Living in Mesa, AZ

"Dangerous" is too broad a label for any city, but Mesa does sit above national averages on crime. The violent crime index is 127 and property crime hits 151 — both past the 100-point U.S. baseline. Plenty of residents live comfortably and safely, but they've usually chosen their neighborhoods carefully. If you're considering a move, visit first, drive around at night, and look up crime stats block by block. Data: FBI Uniform Crime Report.

Housing costs in Mesa are reasonable. Median rent sits at $1,478/month with median household income at $78,779/year — a 22.5% rent-to-income ratio. That's well within the comfort zone that most financial advisors recommend. It's not dirt cheap, but most working households can afford rent here without financial strain. Other costs like groceries and utilities will vary, but the rent picture is solid. Census ACS 2023 data.

Worth considering, yes. At 21 minutes average, the commute in Mesa isn't brutal but it's not trivial either. 67.7% drive alone, 0.9% ride transit, and 16.9% work remotely. Where you live relative to your office will make a bigger difference than the city-wide average suggests.

Not particularly. The climate risk score is 30/100, which puts Mesa in the low-risk tier. Heat Wave, Drought, and Flood are the most relevant hazards, but none of them are frequent concerns. Standard insurance should have you covered. It's one less thing to worry about if you're comparing this city to higher-risk metros along the coast or in tornado alley. Data from FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA.

Somewhat. Expect to pay around $246/month for electricity, gas, water, and sewer — that's about $16 more than the national average of $230. Extreme temperatures (hot summers or cold winters), older housing stock, or higher local energy rates can all push bills up. Budget for seasonal peaks, and look into energy-efficient appliances if you're buying.

For most people, no. The median AQI of 55 puts Mesa in the "Moderate" category — fine for healthy adults, though sensitive groups (asthma, COPD, young kids) should pay attention on higher days. 185 days per year qualify as "Good." Ozone is the leading pollutant. Worth monitoring if you have respiratory conditions, but not a reason to avoid the city. Daily data at AirNow.gov.

A fair amount. The total effective tax rate is roughly 11.4% when you combine income, property, and sales taxes. Sales tax alone is 8.1%. That's close to the national average — not punishing, not light. If you're relocating from a low-tax state, run the numbers for your income level before committing. The difference can add up to thousands per year.

Mostly, yes. The system scores 80/100, with 0 health-based violations on record and a "low" lead risk rating. That's a solid track record. Most residents drink tap water without issues. If you're in an older building with pre-1986 plumbing, a basic filter is a cheap precaution. For detailed contaminant info, check EWG's Tap Water Database.

Everything on this page is built from public government sources: rent and income figures from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023); commute and transportation data from Census ACS tables B08303 and B08006; crime rates from the FBI Uniform Crime Report; climate risk assessments using FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA storm records; air quality measurements from the EPA's Air Quality System database; water quality compliance data from EPA records and the EWG Tap Water Database; utility cost estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We refresh each dataset monthly through an automated pipeline and cross-check for anomalies. No surveys, no user-submitted guesses — just official federal data presented in a way that's actually useful for people researching a move.