Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 12 of 22 categories
Mesa
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $14,454 more per year on average
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
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($186,500 vs $327,700)
Rent averages $324/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,352)
12% less violent crime than Mesa
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $14,454/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Median Income
$14,454
$73,766 vs $59,312/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Violent Crime
12% lower
423.6 vs 482.7 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$141k less
$186,500 vs $327,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 12 of 22 categories. Mesa wins 10 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $186,500 median home), income ($73,766 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Yuma, AZ are about 174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.