Retiring in Tempe, AZ

Retirement city profile: climate, cost of living, healthcare, safety and more

105°/39°

Climate (Summer/Winter)

$469,844

Housing (Typical Value)

471.3

Safety (Violent Crime/100,000)

Is Tempe Right for Your Retirement?

With a reported population of 186,419, Tempe offers a mid-size city setting for retirement planning. This profile brings its climate, housing, reported crime, healthcare access, walkability and natural hazard exposure into one view so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.

Potential Strengths

Low hurricane risk

Potential Tradeoffs

Hot summers
Dry climate
Higher housing costs
Higher violent crime
Higher property crime
Elevated riverine flooding risk
Elevated wildfire risk

Potential advantages. FEMA and NOAA assign a lower risk designation to hurricane.

Potential tradeoffs. The average June through August high is 105°F. Annual precipitation is 8.8 inches. The typical home value is $469,844, 26% above the $371,774 US median. Median gross rent is $1,623 per month, 16% above the $1,400 per month US median. The reported violent crime rate is 471.3 per 100,000, 31% above the 359.1 per 100,000 US median. The reported property crime rate is 2915.7 per 100,000, 66% above the 1760.1 per 100,000 US median. FEMA and NOAA assign elevated risk designations to riverine flooding and wildfire.

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Climate

Summer high (Jun-Aug avg)105°F

Winter low (Dec-Feb avg)39°F

Annual snowfall0"

Annual precipitation8.8"

Housing & Cost of Living

Typical home value (ZHVI)$469,84426% above the $371,774 US median

Median gross rent$1,623/mo16% above the $1,400/mo US median

Safety (Reported Crime)

Violent crime rate471.3 /100,00031% above the 359.1 /100,000 US median

Property crime rate2915.7 /100,00066% above the 1760.1 /100,000 US median

Motor vehicle theft rate302.6 /100,000

Healthcare Access

Nearest hospitalTempe St Luke'S Hospital A Campus Of St Luke'S Medical Center (1.5 mi)

Hospital qualityNot Rated (CMS)

Primary care accessStrong (1,430 residents/physician)

Walkability

EPA Walkability Index14.2/20 (Above Average)

Population & City Size

Population186,419Classified as a mid-size city

Elevation1,214 ft

Natural Disaster Risk

Riverine floodingVery High

Coastal floodingN/A

TornadoRelatively Moderate

HurricaneVery Low

WildfireRelatively High

EarthquakeRelatively Moderate

Ice stormsN/A

TsunamiN/A

Sources & Freshness

Crime: FBI UCR/NIBRS · Climate: NOAA Climate Normals · Natural disaster risk: FEMA National Risk Index & NOAA · Hospital location & distance: HIFLD · Hospital quality rating: CMS Hospital Compare · Primary care access: HRSA county-level provider data · Home value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · Rent: Census ACS place-level data · Population & elevation: US Census Bureau · Walkability: EPA National Walkability Index.
National median/average figures used for comparison (home value, rent, crime, precipitation) are recalculated annually from the same source datasets above.
Data last refreshed: August 2026.
Figures are comparative indicators and may not reflect neighborhood-level conditions. Confirm current housing, healthcare and hazard information with the cited sources before making a relocation decision.

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