Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories
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
San Angelo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $8,726 more per year on average
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 61°F
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
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.2%)
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($171,700 vs $327,700)
55% less violent crime than Mesa
Rent averages $315/mo less ($1,037 vs $1,352)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Mesa by $8,726/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Median Income
$8,726
$73,766 vs $65,040/yr
Mesa
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 97.4°F
San Angelo
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Violent Crime
55% lower
218.2 vs 482.7 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$156k less
$171,700 vs $327,700
San Angelo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $171,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,037 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 ✓ Higher | $65,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 118⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 97.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 22.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 99,422 |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories. Mesa wins 13 and San Angelo wins 10. 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 San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $171,700 median home), income ($73,766 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and San Angelo, TX are about 671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.