Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 12 of 22 categories
Mesa
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,638)
Homes cost $56k less ($327,700 vs $383,600)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Peoria by $12,993/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Peoria, AZ
Pros
47% less violent crime than Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,993 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$56k less
$327,700 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$12,993
$86,759 vs $73,766/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
47% lower
254.7 vs 482.7 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 104.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 10.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 191,292 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 12 of 22 categories. Mesa wins 10 and Peoria wins 12. 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 Mesa to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $383,600 median home), income ($73,766 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Peoria, AZ are about 43 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.