Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 14 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Mesa
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
65% less violent crime than Mesa
Households earn $20,422 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Buckeye by $20,422/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Median Income
$20,422
$94,188 vs $73,766/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
65% lower
166.8 vs 482.7 per 100k
Mesa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$14k less
$327,700 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 105.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 9.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 63.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 14 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 8 and Mesa wins 14. 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 Buckeye to Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $327,700 median home), income ($94,188 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Mesa, AZ are about 53 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.