Living in Tempe

With sunny days, parks and recreation, abundant job opportunities, and an excellent public transit system, Tempe, AZ is a wonderful place to live.

If you will be moving to Tempe soon, you probably want to know more about what it is like to reside here. In this post, we will go over cost of living, employment, education, weather, leisure, and more.

Cost of Living in Tempe Arizona

What is the Cost of Living in Tempe?

For data on cost of living in Tempe, we can turn to “Sperling’s Best Places”. Sperling’s uses a scale for cost of living where the US average is 100. If a place is more expensive to live than the US average, it scores above 100. If it is less expensive to live than the US average, it scores below 100.

On that scale, Arizona as a whole gets a score of 102.2, while Tempe receives a score of 108.1.

While that makes Tempe more expensive than the US on average, it is actually quite a bit less expensive than many other major metropolitan areas.

Consider Los Angeles, for example, which receives a score of 173.3 on the same scale. Tempe is very reasonably priced for a big city.

There are also some areas where Tempe’s costs are less than the national average, including groceries and healthcare.

Average Home Cost in Tempe Arizona

How Much Does the Average Home Cost in Tempe?

Housing, of course, is one of the biggest considerations when it comes to cost of living. How does Tempe stack up in this department?

On the same scale where 100 is the US average, the cost of housing for Arizona is 107.8, and for Tempe, it is 124. In dollar figures, the US average housing cost is $291,700. Compared to that, the cost in Tempe is $402,500.

Once again, for a major metropolitan area, that is very reasonable.

Employment in Tempe Arizona

Employment in Tempe

To find information about incomes in Tempe, we can take a look at the US Census. You can see that the median household income in Tempe from 2015 through 2019 was $57,994.

Tempe is a thriving economic center, and home to major companies such as LifeLock, Insight Enterprises, and Limelight Networks. Top employers in the city include Arizona State University, State Farm Insurance, Freedom Financial Network, and JPMorgan Chase. So, there are plenty of opportunities to grow your career and earn a comfortable income when you live in Tempe.

Education in Tempe Arizona

Tempe Education

Speaking of Arizona State University, let’s talk about what you can expect with respect to schools in this area.

Various school distracts operate in Tempe, including the Tempe Union High School District, Tempe Elementary School District, Kyrene School District, Scottsdale Unified School District, and Mesa Public Schools.

Along with public schools, there are private schools and preparatory schools that students may attend.

Along with Arizona State University, other institutions of higher learning in Tempe include Rio Salado Community College, Brookline College, the University of Phoenix, Bryan University, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, and others.

As you are also right next to Phoenix, there are additional higher education options you can consider as well such as the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Phoenix College.

Getting Around Tempe Arizona

Getting Around Tempe

How can you get around Tempe? For public transportation, you can take the Valley Metro Rail system or the Valley Metro buses. There also are additional options for public transit for ASU students, including Orbit and FLASH.

There are also plenty of freeways running through Tempe and Phoenix, making it easy to get around by way of car.

One interesting fact about Tempe is that currently, this is not a very walkable city, but that soon may start to change.

In 2023, Culdesac Tempe will open, which will be the first zero-driving community in the US. This project could conceivably herald the way for others, showcasing ways to change how people live and work not just in Tempe, but everywhere.

What is commuting like in Tempe? Sperling’s has some stats on that. According to the site, 5% of the population uses public transit, while 4.3% work from home (we are guessing that number has increased since the pandemic). 8.5% carpool, and 72.7% drive to work by themselves.

One nice thing about commuting to work in Tempe is that it doesn’t take that long. While the US average one-way commute time is 26.4 minutes, it is only 20.9 minutes in Tempe.

That adds up to a significant amount of time savings each day, and over the course of a week.

Weather in Tempe Arizona

How is the Weather in Tempe?

If you like sunny weather, you will feel perfectly at home in Tempe, where there are 300 average days of sunlight each year. That is far more than the US average of 205 sunny days per year.

Tempe does not receive any snow, and gets only about 9 inches of rain annually.

During the summer, highs can soar to around 104 degrees Fahrenheit. During the winter, lows can hit around 42 degrees Fahrenheit. So, although you will have hot summers, you can look forward to relatively temperate winters.

