Tempe city, Arizona Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Tempe city is a major urban center located in Arizona. The total population is 186,419. It ranks as the 9th most populous out of 445 cities and towns in Arizona.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tempe city is 29.9 years. This is 23% lower than the state median of 38.8 years. Only 14.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Tempe city is $77,643. This is 1% higher than the state median of $76,872. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 1% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.2%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.8%. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $421,900. Housing costs are 18% higher than the state median of $358,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 41.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Tempe city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 23.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (7.4% vs 4.4%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (9.3% vs 3.3%).

Education

49.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Tempe city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 52% higher than the state rate of 32.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.8%. Notably, 20.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Tempe city, Arizona is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Arizona state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 445 Census-designated places in Arizona. For official data, visit data.census.gov.