Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 20 of 22 categories
Anaheim
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111
Mesa
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,772 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Mesa
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $386k less ($327,700 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $606/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,958)
19% less violent crime than Anaheim
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Anaheim by $14,772/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$14,772
$88,538 vs $73,766/yr
Mesa
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Violent Crime
19% lower
482.7 vs 596.2 per 100k
Mesa
Median Home Value
$386k less
$327,700 vs $713,600
Mesa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 20 of 22 categories. Anaheim wins 2 and Mesa wins 20. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $327,700 median home), income ($88,538 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Mesa, AZ are about 349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.