The overall comfort index Sperling’s uses rates climate on a scale from 1 to 10 where 10 is “most comfortable.”

The US on average receives a score of 7 on that scale. Tempe gets a 7.4, making this location more comfortable than average.

Leisure and Entertainment in Tempe Arizona

Leisure and Entertainment in Tempe

What is there to do in Tempe? This city is a major home for arts and culture, with the Tempe Center for the Arts, a thriving public art program, the Tempe Music Walk, and a number of popular local bands.

Other popular attractions in and around Tempe include the Tempe History Museum, the Arizona State University Desert Arboretum Park, and Rio Salado Park.

There are, of course, also many restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops to enjoy throughout the area.

Move Into a Beautiful New Home in Tempe Now

Ready to make sunny Tempe, Arizona your home? To find the right mortgage, please contact Misty Garrison at (480) 618-5358 and schedule your consultation with our Tempe mortgage broker.

See What Our Clients Are Saying About Us

nelly morales
nelly morales
21:24 10 Jun 24
Misty is amazing. Working with her was so fun and easy. I never thought I would actually enjoy the mortgage process but Misty made it happen. I would highly recommend her as a knowledgeable professional and all around wonderful human. Will definitely use her services again on my next mortgage.
Ashley Martell
Ashley Martell
05:19 08 Jun 24
Wow, I can't thank Misty enough for the incredible support and guidance throughout the entire loan process. Her expertise and dedication truly made a difference for me. She was always there to answer my questions, explain everything clearly, and went above and beyond to ensure a smooth experience. Thanks for Misty help, I was able to secure a great loan that met my needs perfectly. I highly recommend their services to anyone in need of a mortgage. Thank you so much for everything!
Bougie Pasha
Bougie Pasha
05:09 08 Jun 24
Kazuha Kurosu
Kazuha Kurosu
22:48 07 Jun 24
Misty is fun, caring and patient! Working with Misty Crockett was a lifesaver in getting our home in LA from beginning to end. Misty went above and beyond while she lives in Arizona to make sure that we understood what we were getting into answered our questions every time of the day and sent us reminders even when we didn’t remember. She also worked seamlessly with our realtor and our escrow officer to make the complicated process feel much smoother. She was able to get us the lowest interest rate among all the lenders we consulted with, and we couldn’t have been happier. Detailed figures and estimates to understand home prices that fit our budget were very helpful. We recommend Mortgages by Misty to anybody who is getting to score a low interest rate for their home purchasing whether they are a first time home or not.
Dr. Sabrina Gunn
Dr. Sabrina Gunn
21:27 07 Jun 24
Misty is simply amazing! She is professional and so down to earth. I trust her with any and all things real estate. You will do yourself a disservice by not working with her!
Michelle Peoples
Michelle Peoples
23:23 11 Apr 24
I recently had the pleasure of working with Misty during my first home buying experience, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. From start to finish, Misty demonstrated an unparalleled level of professionalism, knowledge, and dedication.Misty's expertise was evident from our first meeting. She anticipated my questions before I even had a chance to ask them, guiding me through every step of the process with patience and clarity. Whether things were moving quickly or it was time to exercise patience, Misty was there every step of the way, providing invaluable reassurance and guidance.What truly set Misty and Talia apart was their seamless teamwork. The synergy between them was undeniable, making them a dynamic duo in the real estate world. Their collaboration ensured that every aspect of my home buying journey was handled with precision and efficiency.I am beyond impressed with Misty and Talia's efforts, and I will wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone in need of real estate services. They are, without a doubt, the epitome of excellence in their field. Thank you, Misty and Talia, for making my first home buying experience an unforgettable and rewarding journey.
annetta allen
annetta allen
23:26 30 Nov 22
Misty was very professional and knowledgeable very professional and helped me get approved for my home loan in no time would definitely recommend
Natasha Miller
Natasha Miller
04:20 26 Nov 22
Misty Is everything She is the key to home buying I never knew I needed Thank you for being honest and helping me to understand the many moving parts. I felt at ease and that I could trust you. In this Sellers market it is truly refreshing to know it can be done. I was prepared for the worst scenario but the process went smoother than I could imagine
Sonya Banks
Sonya Banks
15:28 23 Nov 22
