Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Mesa
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($159,600 vs $327,700)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($920 vs $1,352)
44% less violent crime than Mesa
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Mesa
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $19,627/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.7%)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $19,627 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
44% lower
269.6 vs 482.7 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$168k less
$159,600 vs $327,700
Mesa
Median Income
$19,627
$73,766 vs $54,139/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 96.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 10 and Mesa wins 13. 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 Edinburg to Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $327,700 median home), income ($54,139 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Mesa, AZ are about 947 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.