Very AffordableVery SafeFirst Mesa Elementary School
Median Income
$53,229
household / year
Median Home Value
$60,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$656
gross / month
Cost of Living
84
national avg = 100
Is First Mesa, AZ a Good Place to Live?
First Mesa is a small town of 1,454 in Arizona, with a median household income of $53,229
and a 5.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
First Mesa stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether First Mesa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All First Mesa city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 84.3
First Mesa's overall cost of living index is 84.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in First Mesa costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
First Mesa, AZ
National Avg
Median Home Value
$60,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$656
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$53,229
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
First Mesa's violent crime rate is 264.1 per 100,000 residents
— 30% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
264.1 /100k
Property Crime
829.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
First Mesa is served primarily by First Mesa Elementary School.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
First Mesa, AZ
National Avg
School District
First Mesa Elementary School
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
First Mesa sees average highs of 44.9°F in January
and 89.4°F in July,
with 8.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 4.9 inches of snow per year.
First Mesa's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes First Mesa roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $60,700 and median rent is $656/month.
First Mesa's violent crime rate is 264.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 829.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in First Mesa are operated by First Mesa Elementary School.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 8.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
First Mesa, AZ has a population of 1,454, a median household income of $53,229, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
First Mesa averages 44.9°F in January and 89.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 8.8 inches
with about 4.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
First Mesa, AZ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 86042.
The population of First Mesa, Arizona is 1,454 with a median age of 29.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in First Mesa: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $60,700, median household income $53,229, crime index 57 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare First Mesa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.