Moving to or from Tempe?
The youngest city in Arizona by demographics — built around Arizona State University, Mill Avenue's walkable downtown, and Tempe Town Lake, where Sun Devils and remote-work transplants share the same palm-lined streets.
- 185,000 City population
- 5,000,000 Metro area
- 1871 Founded
- East Valley / Phoenix Metro Region
Why people move to Tempe.
- Arizona State University — one of the largest public universities in the US with 80,000+ students across campuses
- Mill Avenue — walkable downtown with restaurants, bars, and the College Football Hall of Fame experience
- Tempe Town Lake and the Tempe Center for the Arts on its south shore
- Being the most transit-accessible city in the Phoenix metro via the Valley Metro light rail
- Sun Devil Stadium and the Fiesta Bowl legacy
- A thriving young-professional tech scene as the East Valley's innovation hub
Tempe Town Lake is an artificial lake built in 1999 by damming a dry stretch of the Salt River — turning what had been a flood-control channel into a 2-mile urban lake with kayaking, paddleboards, and rowing crews. When one of the dam's rubber bladders burst in 2010, the entire lake drained in hours and had to be refilled.
Where people live in Tempe.
A quick guide to Tempe's most moved-to neighborhoods.
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Downtown Tempe / Mill Avenue
High-rise apartments near ASU; walkable, transit-connected, party-adjacent
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Maple-Ash / Wilson
Historic Craftsman and ranch neighborhoods just south of ASU with tree-lined streets
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North Tempe
Older ranch neighborhoods with mature landscaping; family-oriented
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South Tempe
Newer subdivisions near Kiwanis Park and Southern Avenue; suburban feel
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Warner Ranch
Master-planned golf community in far south Tempe
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Tempe Town Lake / Marina Heights
New condos and apartments on the lake's north shore with State Farm's regional HQ nearby
Where people spend their time in Tempe.
- Tempe Town Lake Downtown
- Mill Avenue District Downtown
- ASU Gammage (Frank Lloyd Wright-designed) ASU Campus
- Desert Botanical Garden (nearby Papago Park) Papago Park
- Tempe Center for the Arts Tempe Town Lake
- Hayden Butte Preserve ('A' Mountain) Downtown
Planning a Tempe move.
- Summer heat is extreme — June through September regularly tops 105°F; moving in these months requires early-morning starts (6-7am) and strict hydration protocols
- Rental market is dominated by ASU student-turnover cycles; August-September and May-June are peak moving windows with premium pricing
- Tempe's flat terrain and grid layout make moving logistics simple compared to hillier Phoenix suburbs; truck access is rarely an issue
- Most Tempe homes lack basements; plan for garage storage or alternate solutions for seasonal items
Moving in Tempe: FAQ.
Is it crazy to move to Tempe in summer?
It's uncomfortable, not impossible. Reputable Tempe movers start at 5-6am, take longer breaks in direct sun, and price summer moves about the same as winter. Protect electronics and heat-sensitive items (candles, records, wine) with insulated pads or climate-controlled transport. Hydration is non-negotiable for crews and for you.
Do I need a car in Tempe?
Less than in most of metro Phoenix. Tempe is the exception to Phoenix's car-dependency — downtown, ASU, and Tempe Town Lake are walkable and connected by the Valley Metro light rail. Outside that core, you'll want a car, but many students and young professionals get by car-free in central Tempe.
How does ASU's calendar affect Tempe moving costs?
Significantly. Student move-in (mid-August) and move-out (early May) create peak-demand windows with booking shortages and premium rates. If you're flexible, target June, early July, or October-March for better availability and pricing.
Is Tempe a good place for a young professional or is it just a college town?
Increasingly both. Tempe has one of the youngest median ages of any US city (28-30), but the tech-corridor build-out (State Farm, Marina Heights, Rio Salado) has added thousands of young-professional jobs and apartments. Many non-students live in Tempe for the walkability and transit access rare elsewhere in Phoenix metro.
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