Living in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is the Valley’s liveliest city, where lakefront sunsets, ASU energy, and a walkable downtown all come together. Let me show you around.
By Susan Nevel, REALTOR · AZ & Associates
What Is It Like to Live in Tempe, AZ?
Tempe, Arizona, is the beating heart of the East Valley: home to Arizona State University, a sparkling downtown along Tempe Town Lake, and some of the best people-watching in the Southwest. With roughly 191,000 residents, it manages to feel both young and established, from college neighborhoods buzzing on game days to quiet, tree-lined streets of mid-century homes just minutes from the water.
Tempe has come a long way from its roots as a farming settlement on the Salt River. Today the lake, the Mill Avenue bridge, and A Mountain frame one of Arizona’s most photographed skylines, the Tempe Festival of the Arts fills the streets twice a year, Papago Park’s red buttes rise at the city’s edge, and the light rail ties it all to Phoenix. I have served the Phoenix metro for more than 24 years, and I would love to help you find your place here.
Tempe’s Best Communities
Tempe has a neighborhood for every stage of life, from college rentals near campus to lakefront family homes. Here is a quick tour of the areas buyers ask me about most.
Downtown Tempe & Mill Avenue
The urban heart of the East Valley
Restaurants, nightlife, the lakefront, and the ASU campus at its doorstep. It suits students, young professionals, and anyone who wants to live in the middle of the action.
The Lakes
Waterfront living near Kiwanis Park
A planned waterfront community beside the 125-acre Kiwanis Park, with lakeside homes and parkland at the door. It suits families and professionals who want water views close to the freeways.
North Tempe & Papago Park
Quiet streets at the foot of the buttes
Established neighborhoods below Papago Park’s red sandstone buttes, minutes from the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo. It suits nature lovers and families who want trail access from home.
South Tempe
Family-friendly with Kyrene schools
Tree-lined family neighborhoods south of the lake served by the Kyrene school district, close to Loop 101 and the 60. It suits families who want Tempe’s energy with a quieter, suburban feel.
The Historic Bungalow Neighborhoods
Old Tempe character near downtown
Maple, Ash, and the surrounding streets hold some of the Valley’s best mid-century and bungalow homes, a short bike ride from Mill Avenue. It suits buyers who love character, trees, and walkability.
A Mountain & Town Lake Views
Postcard views of Tempe
Homes on the slopes near Tempe Butte and along the lake with some of the best views in the city. It suits buyers who want the skyline, the water, and the sunsets every single day.
Tempe Town Lake, the City’s Front Yard
Kayakers, rowers, runners, and paddleboarders share about two miles of water framed by the Mill Avenue bridge and the ASU campus.
Schools in Tempe
Tempe is served by three districts that divide the city largely between north and south, and ASU is right downtown for the college years. School boundaries matter here, and I always help buyers match a community to the school they want.
Tempe Elementary School District
This K through 8 district serves much of central and north Tempe, with neighborhood campuses within easy reach of most of the city’s older communities.
Kyrene Elementary School District
One of the East Valley’s most respected K through 8 districts, Kyrene serves south Tempe and stretches into west Chandler, which is a big draw for families in the southern neighborhoods.
Tempe Union High School District & Beyond
Tempe Union operates the city’s high schools, including Tempe High near downtown and Corona del Sol in south Tempe, plus programs across the district. ASU’s main campus is also a short walk from downtown for the years after high school.
School assignments depend on your exact address and can change with district boundaries, so always confirm with the district before you buy.
What Residents Love
Tempe’s calendar is full of lake days, festival weekends, and game-day energy. Here is what the people who live here love most.
Tempe Town Lake
About two miles of water for kayaking, paddleboarding, rowing, and pedal boats, rimmed by a popular shoreline path and framed by the Mill Avenue bridge.
Mill Avenue & Downtown
Shops, restaurants, and people-watching along one of Arizona’s most famous streets, spilling into the lakefront and the ASU campus.
ASU & Sun Devil Game Days
The state’s largest university brings lectures, museums, music, and big game-day energy to the middle of the city, and the whole community gets to enjoy it.
Papago Park
Hiking, Hole-in-the-Rock, and desert sunsets at the city’s edge, with the Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo right next door.
Kiwanis Park
A 125-acre community park with a recreation center, a lake, sports fields, and shade, the backyard for the whole south side.
Tempe Beach Park & Lakefront Events
The amphitheater and lawns at the west end of the lake host festivals, concerts, and fireworks all through the year.
A Thriving Sports Scene
Whether it is Ironman Arizona at the lake or a Sun Devil game, Tempe’s calendar is full of reasons to be outside.
