Residential delivery area · Arizona
ZIP Code 85281: Tempe, AZ
ZIP code 85281 is in Tempe, Arizona, entirely in Maricopa County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 73,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Tempe's 4 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $64,538 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Tempe · 4 residential ZIPs
- County
- Maricopa County
- Census places
- Tempe
- Metro area
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
- House district
- AZ-4 119th Congress
- State
- Arizona
- Time zone
- Mountain (no daylight saving)
- Land area
- 13.3 sq mi · 5,468 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 85281?
85281 centers on 33.427°, -111.934° and covers 13.3 square miles of land plus 0.1 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 85282, 85257, 85008, 85034, 85202, 85201.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 85281, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 85281 compare with the rest of Tempe?
| Measure | 85281 | In Tempe | In Maricopa County | In AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 72,762 | 1st of 4 | 4th of 140 | 5th of 417 |
| Median household income | $65k | 4th of 4 | 107th of 128 | 180th of 264 |
| Median home value | $381k | 4th of 4 | 87th of 129 | 124th of 282 |
Its median household income is higher than in 38% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 95% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 85281?
The 2020 Census counted 69,218 people in 85281; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 72,762. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 20.7% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 72,762
- 2020 Census count
- 69,218+20.7% since 2010 (57,348)
- Households
- 29,307
- Median age
- 25.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 85281?
Of the 72,762 people the ACS estimates in 85281, 9.4% are under 18 and 6.4% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (45.7%), then Hispanic or Latino (24.7%).
- Under 189.4%
- 18 to 6484.3%
- 65 and older6.4%
- White, not Hispanic45.7%
- Hispanic or Latino24.7%
- Asian, not Hispanic13.0%
- Other or two or more10.1%
- Black, not Hispanic6.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 85281 earn?
Median household income is $64,538 (ACS 2020-2024), the 107th highest of the 128 ranked ZIP codes in Maricopa County. It rose from $46,950 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $64,538±$6,598
- Income per person
- $34,117
- Below the poverty line
- 24.6%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 6.8%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 50.1%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $57,55216,050 returns; wages 77% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 85281?
FHFA's house price index for 85281, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 115% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 44% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −1.4% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $381,000
- Median gross rent
- $1,677
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 23.7%
- Housing units
- 33,978
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 85281?
2,295 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 67 fewer than in 2018; the most are in accommodation and food services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Accommodation and food services306
- Professional, scientific, and technical services276
- Retail trade240
- Construction198
- Real estate and rental and leasing194
- Other services (except public administration)181
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 85281?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85282 | Tempe | 53,624 | $79k | 2.3 mi |
| 85257 | Scottsdale | 29,812 | $87k | 2.7 mi |
| 85008 | Phoenix | 59,716 | $66k | 4.0 mi |
| 85034 | Phoenix | 4,854 | $64k | 4.7 mi |
| 85202 | Mesa | 38,750 | $72k | 4.7 mi |
| 85201 | Mesa | 51,400 | $67k | 4.8 mi |
| 85026 | Phoenix | 0 | – | 2.7 mi (near) |
| 85283 | Tempe | 47,459 | $85k | 4.3 mi (near) |
| 85251 | Scottsdale | 40,780 | $93k | 4.7 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.