Tempe, AZ Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Tempe, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Tempe →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 181,005 people call Tempe, Arizona home. Household income runs $72,022 at the median, roughly in line with what we see across the broader set of cities (+0%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Tempe. The median home value sits at $382,100 (above the multi-city median at +17%), while renters pay a median of $1,472 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Home values run about 5.3× median income in Tempe, putting it squarely in the balanced range among the cities we cover. The local housing market has held steady, with prices up only 0.65% over the past year. FEMA classifies Tempe's hazard risk as Very High. That elevated rating is a major driver of home insurance premiums in the area.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,472/mo in Tempe would take 24.5% of your income.
$329/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($382,100) would take 34.0% of your income toward principal & interest.
$359/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Tempe
Median home value is $382,100 and median gross rent is $1,472/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Maricopa rose 0.65% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,839/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Tempe's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Tempe reported a violent crime rate of 417.6 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Tempe
Planning a move to Tempe? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Tempe, AZ?
- For a quick read on Tempe: homes carry a median value of $382,100, rent runs a median $1,472 monthly, and household income is a median $72,022, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tempe?
- Tempe's median rent of $1,472/month works out to roughly $58,880 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Tempe.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Tempe?
- Tempe's median rent of $1,472/month translates to about $58,880 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $87,423 a year for principal and interest on the $382,100 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is Tempe safe?
- In 2025, Tempe reported 417.6 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for Tempe →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Tempe's.