PlainZIP

Tempe, AZ · standard

ZIP Code 85281

Maricopa County, Arizona — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

57,348
1,658/sq mi
$64,538
Median income
$381,000
Median home value
50.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Tempe pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy and unusually populous area.

38th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 23%
home value, US ZIPs
1,658
people per sq mi
24%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 85281 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 85281 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 34.6 square miles in Tempe, Maricopa County, Arizona. The area is home to 57,348 residents, producing a population density of 1,658 people per square mile, and falls within the Phoenix time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 85281 against Arizona and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 85281 sits at $64,538 (11% below the Arizona average), while per-capita income is $34,117. The poverty rate stands at 24.6% and the unemployment rate at 6.8%. On housing, the median home value is $381,000 (13% above the state average) with median rent at $1,677 per month, and 23.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 85281 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 50.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 25.4, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Maricopa County, so you can benchmark 85281 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 85281

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 85281.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 85281, Tempe, AZ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

57,348

Population

34.6

Area (sq mi)

1,658

People / sq mi

Phoenix

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 85281?

25.4

Median Age

54.7%

Male

45.3%

Female

18.1%

Foreign-Born

White 53.0%
African American 6.9%
Asian 13.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 2.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.4%
Two or More Ethnicities 15.8%
Hispanic or Latino 24.7%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$64,538

Median Household Income

-11% vs state

$34,117

Per Capita Income

24.6%

Poverty Rate

6.8%

Unemployment Rate

21.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 85281 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$64,538 38th percentile higher than 38% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 65.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 50.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

33,978

Total Housing Units

29,307

Occupied Units

4,671

Vacant Units

2.16

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 23.7%
Renter 76.3%

$381,000

Median Home Value

+13% vs state

$1,677

Median Rent

1990

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+2.1%

YoY Change (2024)

378

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+278%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 85281 have increased 2.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +278% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +8.2% 258
2021 +18.2% 305
2022 +20.7% 368
2023 +0.7% 370
2024 +2.1% 378

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 2,295 business establishments in ZIP 85281, employing approximately 95,380 people with a combined annual payroll of $7,108,395,000.

2,295

Businesses

95,380

Employees

$7.1B

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 306 13.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 276 12.0%
Retail trade 240 10.5%
Construction 198 8.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 194 8.4%
Other services (except public administration) 181 7.9%
Manufacturing 146 6.4%
Wholesale trade 143 6.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 137 6.0%
Finance and insurance 136 5.9%
Health care and social assistance 128 5.6%
Transportation and warehousing 56 2.4%
Information 46 2.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 44 1.9%
Educational services 32 1.4%
Management of companies and enterprises 25 1.1%
Utilities 5 0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 85281 vs 85282 →

ZIP 85281 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 85281 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 85281 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 85281 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
85282 Tempe, AZ 48,671 2.4 mi
85257 Scottsdale, AZ 26,755 2.6 mi
85283 Tempe, AZ 44,813 4.4 mi
85251 Scottsdale, AZ 34,390 4.6 mi
85201 Mesa, AZ 46,092 4.7 mi
85008 Phoenix, AZ 56,145 4.0 mi
85284 Tempe, AZ 16,479 6.3 mi
85034 Phoenix, AZ 5,582 5.1 mi
85202 Mesa, AZ 37,275 4.5 mi
85040 Phoenix, AZ 29,352 5.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Maricopa County

85225 standard
Chandler, AZ
Pop: 69,810
85032 standard
Phoenix, AZ
Pop: 65,485
85308 standard
Glendale, AZ
Pop: 63,876
85204 standard
Mesa, AZ
Pop: 60,885
85301 standard
Glendale, AZ
Pop: 60,161
85345 standard
Peoria, AZ
Pop: 56,208

Related Areas

Maricopa County Tempe, AZ Arizona

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 85281 in? ▼
ZIP code 85281 (Tempe) is located in Maricopa County, Arizona. Maricopa County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/maricopa-az.
What is the population of ZIP code 85281? ▼
ZIP code 85281 in Tempe, AZ has a population of 57,348 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 85281? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 85281 is $64,538, which is 15% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 85281? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 85281 is $381,000, which is 37% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 85281? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 85281 is White at 53.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 24.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 85281? ▼
ZIP code 85281 has 2,295 business establishments employing approximately 95,380 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 85281? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 85281 are: Accommodation and food services (306), Professional, scientific, and technical services (276), Retail trade (240). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 85281? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 85281 increased by 2.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 278%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 85281? ▼
In ZIP code 85281, 65.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 50.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 85281? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 85281 is 21.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 85281? ▼
In ZIP code 85281, approximately 23.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 76.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 85281? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 85281 is 24.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Tempe, AZ

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.