Below Average CostNear National AverageMesa Unified District (4235)
Mesa Arts Center - West - 2009-09-16 · Cygnusloop99 / CC BY-SA 3.0Mesa-Mesa Grande Ruins-5 · Tony the Marine (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0Mesa-Mesa Arizona Temple-1919 · Tony the Marine (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0Mesa City Hall · Ixnayonthetimmay / CC BY 3.0
Mesa is a large city of 503,390 in Arizona, with a median household income of $73,766
and a 4.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is
2% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mesa stands out for short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Mesa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All 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: 98.4
Mesa's overall cost of living index is 98.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mesa costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mesa, AZ
National Avg
Median Home Value
$327,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,352
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$73,766
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Mesa's violent crime rate is 482.7 per 100,000 residents
— 27% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
482.7 /100k
Property Crime
1464.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mesa is served primarily by Mesa Unified District (4235).
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.3:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mesa, AZ
National Avg
School District
Mesa Unified District (4235)
—
Elementary Schools
56
—
Middle Schools
10
—
High Schools
10
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
30.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mesa sees average highs of 67.5°F in January
and 105.9°F in July,
with 9.8 inches of annual precipitation
.
Mesa's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mesa roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $327,700 and median rent is $1,352/month.
Mesa's violent crime rate is 482.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1464.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mesa are operated by Mesa Unified District (4235).
The district has 56 elementary, 10 middle, and 10 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.3:1. 30.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mesa, AZ has a population of 503,390, a median household income of $73,766, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Mesa averages 67.5°F in January and 105.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 9.8 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mesa, AZ is covered by 14 ZIP codes: 85212, 85207, 85215, 85209, 85204, 85213, 85201, 85205, 85206, 85203, 85210, 85202, 85208, 85256.
The population of Mesa, Arizona is 503,390 with a median age of 36.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mesa: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $327,700, median household income $73,766, crime index 104 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mesa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
