Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Mesa leads 16 of 22 categories
Mesa
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390
San Francisco
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $1021k less ($327,700 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $964/mo less ($1,352 vs $2,316)
19% less violent crime than San Francisco
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $62,923/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $62,923 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Mesa
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Violent Crime
19% lower
482.7 vs 596.5 per 100k
Mesa
Median Home Value
$1021k less
$327,700 vs $1,348,700
Mesa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
44.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$62,923
$136,689 vs $73,766/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 16 of 22 categories. Mesa wins 16 and San Francisco wins 6. 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 Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($73,766 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and San Francisco, CA are about 702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.