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City · 188,065 residents · Maricopa County, Arizona

Tempe , Arizona

In Tempe, a typical home is worth $455,400 and typical rent is $1,743 a month. Compared with all of Maricopa County, typical household income is 11% lower and the share of households that own their home is 23 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $455,400

    About the same as the county

    15% above Arizona

    • Tempe
    • Maricopa
    • Arizona

  • Typical rent

    $1,743a month

    2% above the county

    13% above Arizona

    • Tempe
    • Maricopa
    • Arizona

  • Typical household income

    $79,663a year

    11% below the county

    About the same as Arizona

    • Tempe
    • Maricopa
    • Arizona

  • Households that own their home

    42%

    23 points below the county

    25 points below Arizona

    • Tempe
    • Maricopa
    • Arizona

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$458,515
0.5% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,623 a month
0.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Tempe is in Maricopa County. The FHA loan limit ($557,750 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Maricopa County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Tempe apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Tempe has the 3rd lowest homeownership rate of the 94 cities in Arizona with more than 5,000 people (42%).

  2. Nearby, in Guadalupe, the typical rent is $872: 50% less than in Tempe ($1,743).

  3. Nearby, in Guadalupe, the typical home value is $271,300: 40% less than in Tempe ($455,400).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Tempe

What homes there are in Tempe, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

There are more apartments in Tempe than in Maricopa County: 42% of homes, against 21%.

Year built

Homes in Tempe are older: the typical year built is 1984; in Maricopa County, 1993.

There are fewer big homes in Tempe than in Maricopa County: 45% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 61%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 66% of owner-occupied homes in Tempe are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Maricopa County ($557,750); the rest are worth more.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,828 a month

Maricopa County: $1,931 a month

Without a mortgage

$582 a month

Maricopa County: $575 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

Maricopa County: 67%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Tempe is $1,828 a month, less than in Maricopa County ($1,931); without one, $582.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Tempe rose 67% since 2015–2019, less than in Maricopa County (74%).

Much as in Maricopa County, the typical rent in Tempe rose 50% since 2015–2019.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 37%, while home values changed +67% and rent +50%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureTempeMaricopa CountyArizonaUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.6%6.0%5.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room 4.5%4.3%4.3%3.4%
People per household 2.272.592.532.53
Drive alone 59%65%67%69%
Carpool 8%10%10%9%
Public transit 3%1%1%3%
Walk or bike 6%2%2%3%
Work from home 21%21%18%15%
Other means 2%2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Maricopa County, the rental vacancy rate in Tempe is 6.6%.

More than one person per room: that is how 4.5% of households in Tempe live, near the figure in Maricopa County (4.3%).

On average, a household in Tempe has 2.27 people, fewer than in Maricopa County (2.59).

In Tempe, 6% of workers walk or bike to work; in Maricopa County, 2%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Tempe?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Tempe, worth $455,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 54% of the typical household income in Tempe, which is $79,663 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $154,392 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Maricopa County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Tempe. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $15,939 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,602

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$447,152
Total interest
$643,346
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,691 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,859 a month

  • Tight

    $1,859 to $2,390 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,390 a month

    Your payment · 54%

Compared with the typical household income in Tempe ($79,663 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,602
Principal & interest$3,029
Property tax$182
Home insurance$190
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$201

You need at least $15,939 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Tempe and Maricopa County

Tempe is in Maricopa County, Arizona. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Tempe's own numbers

Typical home value
$455,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,743
Typical yearly household income
$79,663
Households that own their home
42%
Effective property tax rate
0.48%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Maricopa County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$557,750
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,734
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Maricopa County.

Everything about Maricopa County

Buying

Buying a home in Tempe

A typical home in Tempe is worth $455,400: about the same as the county and 15% above Arizona. With the typical household income in Tempe ($79,663 a year), a typical home costs 5.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Tempe 5.7 years
  • Maricopa 5.1 years
  • Arizona 4.9 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Maricopa County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Maricopa County rose 125% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Maricopa County.

Period County Arizona U.S.
Last year (2025) +0.7% +0.9% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +56% +55% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +125% +119% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Tempe next to Maricopa County, Arizona and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Tempe $455,400
  • Maricopa $452,800
  • Arizona $394,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Tempe $1,743
  • Maricopa $1,708
  • Arizona $1,543
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Tempe $79,663
  • Maricopa $89,300
  • Arizona $79,964
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Tempe next to Maricopa County and Arizona
Measure Tempe Maricopa County Arizona U.S.
Typical home value $455,400 $452,800 $394,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,743 $1,708 $1,543 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $79,663 $89,300 $79,964 $80,734
Households that own their home 42% 65% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,175 $1,983 $1,879 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.48% 0.44% 0.48% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 53% 53% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Maricopa County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Tempe

For a typical $455,400 home in Tempe, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Tempe's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,602a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $15,939
    Cash to close
    $29,601
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $201

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,519a month

    Down payment
    $22,770
    Cash to close
    $36,432
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $216

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,840a month

    Down payment
    $91,080
    Cash to close
    $104,742
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,261a month

    Down payment
    $68,310
    Cash to close
    $81,972
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Tempe and for Maricopa County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Tempe

0.48%of the home’s value each year

$2,175 a year for the typical owner in Tempe.

