Phoenix receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Phoenix
Tempe
Opportunity
43 · Bottom 20%
vs41 · Bottom 14%
Growth
55 · Top 47%
vs53 · Bottom 47%
Climate
58 · Bottom 10%
vs59 · Bottom 14%
Physical resilience
47 · Bottom 38%
vs47 · Bottom 38%
Housing affordability
64 · Bottom 44%
vs55 · Bottom 21%
Access
99 · Top 22%
vs99 · Top 22%
Economic stability
59 · Top 33%
vs57 · Top 42%
Measured values
| Metric | Phoenix | Tempe | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,642,323 | 188,065 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $81,332 | $79,663 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,981 | $44,493 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,169/sq mi | 4,704/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $420,700 | $455,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,582 | $1,743 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.3% | 42.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.9% | -3.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.6% | 50.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 15.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9,707 | 1,240 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.0 | 6.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.2% | 10.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 104°F | 107°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 44°F | 46°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 8.9" | 7.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 22.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.9 | 30.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Phoenix
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Tempe
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: Phoenix, AZ · Tempe, AZ · How this is calculated: methodology