Tampines neighbourhood guide

Overview: who Tampines suits

Tampines is one of Singapore's biggest towns and a major centre for the east of the island. The 2020 Census counted 259,900 residents in 83,681 households, the largest population among our twelve guides. URA's map divides the planning area into five subzones: Simei, Tampines East, Tampines North, Tampines West and Xilin. It sits in URA's East Region.

Most of the town is public housing, organised around Tampines Central, where the interchange station, Tampines Mall, Century Square and Our Tampines Hub are found. Simei adds Changi General Hospital and its own MRT station, while the Xilin subzone gives its name to the new Downtown Line station opening in December 2026. Tampines North is where the Cross Island Line station, a new hawker centre, Tampines North Polyclinic and new community clubs are being added.

Tampines suits families who want a complete town where schools, malls, a polyclinic, a hospital and sports facilities are all within the same planning area. It also suits people who work in the east of the island. Those who need a quick commute to the CBD every day should compare the East-West Line and Downtown Line journey times from their specific block.

Who lives here

Tampines sits close to the national age profile. In the 2020 Census, children aged 0 to 14 made up 13.5% of its 259,900 residents and people aged 65 and over 14.7%, against national figures of 14.5% and 15.2%. With the largest population in our series, it is a town where young families, working adults and older residents are all present in large numbers.

Getting around: MRT stations

LTA's exit records place six stations inside Tampines, on two main lines and the Changi Airport branch.

Stations announced with a date (LTA):

Tampines (EW2/DT32) is the interchange between the East-West Line and the Downtown Line at the town centre. Simei (EW3) is on the East-West Line, and Expo (CG1/DT35) links the Changi Airport branch with the Downtown Line. The Downtown Line also stops at Tampines West (DT31), Tampines East (DT33) and Upper Changi (DT34).

Two rail changes are coming. LTA announced on 4 November 2026 that Xilin (DT36) will open on 26 December 2026 as part of the Downtown Line 3 Extension, which runs from Expo to a new Sungei Bedok interchange with the Thomson-East Coast Line. And the Cross Island Line Phase 1, targeted by LTA for 2030, adds Tampines North (CR6). Our TEL5 and DTL3e article and Cross Island Line guide cover both.

Primary and secondary schools

Tampines has more schools than any other area in our series. MOE lists 21 schools under the planning area:

• Primary: Angsana, Changkat, Chongzheng, East Spring, Gongshang, Junyuan, Poi Ching School, St. Hilda's, Tampines, Tampines North and Yumin primary schools
• Secondary: Changkat Changi, Dunman, East Spring, Junyuan, Ngee Ann, Pasir Ris, Springfield, St. Hilda's and Tampines secondary schools
• Secondary to JC: Temasek Junior College, which MOE lists as running from Secondary 1 to JC2 with the Integrated Programme

MOE marks Poi Ching School as a Special Assistance Plan school, and Dunman Secondary and Ngee Ann Secondary as autonomous. Note that Pasir Ris Secondary is in Tampines on MOE's list, not in Pasir Ris. With eleven primary schools, most families have several options; our P1 registration guide explains how home-school distance works when a school is oversubscribed.

Pre-schools and childcare

ECDA's 2024 location lists place 142 pre-schools and 28 kindergartens in Tampines. Those are the highest counts of both among the twelve areas we cover, which matches the scale of the town: the 2020 Census counted about 35,100 children aged 0 to 14 here, more than in any other planning area in our series. ECDA's own search tool shows fees, opening hours and current vacancies for each centre, which change more often than any guide can track.

Malls and everyday shopping

OneMap places Tampines Mall at 4 Tampines Central 5 and Century Square at 2 Tampines Central 5, side by side at the town centre, with Our Tampines Hub at 1 Tampines Walk, which also houses a hawker centre.

Hawker centres and food

NEA lists three hawker centres in Tampines, one of them under construction:

Three centres is a modest number for a town of this size. The new Tampines North centre, on Tampines Street 62, will serve the newer northern estates. Our new hawker centres article tracks it alongside other centres under construction.

Parks and recreation

NParks lists thirteen parks and open spaces in Tampines, including Tampines Eco Green, Sun Plaza Park, Tampines Boulevard Park, Sea Breeze Avenue Park and Sea Breeze Garden Park. Part of East Coast Park, Area H, also falls inside the planning area on URA's map. Tampines Eco Green is the town's nature space, and Sun Plaza Park is the main town park.

Healthcare

Tampines combines a hospital and two polyclinics. OneMap places Changi General Hospital at 2 Simei Street 3, Tampines Polyclinic at 1 Tampines Street 41 and Tampines North Polyclinic at 35 Tampines Street 61, all inside the planning area. MOH lists 81 CHAS-registered clinics, the highest count among our twelve guides.

Community facilities

People's Association lists Changi Simei, Tampines Central, Tampines East and Tampines West community clubs, with Tampines Changkat and Tampines North community clubs under construction. NLB's Tampines Regional Library serves the town, and SportSG lists Tampines Sport Centre.

Housing landscape

The 2020 Census household mix:

About 87% of households lived in HDB flats, and two in three in 4-room, 5-room or executive flats. HDB's median resale prices for the second quarter of 2026 in Tampines were S$478,000 for a 3-room flat, S$668,000 for a 4-room flat, S$828,000 for a 5-room flat and S$968,000 for an executive flat. Tampines is the only town in our series with a published median for every flat size from 3-room to executive in that quarter. Our HDB resale medians by town compares the figures.

The two private residential projects listed below are at Tampines Street 62 and Tampines Street 94.

