85281 ZIP Code — Tempe, AZ
Maricopa County, Arizona
ZIP code 85281 is located in Tempe, Arizona, within Maricopa County. It covers approximately 13.31 square miles and serves a population of 68,623 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Mountain (MT) — no DST timezone, served by area code 602.
About ZIP code 85281
The housing stock consists of a significant share of large multi-unit buildings. Much of the housing stock is relatively new, reflecting recent development activity. Median home value is $333,600. Renters make up the majority at 78%, typical of denser urban areas.
Median household income is $55,572. Poverty affects 27% of residents, above the national average.
The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 21 minutes is near the national average.
Educational attainment is high — 48% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national average of 33%.
68,623
population
13.31
sq mi land
Standard
ZIP type
Mountain (MT) — no DST
timezone
85281 ZIP code map
Cities in ZIP code 85281
Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 85281. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.
| City | Status |
|---|---|
| Tempe | Preferred |
Nearby ZIP codes
85287 Tempe (1.2 mi)
85257 Scottsdale (1.6 mi)
85282 Tempe (2.9 mi)
85008 Phoenix (3.8 mi)
85251 Scottsdale (4 mi)
85201 Mesa (4.2 mi)
85202 Mesa (4.6 mi)
85034 Phoenix (4.9 mi)
85283 Tempe (5 mi)
85018 Phoenix (5.4 mi)
85040 Phoenix (6 mi)
85210 Mesa (6.1 mi)
Demographics
updated 07/2026
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Total population | 68,623 |
| Population density | 5,156 / sq mi |
| State FIPS | 04 |
| County FIPS | 013 |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Land area | 13.31 sq mi |
| Water area | 0.06 sq mi |
| Latitude | 33.4357 |
| Longitude | -111.9278 |
| Timezone | Mountain (MT) — no DST |
| Area code | 602 |
Total population by age
Gender
Race & ethnicity
Economics
updated 07/2026
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 56.6% | 36.2% | 40.6% |
| $50k – $100k | 28.3% | 32.0% | 31.9% |
| $100k – $200k | 12.6% | 23.7% | 21.1% |
| Over $200k | 2.5% | 8.0% | 6.4% |
Demographics & statistics
68,623
Population
5,156
People per sq mi
25.3
Median age
$55,572
Median household income
$30,086
Per capita income
$333,600
Median home value
$1,421
Median monthly rent
21.6%
Home ownership
27.1%
Poverty rate
6.1%
Unemployment
9,617
Housing units
47.5%
Bachelor's or higher
Age distribution
Male
Female
1,158
Under 5
875
898
5–9
678
1,160
10–14
877
5,400
15–19
4,082
10,476
20–24
7,919
10,171
25–34
7,687
3,247
35–44
2,455
2,124
45–54
1,606
1,182
55–59
893
936
60–64
707
1,289
65–74
974
812
75–84
614
230
85+
173
← Male
Female →
Age summary
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 6,896 | 10.0% |
| 18 and over | 61,727 | 90.0% |
| 65 and over | 4,092 | 6.0% |
| Median age | 25.3 years | |
Race & ethnicity
White
51.9%
Hispanic or Latino
11.9%
Asian
10.4%
Two or more races
9.9%
Other race
7.1%
Black or African American
6%
American Indian / Alaska Native
2.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.4%
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| White | 40,472 | 51.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9,310 | 11.9% |
| Asian | 8,067 | 10.4% |
| Two or more races | 7,732 | 9.9% |
| Other race | 5,551 | 7.1% |
| Black or African American | 4,648 | 6% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 1,855 | 2.4% |
| Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander | 298 | 0.4% |
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 56.6% | 36.2% | 40.6% |
| $50k – $100k | 28.3% | 32.0% | 31.9% |
| $100k – $200k | 12.6% | 23.7% | 21.1% |