A Commuter’s Dream
The 101, 202, and I-10 meet in Tempe, Sky Harbor Airport is about 10 minutes away, and the light rail runs right through downtown.
Recurring Local Events in Tempe
Between the lake, the campus, and the parks, everyday life in Tempe is full of things happening all year long. Here is what newcomers can put on their calendar from day one.
Tempe Festival of the Arts
One of the Southwest’s oldest outdoor art festivals, held twice a year on Mill Avenue with hundreds of juried artists, live music, and food.
Ironman Arizona
Every fall the world’s triathletes swim, bike, and run through Tempe around Town Lake, and the whole city turns out to cheer.
Innings Festival
A February music festival at Tempe Beach Park that kicks off spring training season with big-name bands and ballpark energy.
Aloha Festival
A celebration of Polynesian culture in North Tempe each spring, with music, dance, food, and a welcome dose of aloha.
Pat’s Run
The 4.2-mile run honoring Pat Tillman starts on the ASU campus every April and draws thousands of runners in honor of his legacy.
July 4th Fireworks on the Lake
The city’s Independence Day celebration lights up Tempe Town Lake with music, food, and one of the best fireworks shows in the Valley.
Around the City
From counter-service legends to lakefront dining, Tempe’s food scene runs the full range. Here is what is worth trying:
Spinato’s Pizzeria and Family Kitchen
A Valley institution known for brick-oven pizza and a family-friendly room that has been feeding Tempe for decades.
Ted’s Hot Dogs
A Buffalo-born legend on Broadway Road, serving charbroiled dogs and all the classic toppings since forever.
Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
A longtime Tempe favorite for Mexican classics, margaritas, and a lively cantina atmosphere.
Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
Southern-style barbecue and comfort food on Rio Salado Parkway, with a big patio and a laid-back vibe.
Add Mill Avenue, the lakefront restaurants, and the Tempe Marketplace for every kind of evening out, and Tempe is a city where the hardest part is choosing where to go. If a move to the East Valley is on your list, I would love to help you find a home in the middle of all of it.
The Tempe Real Estate Market
Tempe’s market is compact and competitive, with pricing tied closely to location and view. Lakefront and A Mountain properties sit at the top of the range, downtown lofts and condos trade on walkability and skyline views, and the mid-century neighborhoods of south Tempe offer the most family home for the money. Median prices have been holding in the high $400s to low $500s in recent months, condos start in the mid $300s, and lakefront homes run well past a million. Treat these as rough guides and check current listings for today’s numbers; I am always happy to pull specific comps for you.
Land is scarce in Tempe, so much of the new supply arrives as condos and townhomes near downtown and the lake, while family homes in the established neighborhoods tend to hold their value steadily.
Buyers are drawn here for the lifestyle: the lake, the campus, the light rail, and a downtown that never runs out of things to do. If you want the energy of the East Valley without driving to it, Tempe is hard to beat.
Important: Call Me Before You Visit a Builder
If you are considering new construction or a downtown Tempe conversion project, reach out to me before you stop by any builder’s sales office. When you visit on your own, you are registered as unrepresented, and you lose the benefit of having a Realtor negotiate on your behalf. I know the builders, the floor plans, and what is actually negotiable, and I have helped buyers get better deals, upgrades, and closing cost help because they called first. I will get you registered properly from the start.
Tempe, AZ: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tempe a good place to live?
Yes. Tempe offers a walkable downtown, a lively lake, ASU energy, and neighborhoods for every stage of life, from student rentals near campus to lakefront family homes, all with the light rail at the door.
Is Tempe good for families?
Very much so, especially in south Tempe, where the Kyrene schools, Kiwanis Park, and quiet tree-lined streets make one of the East Valley’s most family-friendly packages.
How far is Tempe from Phoenix?
Tempe sits about 10 miles east of downtown Phoenix, roughly 15 to 20 minutes on the light rail or the freeways, and Sky Harbor Airport is about 10 minutes away.
What is Tempe known for?
Tempe is known for Arizona State University, Mill Avenue, Tempe Town Lake, the Tempe Festival of the Arts, A Mountain, and the light rail that ties the East Valley to Phoenix.
What are the best neighborhoods in Tempe?
The Lakes and A Mountain views are the most sought-after, south Tempe is the family favorite, the historic bungalow streets are the charm buy, and downtown is for people who want to be in the middle of it all.
Is 2026 a good time to buy a home in Tempe?
For buyers, yes: the market has stabilized after the pandemic rush, and condo inventory near downtown and the lake gives first-time buyers a realistic entry point. The right move depends on your goals, and I am happy to walk you through the numbers.
Ask Me Anything, No Obligation
Whether you are dreaming about a lakefront home, a south Tempe ranch, or a downtown loft, I am here for you. Call or text me anytime.