Tempe AZ
Arizona · Pop. 188,065
Tempe, AZ: median household income of $79,663, median rent of $1,743/mo, 5.5% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$79,663
per year
Median Rent
$1,743
per month
Median Home
$455k
home value
Unemployment
5.5%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
15.8%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
21 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Tempe, AZ Reality Check"
In Tempe, the rent-to-income burden runs around 26% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $79,663 and median rent is $1,743/month. 50% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $455,400 — that's 5.7× the median income. 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a highly educated workforce that drives (and inflates) this local economy. With a median age of 30, this is a young city — high energy, high turnover, and a lot of people figuring out adulthood simultaneously. Employment picture: 5.49% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 15.8%. Average commute: 21 minutes — acceptable. Tempe was founded in 1879 — that's 147 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 39.9 sq miles at 4,709 people/sq mile — moderately dense. Elevation: 1,496 ft — elevated terrain. Tempe has 5 sister cities — cosmopolitan on paper, at least. RoastMyCity overall score: 62/100 — It Depends.