Tempe and South Scottsdale are the Valley's energy and value corner — ASU and a waterfront downtown on one side, revitalizing mid-century ranch neighborhoods on the other, stitched together by light rail and the most walkable streets in the metro.
What are Tempe & South Scottsdale known for?
Tempe is the Valley's college town, built around Arizona State University, Tempe Town Lake, and the Mill Avenue district — and it markets itself as the most walkable and bikeable city in the metro. Just to the north, South Scottsdale is the value entry into a Scottsdale address: mid-century ranch neighborhoods whose McDowell Road corridor is being reinvented around SkySong, ASU's innovation center.
Together they're younger, denser, and more connected than most of the Valley — and changing fast.
What's the lifestyle like?
Active and connected. Tempe Town Lake offers more than five miles of paths plus water sports and events, linking Mill Avenue, Tempe Marketplace, and Papago Park (home to the Hole-in-the-Rock formation). Mill Avenue brings a dense downtown of shops and restaurants, and the Valley Metro light rail ties it all to Phoenix and Mesa — you can genuinely live here with less driving.
In South Scottsdale, SkySong has anchored two decades of revitalization along McDowell, and you're just south of walkable Old Town.
What kind of homes — and what does it cost?
Tempe mixes older central-Tempe homes, condos, and student-oriented housing near ASU; South Scottsdale is dominated by 1950s–60s mid-century ranch homes, many now beautifully remodeled. Both attract buyers who want character, walkability, and value.
As of late 2025–mid 2026, Tempe's median ran roughly $468K–$480K (Redfin/Zillow), while South Scottsdale (ZIP 85257) sat near $605K — about a third below the citywide Scottsdale median, which makes it the most affordable way into a Scottsdale address. Market figures move with the market; treat any single number as a snapshot and ask us for today's comparables. Browse current listings, or see your home's value.
What schools serve the area?
Tempe straddles several districts — Tempe Elementary and Kyrene at the K–8 level, with Tempe Union high schools — while South Scottsdale falls in the Scottsdale Unified School District (largely the Coronado High area). Verify by exact address. You can check any school through Arizona's A–F report cards, and we're glad to translate the grades into what they mean for your family.
Who is this area right for?
It fits first-time and value-minded buyers, ASU faculty and staff, investors, and mid-century-modern lovers who want walkability and light-rail access without a luxury price tag — plus anyone who wants a Scottsdale address for the least money. Ready to move up into Old Town itself? See our Scottsdale guide.