| Over $200k | 2.5% | 8.0% | 6.4% |
Under $10k
11.4%
$10k–$15k
3.8%
$15k–$25k
8.3%
$25k–$35k
8.8%
$35k–$50k
13.3%
$50k–$75k
18.4%
$75k–$100k
13.0%
$100k–$150k
14.3%
$150k–$200k
5.0%
$200k+
3.7%
| Range | % of households |
|---|---|
| Under $10k | 11.4% |
| $10k–$15k | 3.8% |
| $15k–$25k | 8.3% |
| $25k–$35k | 8.8% |
| $35k–$50k | 13.3% |
| $50k–$75k | 18.4% |
| $75k–$100k | 13.0% |
| $100k–$150k | 14.3% |
| $150k–$200k | 5.0% |
| $200k+ | 3.7% |
| Median income | $55,572 |
Housing
Home values
Under $50k
11.2%
$50k–$100k
1.8%
$100k–$150k
3.9%
$150k–$200k
7.0%
$200k–$300k
16.2%
$300k–$500k
44.4%
$500k–$1M
14.6%
$1M+
0.9%
Housing overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $333,600 |
| Median rent / month | $1,421 |
| Owner occupied | 21.6% |
| Renter occupied | 78.4% |
| Vacant | 11.6% |
| Single-family detached | 19.7% |
| Large apartment buildings | 39.6% |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% |
| Median rooms | 3.8 |
| Avg household size (owned) | 2.23 |
Year built
| Era | % |
|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 0.9% |
| 2010–2019 | 19.3% |
| 2000–2009 | 16.4% |
| 1990–1999 | 10.4% |
| 1980–1989 | 17.5% |
| 1970–1979 | 13.4% |
| 1960–1969 | 11.8% |
| 1950–1959 | 7.6% |
| 1940–1949 | 1.7% |
| 1939 or earlier | 1.0% |
Bedrooms
| Size | % of units |
|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | 9.7% |
| 1 bedroom | 24.2% |
| 2 bedrooms | 38.9% |
| 3 bedrooms | 19.8% |
| 4 bedrooms | 6.7% |
| 5+ bedrooms | 0.8% |
Vehicles per household
| Vehicles | % of households |
|---|---|
| No vehicle | 13.5% |
| 1 vehicle | 42.5% |
| 2 vehicles | 31.7% |
| 3 or more | 12.3% |
Heating fuel
| Fuel type | % |
|---|---|
| Utility gas | 18.8% |
| Electricity | 78.5% |
| Propane / LP gas | 0.2% |
| Fuel oil | 0.2% |
| Wood | 0.2% |
| No fuel used | 1.9% |
Households & families
| Household type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Married-couple family | 4,943 | 17.8% |
| Cohabiting couple | 3,393 | 12.2% |
| Male householder, no spouse | 11,426 | 41.2% |
| Female householder, no spouse | 7,953 | 28.7% |
| Households with children under 18 | 3,507 | 12.7% |
| Households with seniors (65+) | 2,819 | 10.2% |
| Average household size | 2.17 | |
Marital status
| Status | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Never married | 75.3% | 68.1% |
| Married | 16.9% | 20.4% |
| Separated | 0.8% | 1.2% |
| Widowed | 0.8% | 1.9% |
| Divorced | 6.1% | 8.4% |
Education
Less than 9th grade
4.2%
Some HS, no diploma
5.6%
HS graduate
14.1%
Some college, no degree
21.9%
Associate's degree
6.5%
Bachelor's degree
28.7%
Graduate / professional
18.9%
| Metric | % |
|---|---|
| HS diploma or higher | 90.1% |
| Bachelor's or higher | 47.5% |
School enrollment (ages 3–17)
| Type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery / preschool | 196 | 0.7% |
| Kindergarten | 197 | 0.7% |
| Elementary school | 2,331 | 7.8% |
| High school | 1,559 | 5.2% |
| College / grad school | 25,492 | 85.6% |
Employment
Industry of employment
Education & healthcare
26.1%
Arts, food & hospitality
15.4%
Professional & management
13.4%
Retail trade
10.7%
Finance & real estate
8.1%
Manufacturing
8.0%
Construction
4.9%
Transportation & utilities
4.1%
Other services
3.7%
Information
2.0%
Wholesale trade
1.9%
Public administration
1.7%
Agriculture & mining
0.2%
Occupation
| Category | % |
|---|---|
| Management, business & arts | 44.3% |
| Service | 18.1% |
| Sales & office | 22.5% |
| Natural resources & construction | 5.9% |
| Production & transportation | 9.2% |
Employment type
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private sector | 80.5% |
| Government | 16.2% |
| Self-employed | 3.2% |
| Unpaid family workers | 0.1% |
