North Tempe

Nestled along two of metro Phoenix’s favorite outdoor attractions, Papago Park and Tempe Town Lake, the North Tempe neighborhood balances the draw of the outdoors with the convenience of everyday living just north of the Arizona State University Tempe campus. The area also is one of the fastest changing in the metro area, attracting new businesses and modern developments that are revitalizing the neighborhood that sits only 11 miles from Downtown Phoenix.

As a neighborhood that has constantly evolved through the years, North Tempe is a patchwork of tract homes built in the 1950s and 1960s, cozy townhouses with HOAs constructed in the1980s, higher-density complexes that came about in the1990s, and luxury condos first appearing in the 2000s. Needless to say, North Tempe offers a wider range of lifestyles and affordability than many other neighborhoods. You can find anything from vintage, single-story fixer-uppers to modern, turn-key condos. When it comes to the North Tempe neighborhood, there is never a need to settle as there is truly something here to fit each individual and match their own unique style and taste.

On the northern end, typical single-family homes usually run under 1,800 Sq. Ft. with lots around 6,500 Sq. Ft.—and often with slim side yards—but backyard swimming pools are still common. On the southern tip of the neighborhood, just south of the 202 Freeway, luxury residences in complexes along Tempe Town Lake are among the most desirable in Phoenix, with access to water recreation and some of the best south-facing views in the city.

Within a few minutes of home in North Tempe, you can explore the serenity of Papago Park, Phoenix Zoo, the Desert Botanical Garden, as well as several recreational activities on Tempe Town Lake.

Just 15 minutes to the north, you can find luxury shops and galleries in Scottsdale Fashion Square and Old Town Scottsdale. To the south, you can hop just over the lake to enjoy the college-town vibe of Mill Avenue bars and restaurants. Further to the south, you’re only 15 minutes away from the massive Arizona Mills outlet mall with its popular Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life Arizona Aquarium and about 20 minutes from Arizona’s only IKEA.

Throughout the year, you can attend an ongoing calendar at the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden, or any number of Arizona State University’s countless cultural and sporting events. Other top Tempe calendar-markers include the Aloha Festival in October and the Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade in December.

During the Cactus League’s Spring Training, which comes to the valley every February through March, Major League Baseball fans in particular will love being only a 10 to 20-minute drive from games with the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.

To some, North Tempe also is known as the Papago neighborhood due to its location by sprawling Papago Park. Here, you can find hiking trails and striking vistas of buttes that frame famous Camelback Mountain off in the distance. It’s not uncommon to find people doing yoga or meditating in the park, although the iconic “Hole in the Rock” is often more crowded than not, with its picture-perfect view.

Within Papago Park are also two of Phoenix’s most beloved attractions: the Phoenix Zoo with its renowned giraffe exhibit and lake oases, and the Desert Botanical Garden with its giant cacti and otherworldly Sonoran plants. Other popular park spots include Indian Bend Park and the scenic North Bank Trail along Tempe Town Lake.

As part of the Tempe Elementary School District and the Tempe Union High School District, Laird Elementary School, teaching pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, and McClintock High School serve most students in the neighborhood. While a western portion of the neighborhood is assigned to Tempe High School, a small zone north of McKellips Road falls in the Coronado Learning Community area of the Scottsdale Unified School District.

As for higher education, Arizona State University draws more than 50,000 students to Downtown Tempe just across Tempe Town Lake for more than 300 degree and certificate programs. U.S. News & World Report has ranked ASU as the country’s “most innovative school” for several years in a row, ahead of MIT and Stanford.

One of the biggest draws to the North Tempe neighborhood is its location, with popular attractions, proximity to ASU and the airport, and everyday conveniences all in one spot.

Feel free to run errands along the Scottsdale Road corridor that leads directly to Tempe Town Lake, where you can enjoy scenic morning jogs or kayaking. Just a few minutes east with a quick hop over the 202 Freeway, you can make Target runs, shop the outdoor mall, and find plenty of delectable eateries at local go-to Tempe Marketplace.

Arizona State University, State Farm, Wells Fargo, and ABM Industries are Tempe’s largest employers, with numerous tech startups also flocking to the greater Tempe area.

With convenient access to the 202 Freeway, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is only 10 minutes away and Downtown Phoenix only 20 minutes. For those interested in mass public transit, Valley Metro Rail has two stops in the neighborhood west of Papago Park as part of Phoenix’s growing light-rail service that connects Mesa, Tempe, Downtown Phoenix, and North Central Phoenix. Cyclists can also navigate the Tempe Bikeway, which is a growing network of bike lanes and multi-use paths connecting most areas of the city.

Video By

Michael Voyack