Zip code 85281: Tempe, Arizona

Q: What city is zip code 85281?

85281 is assigned to Tempe, Arizona. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 85281 in?

85281 is in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Q: What is the population of 85281?

About 72,762 people live in 85281, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What time zone is 85281 in?

85281 is in Mountain Standard Time.

Q: What is the median household income in 85281?

The median household income in 85281 is $64,538.

Q: What zip codes are near 85281?

The closest zip codes to 85281 are 85287, 85288, 85285, 85280, 85282.

Residential delivery areaMaricopa CountyMountain Standard Time

Population

72,762

Median household income

$65K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$381K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,677/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

25.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

13 sq mi

5,468 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 85281

85281 is an urban zip code in Tempe, Arizona (Maricopa County), covering 13 sq mi of land. About 72,762 people live here, or 5,468 per square mile. The median resident is 25.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $64,538 a year, 20% below the national median of $80,734. 24.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $381,000, or 5.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 24% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,677 a month.

50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21.1 minutes each way, and 20% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; food service; and sales. 30% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 85281 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Population72,762
95th
U.S. 334,922,499 · AZ 7,378,8385th of 394 in AZ
Diversity index70.3
94th
U.S. 61.4 · AZ 61.93rd of 394 in AZ
Poverty rate24.6%
91st
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · AZ 12.5%86th of 392 in AZ
Housing vacancy13.7%
84th
U.S. 10.1% · AZ 10.5%170th of 390 in AZ
Population density5,468/sq mi
83rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · AZ 65/sq mi29th of 394 in AZ
Tech workers5.4%
82nd
U.S. 3.8% · AZ 3.7%49th of 393 in AZ
Bachelor's degree or higher50.1%
79th
U.S. 35.7% · AZ 33.3%50th of 394 in AZ
Uninsured rate11.8%
79th
U.S. 8.4% · AZ 10.5%146th of 392 in AZ
Unemployment rate6.8%
78th
U.S. 5.2% · AZ 5.1%113th of 393 in AZ
Work from home19.6%
76th
U.S. 15.1% · AZ 18.4%116th of 393 in AZ
Foreign-born residents18.1%
71st
U.S. 14.1% · AZ 13%48th of 394 in AZ
Government workers16.8%
71st
U.S. 14.5% · AZ 13.9%159th of 393 in AZ
Income inequality (Gini)0.461
70th
U.S. 0.483 · AZ 0.464121st of 388 in AZ
Median gross rent$1,677
66th
U.S. $1,413 · AZ $1,54397th of 327 in AZ
Median home value$381,000
59th
U.S. $332,700 · AZ $394,500133rd of 366 in AZ
Rent-burdened renters52.2%
56th
U.S. 51.1% · AZ 51.4%136th of 372 in AZ
Broadband access91.7%
46th
U.S. 91% · AZ 91.5%152nd of 390 in AZ
Per capita income$34,117
31st
U.S. $44,673 · AZ $42,503206th of 394 in AZ
Self-employed workers7.8%
29th
U.S. 10% · AZ 9.9%246th of 393 in AZ
Median household income$64,538
27th
U.S. $80,734 · AZ $79,964210th of 374 in AZ
Median earnings per worker$39,190
19th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · AZ $48,427270th of 387 in AZ
Average commute21.1 min
18th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · AZ 25.4 min296th of 373 in AZ
Healthcare workers6.9%
14th
U.S. 9.7% · AZ 9.3%270th of 393 in AZ
Veterans2.1%
7th
U.S. 6.2% · AZ 7.9%373rd of 394 in AZ
Homeownership rate23.7%
3rd
WeaknessU.S. 65.2% · AZ 67.4%376th of 390 in AZ
Residents under 189.4%
2nd
U.S. 22% · AZ 21.6%345th of 394 in AZ
Median age25.4
1st
U.S. 38.9 · AZ 39379th of 394 in AZ
Residents 65 and older6.4%
1st
U.S. 17.2% · AZ 18.9%374th of 394 in AZ

