Tempe is a city located in Maricopa County Arizona. Tempe has a 2024 population of 191,336. Tempe is currently growing at a rate of 0.79% annually and its population has increased by 3.24% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 185,328 in 2020.
The average household income in Tempe is $94,284 with a poverty rate of 16.75%. The median age in Tempe is 29.7 years: 29.3 years for males, and 30.2 years for females.
Tempe is located in Maricopa County, Arizona and takes its name from the Vale of Tempe in Greece. The city is located in the Phoenix metropolitan area between Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, and Phoenix. Phoenix Metro, sometimes called the Valley of the Sun, has a population of 4.2 million people and it’s one of the fastest growing major metros in the U.S.
Phoenix Metro, including Tempe, is experiencing rapid population growth. Arizona as a whole is the 4th fastest growing state according to a 2019 census report and Maricopa County is leading the charge. Unlike some regions, the area does have water and resource constraints and its population growth will naturally slow in the future. It’s predicted that the Phoenix Metro population will reach 6-7 million within 20 years compared to 4.2 million today.
Tempe, Arizona was originally settled by the Hohokam people who built elaborate canals for agriculture although they largely abandoned the area in the 1400s. In 1865, Fort McDowell was established in present-day Tempe and helped in the establishment of new towns along Salt River. Military members and Hispanic workers were brought in to care for animals and grow crops to support the fort and they created two permanent communities in the valley: San Pablo and Hayden’s Ferry named for a ferry operator. The community was later named Tempe in 1879.
Tempe had a history as a sundown town until the 1960s as African Americans were allowed to work in the community yet encouraged to live somewhere else. It was the construction of the Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad in 1887 that connected Tempe to the rest of the nation and paved the way for the city’s incorporation in 1894. When the Roosevelt Dam was completed in 1911, it ensured the region would have enough water to support agriculture and helped Tempe and other cities thrive.
Today’s Tempe is an inner suburb of Phoenix and serves as the region’s commerce and educational center.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Tempe was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 113,334 | 62.61% |
| Two or more races | 20,070 | 11.09% |
| Asian | 16,215 | 8.96% |
| Black or African American | 13,253 | 7.32% |
| Other race | 12,382 | 6.84% |
| Native American | 4,735 | 2.62% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1,016 | 0.56% |
White
Two or more races
Asian
Black or African American
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 75,701 | 2.26 | 40.7 | 59.3 |
| Non Family | 40,804 | 1.61 | 27.3 | 72.7 |
| Married | 23,369 | 2.99 | 67.2 | 32.8 |
| Female | 6,692 | 3.31 | 31.5 | 68.5 |
| Male | 4,836 | 2.86 | 37.6 | 62.4 |
2.9
Average Family Size
2.26
Average Household Size
40.7%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 4,741 | 4.13% |
| Associates Degree | 8,871 | 7.74% |
| Bachelors Degree | 32,442 | 28.29% |
| Graduate Degree | 23,604 | 20.58% |
| High School Graduate | 17,370 | 15.15% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 2,493 | 2.17% |
| Some College | 25,163 | 21.94% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 65,314 | 63,318 | 35,285 |
| Hispanic | 24,704 | 20,776 | 8,323 |
| 2+ Races | 11,295 | 10,149 | 4,182 |
| Asian | 9,976 | 9,626 | 7,488 |
| Other Race | 8,001 | 6,203 | 2,519 |
| Black | 7,720 | 7,137 | 2,197 |
| Native American | 2,673 | 2,408 | 715 |
| Islander | 740 | 615 | 143 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 96.94%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 75.06%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $55,052 | $62,856 | $50,717 |