Misty was very helpful at helping me through the whole process. So grateful to have met her. Thank you for everything!!
Amanda Parks
Amanda Parks
00:31 23 Nov 22
Misty is amazing! She was able to help us refinance (twice) in order to get lower interest rates; we have now paid off our house! Both times working with Misty she let us know all our options, what worked best for our goals and was so helpful. She is friendly and easy to work with, offers prompt service and very professional.
For the People
For the People
21:37 22 Nov 22
Excellent lenderThoroughPatientProfessionalA must go to for sure!
Alejandra
Alejandra
20:01 22 Nov 22
Misty made the process very easy and stress free. I highly recommend her!
shatacia williams
shatacia williams
22:09 14 Nov 22
Eboni Morris-Perron
Eboni Morris-Perron
21:59 20 Oct 22
Misty Crockett is the ultimate professional! I purchased my home in 2020 and Misty was there to help me every step of the way. Her knowledge and years of experience about closing loans were invaluable. So invaluable, I recently used Misty services again to help refinance my home in order to complete my personal goals. She truly made the financial aspect of purchasing, and in my case, refinancing a comfortable and goal satisfying experience. Misty Crockett will be a lifetime professional resource for me and my family! She is attentive, punctual and listens to your goals.
Kristal Sharp
Kristal Sharp
19:36 24 Aug 22
I was so impressed with Misty from day one. This purchase transaction was very sentimental for my family and she hand held this application from start to finish. 24 calendar days to be exact! I am in the mortgage industry and have purchased a home before but never have I experienced this type of service or seen things done so quickly and efficient! She is knowledgeable and knows her mortgage stuff so well. She was always available via text, email or phone even when she was traveling or at an appointment. She always made it a point to respond quickly even if she didn’t have an answer yet or resolution. She was truthful along the entire way and ensured my best interest was at the highest priority. I wish I could tell the world to use Misty on every transaction (wait….I am)! USE MISTY ON EVERY MORTGAGE PURCHASE AND REFI! You will not be left disappointed.
Nadia G-Williams
Nadia G-Williams
03:36 31 Jul 22
There are some who are capable but more interested in making money. She is capable and interested in helping your best interest. Misty has a wealth of knowledge in the finance field. She is professional and yet personable. More importantly she is honest about figures and options. She will help interpret numbers so you can make the best decision for yourself and/or family considering plans for today and in the future. Although, you will have to do your part, she will walk you through the process, and inform you of the next steps. When I met Misty, I was in the worse mortgage plan for myself. In my situation, if I had sold my home, I would have had to pay someone at the same time. Misty recommended I refinance my home to first get out of the situation. Therefore, regardless of if I sold my home or kept it, I would start building equity. My mortgage payment was due to increase tremendously, and with the refinance, it changed allowing the payment to be affordable. I have had many offers to address my finances and home needs, it is easy to say no knowing that I have Misty in my corner looking out for me.
Cheryl Newbanks
Cheryl Newbanks
14:55 22 Jul 22
If you found Misty Garrison consider yourself very lucky! We are self-employed and had a difficult time getting financed and Misty got the job done in 30 days. I have bought eight houses in my life and I've never had a mortgage broker that works so hard to get the job done. She even answered my phone call the day after she got married, that's how dedicated she is to her business! The thing I love about her the most is that she's completely honest. You might not always like what she has to say, but she does get the job done and if you do exactly what she tells you to do you will end up with a house. We did a bank statement loan and they're typically a higher interest rate, but our rate was only one point higher than the national average. I'm extremely happy with Misty Garrison's performance and I would never buy a house with anybody but Misty Garrison from here on in. Thank you so much Misty for getting us our house we really appreciate you!
Rosalyn Moore
Rosalyn Moore
18:42 04 Jul 22
Misty is Excellent at her job she takes great care of you we have used her for a refi two times definitely will Recommend her to everybody
Melinda Hughes
Melinda Hughes
16:04 04 Jul 22
Misty, is an amazing Mortgage Loan Originator and a pleasure to work with. She's confident, kind and extremely experienced. She 100% walked me through the entire process, she kept me updated on every aspect of my loan, explaining each detail in a way that was very easy to understand. I could not have chosen a better person to take care of my lending needs. Misty is highly professional and yet very personable. I can truly say that Misty had my best interest at heart when structuring a loan for me. She made the experience enjoyable. Because of Misty expertise, I was able to get into my new home.
