Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 17 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838
Mesa
Arizona
17
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Households earn $3,889 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Mesa, AZ
Pros
43% less violent crime than Atlanta
Homes cost $68k less ($327,700 vs $395,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Rent averages $160/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,512)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 54°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Median income trails Atlanta by $3,889/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$3,889
$77,655 vs $73,766/yr
Mesa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Violent Crime
43% lower
482.7 vs 840.6 per 100k
Mesa
Median Home Value
$68k less
$327,700 vs $395,600
Mesa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 14.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 17 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 6 and Mesa wins 17. 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 Atlanta to Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $327,700 median home), income ($77,655 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Mesa, AZ are about 1,567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.