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Tempe is the home of Arizona State University, the largest public university in the United States, and its rental market is one of the most dynamic in the Mountain West. With over 80,000 students at the Tempe campus alone, demand for off-campus housing is enormous and the supply of student-focused apartments near campus is correspondingly massive. Rents have risen sharply as ASU has grown, but Tempe remains more affordable than comparable West Coast student markets. Mill Avenue is the student entertainment corridor, and the neighborhoods between campus and Town Lake make up the primary student zone. The Valley Metro Rail connects Tempe to Phoenix and Mesa, making car-light life viable near stations.
The core student zone — walkable to ASU's main campus, dense with apartment complexes and bars along Mill Avenue. Fills by early spring for the following fall. The most competitive and convenient student location.
Newer development south of campus along the lake — higher prices but modern amenities and light rail access. Popular with graduate students and upperclassmen.
More affordable than the campus core, with light rail access at Rural/University and other stations. Popular with students who want lower rents and are comfortable taking the train to campus.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Tempe.
Valley Metro Rail runs directly through ASU's campus from west Tempe to Mesa and connects to the Phoenix system. The Orbit community buses are free in Tempe and cover neighborhoods between rail stations. For ASU students near the light rail, going car-free is genuinely viable — the system covers campus, downtown Tempe, Phoenix, and Mesa.
ASU's campus and the Mill Avenue corridor are highly walkable. The light rail alignment along Apache Boulevard and University Drive connects bikeable blocks. Tempe has a dedicated bike lane network and the relatively flat terrain of the Valley makes biking practical. The canal paths provide off-street biking connections.
ASU campus parking is permit-limited and expensive. Mill Avenue has paid parking. Most off-campus apartments include a space, but many ASU students choose to go car-free given the transit network.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Near ASU's campus, shared units typically run $700-$1,100/mo per person. Mill Avenue-adjacent apartments push higher. West Tempe along the light rail is more affordable at $600-$900/mo. ASU's scale keeps demand consistently high.
Browse student housing near each Tempe-area university.