  • Tempe 0.48%
  • Maricopa 0.44%
  • Arizona 0.48%

What Arizona publishes Senior Property Valuation Protection (valuation freeze) (Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR))

Exemptions and deadlines in Arizona

Flood risk in Maricopa County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Maricopa County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.4%
20,901
Of those, with NFIP insurance
29%
County Arizona U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.4% 2.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 29% 21% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Tempe

Typical rent in Tempe is $1,743 a month: 2% above the county. In Tempe, 53% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Maricopa County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,734 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $33.35 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Maricopa County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,390 $26.73 $55,600
1 bedroom $1,493 $28.71 $59,720
2 bedrooms $1,734 $33.35 $69,360
3 bedrooms $2,287 $43.98 $91,480
4 bedrooms $2,537 $48.79 $101,480

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Tempe

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Tempe has 4 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,810 in 85281 to $2,320 in 85284.

4 of the 4 are above the fair market rent for Maricopa County ($1,734).

  • 85281 $1,810$2,420
  • 85282 $1,810$2,420
  • 85283 $1,880$2,500
  • 85284 $2,320$3,060

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Tempe when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Tempe

HUD lists 10 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Tempe. These are the largest.

  • Meridian @ 101 (fka Apache Villas) 2148 E Apache Blvd, Tempe 85281 76 low-income homes · Studio: 6 · 1 bd: 52 · 2 bd: 18 · In service since 2016 · For older adults
  • Tempe Villa 3425 S Priest Dr, Tempe 85282 60 low-income homes · For families (480) 968-9619
  • Desert Willow Apartments (fka Arizona Sun Apartments) 1895 E Don Carlos Ave, Tempe 85281 57 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 23 · 3 bd: 18 · In service since 2016 · For families
  • Encore on Farmer 601 S Farmer Ave, Tempe 85281 56 low-income homes · 1 bd: 40 · 2 bd: 16 · In service since 2011 · For older adults, people with disabilities
  • The River at Eastline Village 2102 East Apache BLVD, Tempe 85281 56 low-income homes · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2019 · For families

See all 309 buildings in Maricopa County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Tempe

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 12 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Maricopa County; 11 say they serve in Spanish.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Tempe

2 programs are for Tempe or Maricopa County, by their own records: they come first, each with what its official page says about being open. The ones below are statewide in Arizona: they work in Tempe the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Arizona

  • Home in Five Advantage

    For Maricopa County

    Help from the Phoenix and Maricopa County development authorities for the down payment and closing costs in Maricopa County: up to 6% as a second loan, forgivable or with payments depending on the option; no first-time buyer requirement. Offered by Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority and The Industrial Development Authority of the City of Phoenix.

    ForgivableRepayable

    See the program Official page

  • Rental Assistance (Maricopa County Human Services)

    For Maricopa County

    Maricopa County help with the deposit or the month's rent for people who live outside Glendale, Mesa and Phoenix and went through a crisis. Offered by Maricopa County Human Services Department, Senior Services and Community Resilience Division.

    Rental

    See the program Official page

  • Home Plus

    Statewide in Arizona

    Open, per the source

    Arizona IDA down payment assistance across Arizona: a second loan with no interest and no payments, forgiven after five years. Offered by Arizona Industrial Development Authority (Arizona IDA).

    ForgivableDeferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Tempe

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Tempe, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Newtown Community Development Corporation

    2106 E Apache Blvd, Tempe · 3 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (480) 517-1589

  • Nid-Hca Phoenix Randolph

    4600 E Washington St, Phoenix · 5 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (602) 456-2558

  • Credit Advisors Foundation

    7525 E Camelback Rd, Scottsdale · 8 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Korean and other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (402) 514-3340

Every agency in Maricopa County All counseling agencies in Arizona

Help in Spanish near Tempe

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Tempe

HUD’s record names them for Tempe or Maricopa County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

7 other authorities have an office in Maricopa County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Maricopa County

These cities are also in Maricopa County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Maricopa County Housing in Arizona
See 15 more cities in Maricopa County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Tempe, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Maricopa County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Tempe.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Tempe

Short answers with the numbers for Tempe and all of Maricopa County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Tempe?

The typical home value in Tempe is $455,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Maricopa County it is $452,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Tempe?

Typical rent in Tempe is $1,743 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Maricopa County is $1,734.

What is the FHA loan limit in Tempe?

Tempe uses the FHA limit for all of Maricopa County (2026): $557,750 for a one-unit home and $1,072,600 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Tempe?

The typical homeowner in Tempe pays $2,175 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.48% of the home’s value; in Maricopa County, the rate is 0.44%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Tempe?

There are 12 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Maricopa County. 11 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).