Measure	85281	Maricopa	AZ	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in AZ
Population	72,762	4,559,748	7,378,838	334,922,499	95th	5th of 394
Diversity index	70.3	62	61.9	61.4	94th	3rd of 394
Poverty rateWeakness	24.6%	11%	12.5%	12.5%	91st	86th of 392
Housing vacancy	13.7%	8.2%	10.5%	10.1%	84th	170th of 390
Population density	5,468/sq mi	496/sq mi	65/sq mi	95/sq mi	83rd	29th of 394
Tech workers	5.4%	4.2%	3.7%	3.8%	82nd	49th of 393
Bachelor's degree or higher	50.1%	36.7%	33.3%	35.7%	79th	50th of 394
Uninsured rate	11.8%	10.6%	10.5%	8.4%	79th	146th of 392
Unemployment rate	6.8%	4.5%	5.1%	5.2%	78th	113th of 393
Work from home	19.6%	20.8%	18.4%	15.1%	76th	116th of 393
Foreign-born residents	18.1%	14.5%	13%	14.1%	71st	48th of 394
Government workers	16.8%	11.6%	13.9%	14.5%	71st	159th of 393
Income inequality (Gini)	0.461	0.458	0.464	0.483	70th	121st of 388
Median gross rent	$1,677	$1,708	$1,543	$1,413	66th	97th of 327
Median home value	$381,000	$452,800	$394,500	$332,700	59th	133rd of 366
Rent-burdened renters	52.2%	52.6%	51.4%	51.1%	56th	136th of 372
Broadband access	91.7%	93.1%	91.5%	91%	46th	152nd of 390
Per capita income	$34,117	$46,183	$42,503	$44,673	31st	206th of 394
Self-employed workers	7.8%	9.8%	9.9%	10%	29th	246th of 393
Median household income	$64,538	$89,300	$79,964	$80,734	27th	210th of 374
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$39,190	$51,060	$48,427	$49,666	19th	270th of 387
Average commuteStrength	21.1 min	26 min	25.4 min	26.4 min	18th	296th of 373
Healthcare workers	6.9%	9%	9.3%	9.7%	14th	270th of 393
Veterans	2.1%	6.6%	7.9%	6.2%	7th	373rd of 394
Homeownership rateWeakness	23.7%	65.2%	67.4%	65.2%	3rd	376th of 390
Residents under 18	9.4%	22.5%	21.6%	22%	2nd	345th of 394
Median age	25.4	37.6	39	38.9	1st	379th of 394
Residents 65 and older	6.4%	16.3%	18.9%	17.2%	1st	374th of 394

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

5–17

39%

18–24

26%

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

25.4

Under 18

9.4%

65 and over

6.4%

Race and ethnicity

White46%
Black7%
Hispanic25%
Asian13%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander0.4%
Other0.9%
Multiracial8%

Diversity index

70.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

18.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

34.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

70%

Spanish

13%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 29,307
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 31.1%
Married couples: 17.7%
Living alone: 36.2%
Veterans (of adults): 2.1%
Male / female: 55% / 45%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

21%

$25–50k

20%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

85281

$64,538

Maricopa Co.

$89,300

Arizona

$79,964

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$34,117

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

24.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.461

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

85281

$381,000

Maricopa Co.

$452,800

Arizona

$394,500

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

85281

$1,677

Maricopa Co.

$1,708

Arizona

$1,543

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

30%

2–4 units

10%

5–19 units

19%

20+ units

39%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.1%

Housing units: 33,978
Owner-occupied: 23.7%
Vacant: 13.7%
Median year built: 1990
Median rooms: 3.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 52.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 28.7%
Home value to income: 5.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

54%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

20%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10%

10–19

40%

20–29

28%

30–44

15%

45–59

60+

Average commute

21.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

6.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

71.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

12%

Food service

10%

Sales

Education

Business and finance

Management

Healthcare

Engineering and science

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Computer and math

Cleaning and personal care

Legal and social services

Production

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.4%

Industries

Education

17%

Restaurants and hotels

12%

Retail

11%

Professional and technical services

Health care and social assistance

Finance, insurance and real estate

Manufacturing

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Other services

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Information

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

0.4%

Median earnings per worker

$39,190

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	85281	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$52,083	$74,888
Service	$25,356	$26,804
Sales and office	$36,059	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$48,123	$49,199
Production and transportation	$31,802	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

15%

Some college

19%

Associate's

Bachelor's

32%

Graduate

18%

High school graduate or higher: 90.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 50.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 18%
Households with broadband: 91.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 78.5%
No internet access: 2.4%
Without health insurance: 11.8%
Limited-English households: 5%

Geography

City (USPS): Tempe
State: Arizona
County: Maricopa County
Center point: 33.4274° N, 111.9340° W
Land area: 13 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7, no daylight saving)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Tempe98% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 85281

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
85287	Tempe, AZ · PO box	0.1 mi	—	—	—
85288	Tempe, AZ · PO box	1.2 mi	—	—	—
85285	Tempe, AZ · PO box	1.7 mi	—	—	—
85280	Tempe, AZ · PO box	1.8 mi	—	—	—
85282	Tempe, AZ	2.3 mi	53,624	$79,036	$412,000
85026	Phoenix, AZ	2.7 mi	0	—	—
85257	Scottsdale, AZ	2.7 mi	29,812	$86,962	$506,300
85008	Phoenix, AZ	4 mi	59,716	$66,353	$358,000
85283	Tempe, AZ	4.3 mi	47,459	$84,568	$442,800
85034	Phoenix, AZ	4.7 mi	4,854	$63,559	$422,200
85202	Mesa, AZ	4.7 mi	38,750	$71,619	$370,900
85251	Scottsdale, AZ	4.7 mi	40,780	$92,851	$554,400

Zip codes like 85281 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 85281

What city is zip code 85281?

85281 is assigned to Tempe, Arizona. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 85281 in?

85281 is in Maricopa County, Arizona.

What is the population of 85281?

About 72,762 people live in 85281, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 85281 in?

85281 is in Mountain Standard Time.

What is the median household income in 85281?

The median household income in 85281 is $64,538.

What zip codes are near 85281?

The closest zip codes to 85281 are 85287, 85288, 85285, 85280, 85282.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 85281, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.