Commute
| Method | % |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 56.5% |
| Carpool | 8.3% |
| Public transit | 4.4% |
| Walk | 6.4% |
| Work from home | 17.6% |
| Other means | 6.9% |
| Avg commute (minutes) | 21.0 |
Poverty
All people
27.1%
Under 18 years
35.4%
18 and over
26.1%
Married-couple families
7.5%
Female-led households
26.9%
Income support
| Source | % of households |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 10.3% |
| Retirement income | 9.7% |
| Supplemental Security | 2.1% |
| Cash public assistance | 1.8% |
| Food stamps / SNAP | 7.1% |
Health indicators
| Condition | % |
|---|---|
| Obesity | 27.4% |
| High blood pressure | 19.3% |
| High cholesterol | 19.1% |
| Diabetes | 5.5% |
| Heart disease | 2.8% |
| Stroke | 1.5% |
| Asthma | 11.4% |
| Arthritis | 10.6% |
| Kidney disease | 1.8% |
| Pulmonary disease | 4.0% |
| Cancer | 2.4% |
| Behavior / access | % |
|---|---|
| Smoking | 14.6% |
| Binge drinking | 19.6% |
| No physical activity | 19.8% |
| Less than 7 hrs sleep | 32.2% |
| Depression | 21.8% |
| Fair or poor health | 12.4% |
| Poor mental health | 18.9% |
| Poor physical health | 8.1% |
| No health insurance | 18.1% |
| Visited doctor (checkup) | 65.2% |
| Visited dentist | 55.7% |
| Cholesterol screening | 77.6% |
| Teeth loss | 15.3% |
Veterans & disability
| Veterans | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian veterans | 1,815 | 2.9% |
| Disability | % |
|---|---|
| Any disability | 9.2% |
| Under 18 | 5.2% |
| 18–64 years | 7.5% |
| 65 and over | 40.9% |
Health insurance coverage
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private insurance | 71.0% |
| Public insurance | 21.4% |
| No insurance | 12.4% |
| Uninsured under 19 | 11.2% |
Language & origin
Language spoken at home (age 5+)
| Language | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 66,590 | 97.0% |
| Spanish | 6,068 | 9.1% |
| Other Indo-European | 3,138 | 4.7% |
| Asian & Pacific Islander | 869 | 1.3% |
| Other languages | 1,547 | 2.3% |
Place of birth & citizenship
| Origin | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Native born (US) | 55,914 | 81.5% |
| Born in same state | 54,894 | 80.0% |
| Born in different state | 24,342 | 35.5% |
| Foreign born | 1,020 | 1.5% |
| Naturalized citizen | 12,709 | 18.5% |
| Not a US citizen | 3,563 | 28.0% |
Ancestry
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Italian | 5,223 | 7.6% |
| French | 4,340 | 6.3% |
| Arab | 1,038 | 1.5% |
| Polish | 790 | 1.2% |
| Dutch | 419 | 0.6% |
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| English | 418 | 0.6% |
| German | 387 | 0.6% |
| Irish | 97 | 0.1% |
| Norwegian | 8 | 0% |
Technology access
| Metric | % of households |
|---|---|
| Computer access | 40.4% |
| Internet access | 98.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.
Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 85281
What part of Tempe is ZIP code 85281?
ZIP code 85281 covers a portion of Tempe, Arizona, within Maricopa County.
What county is ZIP code 85281 in?
ZIP code 85281 falls within Maricopa County, Arizona.
Is ZIP code 85281 mostly rentals?
78% of occupied units in ZIP code 85281 are renter-occupied.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 85281?
27% of residents in ZIP code 85281 live below the poverty line, above the national average.
How educated is the population of ZIP code 85281?
48% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — well above the national average of ~33%, reflecting a highly educated population.
What is the typical home value in ZIP code 85281?
The median home value in ZIP code 85281 is $333,600.
What timezone is ZIP code 85281 in?
ZIP code 85281 observes the MST timezone.