Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Everett, WA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 19 of 23 categories
Everett
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847
Mesa
Arizona
19
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.
Everett, WA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 106°F
Households earn $4,040 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $471,200
Higher rents — median is $1,611/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Mesa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($327,700 vs $471,200)
Rent averages $259/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,611)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Median income trails Everett by $4,040/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Everett
Median Income
$4,040
$77,806 vs $73,766/yr
Everett
Violent Crime
45% lower
265.1 vs 482.7 per 100k
Mesa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$144k less
$327,700 vs $471,200
Mesa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
31.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 74.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Everett, WA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $471,200⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,611⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,806 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Everett School District | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,847 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everett's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 19 of 23 categories. Everett wins 4 and Mesa wins 19. 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 Everett to Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($471,200 vs $327,700 median home), income ($77,806 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Everett, WA and Mesa, AZ are about 1,144 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.