About Tempe
Area Information
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona. As one of the oldest communities in the Valley of the Sun, Tempe knows how to deliver a thriving Southwestern lifestyle.
Tempe features a number of distinct neighborhoods, from urban areas with mixed-use high-rises to traditional neighborhoods with historic homes. Vibrant living abounds downtown, while multi-family housing dominates northern Tempe, near the central business district and Arizona State University (ASU). There are condos along Tempe Town Lake, a 220-acre urban lake that is surrounded by parks and is the site of many year-round events. Residential spots mix with retail and restaurant spaces in the Brickyard on Mill development. For entertainment, The Green at Hayden Flour Mill offers an amphitheater with a lawn and plenty of shady areas for picnics, and the Mill Avenue District hosts spring and fall arts festivals that are the second-largest juried art shows in the country. For kicking back, the city's 48 public parks are carefully positioned so that most residents live within a half-mile.
Tempe is surrounded by four freeways, so many commuters drive. Others use bus services within the city, as well as the Free Local Area Shuttle (FLASH), which provides transit between downtown, ASU, and various neighborhoods and shopping districts. The Valley Metro light rail runs through the heart of Tempe, providing convenient connections to neighboring Scottsdale, Mesa and Chandler. For business or pleasure travel, Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport is 5 miles away.
Renting in Tempe, AZ
Apartments for rent in Tempe are in high demand, but rent prices typically remain stable.
Tempe Attractions
- Papago Park: This park is home to the Desert Botanical Garden, Arizona Historical Society Museum and the Phoenix Zoo, the largest privately-owned, self-supporting zoo in the country.
- Tempe Center for the Arts: Visual and performing arts events are popular at this lakeside venue.
- Tempe Improv: Nationally-known comedians perform at the Tempe branch of New York City's famed comedy club.
- Gammage Auditorium: This performance hall on the ASU campus is considered to be architect Frank Lloyd Wright's last public commission.
- Sun Devil Stadium: Home to ASU's football team, the stadium has also hosted several bowl games, including the 1996 Super Bowl.