| Graduate Degree | $69,809 | $81,394 | $59,866 |
| High School Graduate | $39,533 | $42,386 | $34,681 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $27,963 | $33,641 | $19,961 |
| Overall | $48,429 | $51,895 | $44,501 |
| Some College | $41,899 | $46,637 | $39,041 |
$48,429
Average Earnings
$51,895
Average Male
$44,501
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
76.05% of Tempe residents speak only English, while 23.95% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 12.43% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91,028 | 11,897 | 13.07% |
| Hispanic | 40,397 | 6,217 | 15.39% |
| Asian | 15,500 | 5,179 | 33.41% |
| Multiple | 19,699 | 3,279 | 16.65% |
| Black | 12,830 | 3,072 | 23.94% |
| Other | 11,418 | 1,817 | 15.91% |
| Native | 4,632 | 884 | 19.08% |
| Islander | 1,010 | 94 | 9.31% |
16.75%
Overall Poverty Rate
16.79%
Male Poverty Rate
16.71%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Tempe is Asian, with 33.41% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Tempe is Islander, with 9.31% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.48%. Among those working part-time, it was 27.54%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 32.25%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 21.12% |
| Some College | 11.44% |
| High School | 11.05% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 7.59% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 39.73% |
| Male Unemployed | 35.39% |
| Female Employed | 9.81% |
| Male Employed | 9.13% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $94,349 | $116,965 |
| Households | $72,022 | $94,284 |
| Married Families | $115,748 | $140,012 |
| Non Families | $56,980 | $71,188 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
31.8%
Overall Marriage Rate
30.5%
Male Marriage Rate
33.2%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
7,803
Number of Veterans
6,878
Male Veterans
925
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Second Gulf War | 2,761 |
| Vietnam | 2,033 |
| First Gulf War | 1,760 |
| Korea | 387 |
| World War II | 98 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 35 to 54 | 1,812 |
| 18 to 34 | 1,757 |
| 75+ | 1,558 |
| 55 to 64 | 1,373 |
| 65 to 74 | 1,303 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 5,971 | 5.95% |
| Hispanic | 1,243 | 3.75% |
| 2+ Races | 555 | 3.72% |
| Black | 550 | 5.23% |
| Other Race | 329 | 3.25% |
| Asian | 210 | 1.44% |
| Native American | 170 | 4.68% |
| Islander | 18 | 2.13% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
10.49%
Veteran Poverty Rate
23.63%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
70.8%
Labor Force Participation
66.8%
Employment Rate
5.7%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
37.47%
Born in Tempe
85.72%
Native Born
14.28%
Foreign Born
8.56%
Non Citizen
5.71%
Naturalized
85.72% of Tempe residents were born in the United States, with 37.47% having been born in Arizona. 8.56% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 198,846 | 1,502 | 0.76% |
| 2028 | 197,344 | 1,502 | 0.77% |
| 2027 | 195,842 | 1,502 | 0.77% |
| 2026 | 194,340 | 1,502 | 0.78% |
| 2025 | 192,838 | 1,502 | 0.79% |
| 2024 | 191,336 | 1,502 | 0.79% |
| 2023 | 189,834 | 314 | 0.17% |
| 2022 | 189,520 | 4,830 | 2.62% |
| 2021 | 184,690 | -638 | -0.34% |
| 2020 | 185,328 | -10,328 | -5.28% |
| 2019 | 195,656 | 4,119 | 2.15% |
| 2018 | 191,537 | 5,977 | 3.22% |
| 2017 | 185,560 | 673 | 0.36% |
| 2016 | 184,887 | 5,765 | 3.22% |
| 2015 | 179,122 | 3,482 | 1.98% |
| 2014 | 175,640 | 4,898 | 2.87% |
| 2013 | 170,742 | 2,197 | 1.3% |
| 2012 | 168,545 | 4,072 | 2.48% |
| 2011 | 164,473 | 2,156 | 1.33% |
| 2010 | 162,317 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 158,625 | 16,760 | 11.81% |
| 1990 | 141,865 | 34,946 | 32.68% |
| 1980 | 106,919 | 43,369 | 68.24% |
| 1970 | 63,550 | 38,653 | 155.25% |
| 1960 | 24,897 | 17,213 | 224.01% |
| 1950 | 7,684 | 4,778 | 164.42% |
| 1940 | 2,906 | 2,106 | 263.25% |
| 1900 | 800 | -198,046 | -99.6% |