Less than eight miles east of Phoenix is the city of Tempe, home of Arizona State University. This vibrant downtown area is the heart and soul of the city. Downtown Tempe edges Tempe Town Lake, a section of the Salt River where residents can enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking, or taking a scenic stroll along the shore. There’s never a shortage of entertainment in Downtown Tempe. Their community calendar is jam-packed with events like live park concerts, organic margarita happy hours, and children’s cooking classes. The palm-tree-lined streets of downtown delights adults, offering everything from wine bars to piano bars to a slew of local breweries. Most restaurants are locally owned and filled with tasty cuisine that’ll have you coming back for more. The nearby university offers many perks, such as the esteemed ASU Art Museum. Here residents and students can marvel at impressive visual arts galleries. Renters settling in this sunny suburb have their choice of anything from cozy affordable homes, trendy luxury apartments, and pool-equipped Arizona-style houses.