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Tempe city, AZ

ZIP 85281 — Housing & Real Estate

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Working ClassLarge CommunityLow Snow AreaRemote Work Hub

Home values, rent, tenure, and housing stock

Housing & Real Estate in ZIP Code 85281

Median Home Value
$364,200
Median Rent
$1,407
Affordability Snapshot
$100,000
Est. income to buy

Household income needed for a median home under a 20% down / 6.8% illustrative mortgage model (~$2,340/mo PITI).

29%
Rent-to-Income Ratio

Below the 30% threshold — generally affordable for median earners.

6.2x
Home Price-to-Income Ratio

Well above the 3-5x guideline — challenging for first-time buyers.

21.6 yrs
Price-to-Rent Ratio

Years to break even buying vs renting at median home value and rent.

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 85281 in Tempe city, AZ, a household would need roughly $100,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $2,340. That is about 69% above the local median household income ($59,084), so the median earner would likely stretch or need a larger down payment. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Housing Tenure

Vacancy rate 12% — check local market conditions.

Heating Fuel
Housing Metrics
Owner Occupied
23.8%-64% vs US avg
x
Vacancy Rate
12.4%+20% vs US avg
x
Broadband Access
91.1%+5% vs US avg
x
4+ Bedrooms
0.7%-95% vs US avg
x
Built Pre-1939
1.8%-86% vs US avg
x
Built Post-2014
2.4%-66% vs US avg
x
Rent Burden >30%
27.7%-44% vs US avg
x
Mortgage-Free
40.6%+6% vs US avg
x
$364,200
Home Value
$1,407
Rent
1988
Year Built
2019
Moved In

Residents have lived here since ~2019 on average

Housing Structure

Census ACS structure types (single-family, multi-unit, etc.).

  • 1-unit detached19.8%
  • 1-unit attached10.4%
  • 2-9 units20.1%
  • 10+ units47.8%
  • Mobile home & other1.9%

Housing & Real Estate key statistics

Housing statistics
Housing
Median home value$364,200
Median rent$1,407
Owner-occupied23.8%
Vacant12.4%
Price-to-income6.2x
Est. income to buy$100,000