Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Mesa leads 18 of 23 categories
Mesa
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
55% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $88k less ($327,700 vs $415,300)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Median income trails Tacoma by $5,319/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 106°F
Households earn $5,319 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Mesa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Violent Crime
55% lower
482.7 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Mesa
Median Home Value
$88k less
$327,700 vs $415,300
Mesa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
29.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$5,319
$79,085 vs $73,766/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 18 of 23 categories. Mesa wins 18 and Tacoma wins 5. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($73,766 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Tacoma, WA are about 1,109 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.