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Tempe, AZ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 60.1% 7.8% 9.5% 6.9% 12.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 23.1% White 60.1% Black or African American 7.8% Asian 9.5% American Indian 2.6% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 6.9% Two or more races 12.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Tempe compares to nearby Arizona cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Tempe (this city) 186,419 $77,643
Peoria 194,338 $93,403
Surprise 149,519 $93,371
Scottsdale 242,169 $107,372
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AZ FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Tempe, AZ?

What is the population of Tempe, AZ? +

186,419 people live in Tempe, AZ according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Tempe, AZ? +

In Tempe, the typical household earns $77,643 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Tempe? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Tempe; the closest available measure is the Arizona state average, a cost of living index of 100.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arizona vary by metro area.

Is Tempe, AZ safe? +

Tempe has a total crime rate of 3364.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Tempe, AZ? +

A typical home in Tempe is worth $421,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.