Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Mesa leads 16 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
36% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $16,612 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($213,300 vs $327,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 106°F
Rent averages $127/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,352)
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Mesa by $16,612/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Median Income
$16,612
$73,766 vs $57,154/yr
Mesa
Violent Crime
36% lower
482.7 vs 752.4 per 100k
Mesa
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$114k less
$213,300 vs $327,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 16 of 23 categories. Mesa wins 16 and Portsmouth wins 7. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $213,300 median home), income ($73,766 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Portsmouth, VA are about 2,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.