Mesa AZ
Arizona · Pop. 511,764
Mesa, AZ: median household income of $82,752, median rent of $1,620/mo, 4.2% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$82,752
per year
Median Rent
$1,620
per month
Median Home
$408k
home value
Unemployment
4.2%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
10.3%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
25 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Mesa, AZ Reality Check"
In Mesa, the rent-to-income burden runs around 23% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $82,752 and median rent is $1,620/month. 52% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $408,000 — that's 4.9× the median income. 64% of households own their home — unusually high for a major US city. Residents put down roots here. Employment picture: 4.24% unemployment — a healthy job market. Poverty rate: 10.3%. Average commute: 25 minutes — acceptable. Violent crime: 33.5/100k avg monthly rate (8336 reported); Property crime: 156.2/100k avg monthly rate (38851 reported). Mesa was founded in 1878 — that's 148 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 138.6 sq miles at 3,692 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 1,240 ft — elevated terrain. RoastMyCity overall score: 65/100 — It Depends.
Local Context
Weather
/100Average high 87.2°F, low 62.9°F. 173 days per year above 90°F. 13.1 inches of annual precipitation.
Safety
/100Violent crime: 33.5/100k avg monthly rate (8336 reported); Property crime: 156.2/100k avg monthly rate (38851 reported).