The pockets of Tampines

Tampines Central, around the interchange, is the shopping and transport core. Tampines West and Tampines East flank it, each with its own Downtown Line station. Tampines North is the newest part of town, with the Cross Island Line station, a new hawker centre, a new polyclinic and new community clubs. Simei holds Changi General Hospital and Simei station. And the planning area also takes in Expo station and the new Xilin station.

Before you move: a short checklist

• Which line. Check whether the home is closer to the East-West Line or the Downtown Line; they reach different parts of the city.
• Tampines North. If you are looking there, ask which facilities are open now and which are still under construction.
• Schools. With eleven primary schools, use OneMap to see which fall within 1 km and 2 km of the address.
• Food. The town has three hawker centres; check how close the nearest is to the block.
• New rail. If you work near Changi South or Bedok, Xilin station from 26 December 2026 may shorten the trip.

How Tampines compares

Tampines is the largest planning area in our series by population, with 259,900 residents in 2020, nearly 100,000 more than Ang Mo Kio, the next largest. It has the most schools of any area we cover, with 21 on MOE's list, and two polyclinics as well as Changi General Hospital. About 87% of households lived in HDB flats, and three in four HDB households lived in 4-room, 5-room or executive flats.

The figure that stands out is hawker supply. NEA lists three hawker centres and markets in the planning area, one of them under construction, for more than a quarter of a million residents. That is far fewer per resident than older towns such as Ang Mo Kio, with ten, or Bukit Merah, with fifteen, which is why the Tampines North Hawker Centre, with an estimated completion of 2030, matters. MOH lists 81 CHAS clinics, the most in our series. On HDB's 2026-Q2 figures, the 4-room median was S$668,000.

Upcoming changes

Several official changes are on the way:

• Xilin station (DT36) opens on 26 December 2026, extending the Downtown Line from Expo to Sungei Bedok (LTA, 4 November 2026).
• Tampines North station (CR6) on the Cross Island Line Phase 1, targeted for 2030 (LTA).
• Tampines North Hawker Centre, under construction with an estimated 2030 completion (NEA).
• Tampines Changkat and Tampines North community clubs, under construction (People's Association).

New launches nearby

These residential projects sit inside the Tampines planning area on URA's boundaries. Each card links to the project's own website.

FAQ

Which MRT stations are in Tampines?

Tampines (EW2/DT32), Simei (EW3), Expo (CG1/DT35), Tampines West (DT31), Tampines East (DT33) and Upper Changi (DT34). Xilin (DT36) opens on 26 December 2026.

Is there a hospital in Tampines?

Yes. Changi General Hospital is at 2 Simei Street 3, inside the Tampines planning area, along with Tampines and Tampines North polyclinics.

How many schools are in Tampines?

MOE lists 21 schools under the planning area, including eleven primary schools and Temasek Junior College.

When will the Cross Island Line reach Tampines?

LTA targets 2030 for Cross Island Line Phase 1, which includes Tampines North (CR6).

Which malls are in Tampines?

Tampines Mall and Century Square at Tampines Central 5, and Our Tampines Hub at 1 Tampines Walk.

What do HDB flats cost in Tampines?

HDB's 2026-Q2 medians were S$478,000 (3-room), S$668,000 (4-room), S$828,000 (5-room) and S$968,000 (executive).

How many pre-schools are in Tampines?

ECDA's 2024 lists place 142 pre-schools and 28 kindergartens in the planning area.

Is there a library in Tampines?

Yes, NLB's Tampines Regional Library. Our Tampines Hub at 1 Tampines Walk also houses a hawker centre.

Which parks are in Tampines?

NParks lists Tampines Eco Green, Sun Plaza Park and Tampines Boulevard Park, among others.

When does Xilin station open?

LTA has announced 26 December 2026 for Xilin (DT36) on the Downtown Line 3 Extension.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Guides for neighbouring planning areas: Pasir Ris.

Other planning areas that border Tampines on URA's map: Bedok, Changi, Paya Lebar. We have not published guides for these yet.

Browse all twelve on our neighbourhood guides page.

Sources

1. URA, Master Plan 2019 Planning Area Boundary (No Sea), data.gov.sg
2. URA, Master Plan 2019 Subzone Boundary (No Sea), data.gov.sg
3. LTA, MRT Station Exit (GEOJSON), data.gov.sg
4. LTA, Train Station Chinese Names (station codes and lines), data.gov.sg; LTA rail system map
5. LTA, Cross Island Line project page (phases, stations, target years)
6. LTA news release, 4 November 2026: TEL5 and DTL3e open 26 December 2026
7. URA, Master Plan 2025 Rail Station Name layer, data.gov.sg
8. MOE, General information of schools, data.gov.sg
9. NEA, Hawker Centres (GEOJSON), data.gov.sg
10. People's Association, Community Clubs, data.gov.sg
11. NParks, Parks, data.gov.sg
12. MOH, CHAS Clinics, data.gov.sg
13. NLB, Libraries, data.gov.sg
14. SportSG, Sport Facilities (GEOJSON), data.gov.sg
15. SingStat, Census of Population 2020: Resident Households by Planning Area and Type of Dwelling, data.gov.sg
16. SingStat, Census of Population 2020: Resident Population by Planning Area/Subzone, Age Group and Sex, data.gov.sg
17. HDB, Median Resale Prices for Registered Applications by Town and Flat Type (2026-Q2), data.gov.sg
18. SLA, OneMap search (venue addresses and locations)
19. ECDA, Kindergartens and Pre-Schools Location, data.gov.sg

Facts were checked on 14 and 15 November 2026. Our editorial policy explains how we choose sources.

Last updated 15 November 2026