Shyla Bassey
Shyla Bassey
19:01 27 Jun 22
I have referred many clients and have personally worked with Misty. She goes above and beyond to identify the best options for her clients. She is knowledgeable and makes the process simple for her clients. I look forward to continuing to help more clients and referring them to Misty for guidance.
Jovanna Campbell
Jovanna Campbell
02:51 22 Jun 22
Working with Misty is like working with family. It was relaxed, easy, comfortable and quick. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
1st Source Movers Llc
1st Source Movers Llc
00:44 21 Jun 22
Misty, Thank you once again! I know the type of loan I applied for was a little different. I know it wasn’t easy. I appreciate you having confidence knowing their was a lender out there that would take on my loan. Being self employed I had to jump though a whole lot of loops. You did it! You maid it happen . I really appreciate you and your team. Keep up the great work! I hope to work with you again soon. Thanks!!!
Brittnee Ray
Brittnee Ray
05:07 27 Feb 22
After working with other companies/programs and nothing working out, we were getting desperate. We reached out to Misty, who we had heard such great things about.She worked her hardest to give us the best rate and deal she could and at the end of the day, she did just that.Within a week, we had a found a home!It was so exciting.We didn’t think we’d ever become homeowners but Misty made it happen and we’re so grateful!I make sure to always have her business cards on hand and we recommend her to any and everyone that’s in the market.Our family is looking forward to working with Misty again when we refinance!
My name is Aisha, owner of NCB, LLC. From the moment I decide I wanted to become a homeowner Misty was there for me every step of the way. I was referred to her by my Realtor while also given the option to look elsewhere. I’m so glad I stuck with Misty. This was no rush job, she guided me through everything from what I needed to do to get my credit in order, to guiding me to keeping my credit in order. This was an 18 month + project for me, but Misty assured me patience would pay off and it certainly did. She got me an awesome Rate, 0$ additional closing cost ( DP Only) and ANY question or concern I had ( and I ask lots of questions) she addressed them, even if they were repetitive! Do not purchase any real estate without her, I sure won’t!
Stephen & Oyeen Brown
Stephen & Oyeen Brown
16:54 10 Jan 22
Highly recommend!
Ravyn Bowman
Ravyn Bowman
20:55 08 Jun 20
My husband and I were initially apprehensive about refinancing our home because we did not know if we were going to see savings and the market was all over the place. After discussing our options with Misty, she explained the process and reassured us that she would get the best rate possible for us. This woman DELIVERED!! Not only did we significantly reduce our interest rate, our payment went down, we did not have to come out of pocket, AND we got money back when the loan funded. I will recommend Misty hands down without question every time. Thank you Misty, you're a beast!!
Jarron Anthony
Jarron Anthony
21:43 05 Jun 20
Misty was a great help in our first time home buying process. She helped us in more ways than one when it came to closing on our new home. She is very personable, professional, and takes care of business. We hope to utilize her great service again in the future!
Talia Soto
Talia Soto
05:10 18 Mar 20
Misty Garrison is a five star home mortgage loan officer. I was looking for a good mortgage lender and a friend referred me to her. Misty recently refinanced my mortgage loan and made the process so easy. She got me the best rate possible, thoroughly answered all of my questions, and remained patient with me when there were things I didn’t understand. Misty is very knowledgeable and highly recommended.
Syerita Loman
Syerita Loman
03:32 18 Mar 20
Misty Garrison’s overall concern, professionalism, and expertise goes well above expectation. She makes the home buying process very seamless and easy to understand for first time and seasoned homebuyers. I look forward to continued business with you in the future.Syerita Loman, REALTOREXIT Realty Expanded VisionGilbert, AZ
Amanda Parks
Amanda Parks
17:52 16 Mar 20
Misty was excellent! She offered many options for my refinance and explained everything in detail. She was available any time I had a question and was patient in explaining everything to me.The process was quick and smooth and she was able to work around my family’s hectic schedule. I highly recommend Misty to anyone who has questions about mortgages or refinancing. She is an excellent guide!
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