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Mesa, AZ

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Mesa, AZ

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 56
Population507,478
Foreign Born6.7%
Population Density3,575people per mi²
Median Age37.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

128/100

28% above national average

B+

The Real Cost of Living in Mesa, Arizona

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $24k$44k
Comfortable $71k$104k
Luxury $130k+$201k+
Elite (Top 5%) $153k+$237k+
Affordability Ratio

76%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A-
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean76%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
18
Negative
29

Groceries

3 within 10 miles

2.4mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

12.9mi

Airport

PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International

10.4mi

Post Office

USPS — Scottsdale, AZ

14.5mi

Critical Amenities

Golf3Nearest 3.9 mi
Camping20Nearest 7.3 mi
Marina3Nearest 2.1 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink1Nearest 0.1 mi
Gun Range5Nearest 1.9 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C+
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$79k+6.8%
5% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$656k
Equal to US avg
College Educated
31.5%
10% below US avg
WFH
16.9%
18% above US avg
Homeownership
64.4%
2% below US avg
Median Home
$364k
29% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C+
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
17.2
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−16.7%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+1.0%
Homicide
0.04 / 1k Residents20% below state avg
Robbery
0.47 / 1k Residents3% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
3.40 / 1k Residents25% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−34.4%
Burglary
1.67 / 1k Residents3% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
9.63 / 1k Residents13% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.60 / 1k Residents8% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+4Tilts Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Mesa, Arizona
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B-
Fair9.5% of income
Property Rights
B
GoodIJ Grade B
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (20% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season347 days364 frost-free
Annual Rainfall13.1"
Elevation1,243 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D-
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor0.0 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor3,575/sq mi
Fallout Danger
D-
Poor14 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 110 mi · coast 158 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$2.2B/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityMesa504k people are 0.0 mi away
Nearest Major AirportPHX10 mi away
Distance to State Capital14 miPhoenix, AZ
Nearest Prison11 mi5 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T06:52:16.000Z

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