City Town Info

Tempe, AZ


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Tempe, Arizona

Introduction to Tempe

Tempe, Arizona is located southeast of Phoenix and is considered a major suburb of the larger city. Tempe has a population of around 160,000 and was named after the Valley of Tempe near Mount Olympus in Greece. Arizona State University is located here, as is the head offices of US Airways. The city was the host of the Fiesta Bowl, although that event is scheduled to move in the future. The city holds a Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Block Party, which is known as one of the largest New Year’s Eve parties in the country. Super Bowl XXX was held in Tempe, as were one of the 2004 Presidential debates. The city has a lively mixture of history, shopping, culture, dining, nightlife, sports, and special events to satisfy just about anyone. Fun in the sun is the name of the game in Tempe.

Tempe Culture

The city of Tempe has a Community Center Complex that is open to children and adults and is dedicated to helping them explore the arts. The Complex has a wide range of classes in the visual and performing arts, as well as other subjects. The Tempe Public Library is a $12 million structure that houses 405,000 volumes and features a wide variety of excellent reference material. The Tempe Historical Museum has collections and exhibits from Tempe’s rich history on display. The Tempe Symphony Orchestra features a number of free annual concerts at Boyle Auditorium. Tempe’s culture is rounded out by the Arizona State University’s Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Downtown Tempe has both Spring and Fall Art Festivals, as well as stand-up comedy clubs and professional theatre.

Tempe Sports and Leisure

Tempe has a wide variety of sporting events that make life interesting for the sports enthusiast. The NFL Arizona Cardinals play here, and the Tostitos Bowl is held every year in the city. Arizona State University has teams in a whole range of sports and leagues. Baseball fans can catch spring training with the Angels Major League Baseball team at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The city also has a number of parks, soccer fields, lighted tennis courts, and a destination park called Tempe Town Lake. Golf courses are plentiful in the area, such as Ken McDonald Golf Course, which has an 18-hole championship course and a fully equipped pro shop. Rolling Hills Golf Course has two executive 9-hole courses, a driving, range, and gold instruction.

Tempe Outdoors

Tempe offers its visitors and residents a whole range of outdoor activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, and canyoncering. Diwanis Community Park offers the chance to catch fish or walk the dog, rent a boat or catch a seasonal movie in the park. Papago Park is a 296-acre park with softball fields, lagoon, picnic armadas, hiking and biking trails, and archeological sites.

Tempe at Night

Dining out in Tempe can be as casual or as elegant as the diners desire. Downtown Tempe has wide variety of restaurants, and it is the most concentrated area of cafes and eateries in the state of Arizona. Middle Eastern, Asian, Mexican, and American are very common in this area. Tempe also has a good selection of night clubs, cafes, and microbreweries for the nighttime partygoers.

Of Note

High Points

Tempe strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Arizona):

CategoryTrophy
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. Peers)
Top 3%trophyTempe Walking and Biking to Work
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)
Top 8%Tempe Public Transportation Use
College Educated Adults
(vs. Peers)
Top 10%Tempe College Educated Adults
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. State)
Top 11%Tempe Well-Paid Single Men
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. State)
Top 12%Tempe Well-Paid Single Women
Median Family Income
(vs. Peers)
Top 18%Tempe Median Family Income

Comparative Profile of Tempe, AZ

Comparing Tempe to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Arizona (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Male Share of the Population1010
Well-Paid Single Men89
Well-Paid Single Women79
Racial Diversity48
Senior Citizens22
Children Under 5 Years Old23
Age of the Population12
Female Share of the Population11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Average Household Size43
Portion of People Married41

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
College Educated Adults1010
Median Family Income99
People in Middle Class or Better78
People Above Poverty65

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work1010
Short Commute Times86
Working at Home85
Public Transportation Use510

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing92
Housing Recently Built95
Affordability of Property Taxes83
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals710
People Living Alone59
Affordability of Rents32

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime74
Low Property Crime13

Detailed pages on related topics: Tempe collegesTempe travelTempe mortgages and property.

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Additional Details

Tempe CollegesTempe Colleges
Tempe colleges and trade schools.
Tempe Hotels & TravelTempe Hotels & Travel
Tempe hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Tempe MortgageTempe Mortgage
Tempe property, mortgage, and real estate.

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