Tempe is the youngest, densest, most walkable city in the Phoenix metro. Home to Arizona State University — the largest university in the country by enrollment — plus a fast-growing base of young professionals working at State Farm, the tech firms around Tempe Town Lake, and the startups along Mill Avenue. It moves at a different speed than the family suburbs around it.

If you’re moving to Tempe in 2026 — as a student, a young professional, or a family near campus — here’s the real local rundown from a Phoenix moving company that runs Tempe moves every week.

Why People Move to Tempe

• ASU. The single biggest driver. Students, faculty, and staff make up a huge share of the population, and the rental market revolves around the academic calendar.
• Walkability and light rail. Tempe is one of the few truly walkable cities in the Valley. Valley Metro Rail runs through it, connecting to downtown Phoenix and Mesa. You can live here without a car more easily than anywhere else in metro Phoenix.
• Jobs. State Farm’s Marina Heights campus, the tech and startup scene around Tempe Town Lake, and ASU itself are major employers. Short commutes are normal here.
• Nightlife and food. Mill Avenue is the entertainment center — bars, restaurants, live music. Younger and livelier than anywhere else in the metro.
• Sky Harbor proximity. Tempe is the closest suburb to Phoenix’s airport — about 10 minutes. Great for anyone who travels for work.
• Central location. Tempe sits in the middle of the Valley. Quick access to Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, and Phoenix.

Tempe Neighborhoods Worth Knowing

Downtown Tempe / Mill Avenue (Students + Young Renters)

The heart of campus life. High-rise student apartments, walkable to ASU, surrounded by bars and restaurants. Loud, energetic, and almost entirely rentals. If you’re a student or recent grad who wants to be in the middle of everything, this is it. If you want quiet, look elsewhere.

North Tempe / Tempe Town Lake (Young Professionals)

Newer mid-rise and high-rise apartments around the lake and Marina Heights. Popular with young professionals at State Farm and the surrounding tech offices. Modern buildings, amenities, walk-to-work for many. Pricier than student housing.

Maple-Ash and Mitchell Park (Historic Tempe)

Tempe’s older, tree-lined neighborhoods near campus. Historic bungalows, character homes, and a mix of long-time owners and rentals. Popular with faculty, grad students, and anyone who wants a real house close to ASU.

South Tempe (Families)

The quieter, family side of Tempe — single-family homes, better-rated schools (Kyrene district), bigger lots, away from the campus noise. This is where families who want Tempe’s central location without the student chaos end up.

The Lakes (Waterfront South Tempe)

A master-planned community built around man-made lakes in south Tempe. Established, quiet, family-oriented, with a clubhouse and water amenities. A pocket of suburban calm inside an otherwise busy city.

What a Tempe Move Actually Costs in 2026

Tempe skews toward apartments and smaller moves, so the cost range runs lower on average than the family suburbs. Real ranges for a local Phoenix metro move in or out of Tempe:

• Studio or 1-bedroom apartment: $480 – $800
• 2-bedroom apartment or small home: $640 – $1,200
• 3-bedroom home: $1,120 – $1,800
• 4-bedroom home: $1,600 – $2,600

Our published hourly rates:

• $160/hour Monday through Friday (two movers + truck)
• $180/hour Saturday (two movers + truck)
• +$40/hour per additional mover

Most Tempe apartment moves run 3–6 hours. The big variables are stairs and building access (more on that below). The local-movers cost breakdown lives on our local movers in Phoenix page, and our dedicated Tempe movers page covers moving in and out of town.

Tempe-Specific Things to Know on Move Day

High-Rise Apartment Access Is the Big One

A lot of Tempe living is in mid-rise and high-rise apartment buildings, especially near campus and the lake. That means elevators, loading docks, and certificates of insurance (COIs). Most Tempe apartment buildings require a COI from your moving company before move day — and many require you to reserve the elevator or loading dock in advance. We issue COIs on request, but it takes 1–2 business days, so don’t wait until the day before.

The August Move-In Crunch

The ASU academic calendar drives the Tempe rental market. Late July and August are the single busiest moving window in Tempe — leases turn over all at once. If you’re moving for the fall semester, book your movers 4–6 weeks ahead. Same goes for May, when leases end and students move out. Mid-semester moves (October, February) are far easier to schedule.

Parking and Permits Near Campus

Downtown Tempe and the campus area have tight, metered, permit-only street parking. A full-size moving truck can’t always park close to the door. Ask your building about a loading zone or reserved truck parking, and budget a few extra minutes of carry time if the truck has to park down the block.

Summer Heat

Tempe runs 100°F+ from late May through September, and the August move-in crunch lands in the worst of it. We start summer crews early (6:30–7 a.m.) to beat the peak heat. If you’re moving in August, the earliest available slot is your friend.

Student Moves Are Their Own Thing

If you’re an ASU student moving dorm-to-apartment or apartment-to-apartment, a small two-mover crew usually handles it fast. Our student movers page covers the typical setup, and our apartment movers page covers crew sizing for elevator and walk-up buildings.

Settling Into Tempe

• Tempe Town Lake. Rowing, kayaking, festivals, the Fourth of July fireworks. The center of Tempe’s outdoor life.
• Mill Avenue District. Restaurants, bars, live music, and the cultural heart of the city.
• “A” Mountain (Hayden Butte). A quick hike with the best view of campus and the lake.
• Tempe Marketplace and Arizona Mills. The two big shopping and entertainment centers.
• City services. The City of Tempe website is the best one-stop for utilities, trash, water, and city programs.

When to Get a Real Tempe Moving Quote

If you’re a few weeks out from a Tempe move, that’s the right window to start getting quotes — but if your move falls in the late-July-through-August ASU crunch, book 4–6 weeks ahead. That window fills up faster than any other in the Valley.

We do Tempe moves of every size — ASU students, young professionals near the lake, families in south Tempe, and everyone in between. Request a free Phoenix moving quote and we’ll send a real number based on your actual home, your building’s access rules, and your move date.