Living Here
Mesa: Ranked the best big city in the United States to live in.
Source: U.S. News & World Report, 2025
Mesa offers a high quality of life with big-city amenities and a welcoming, affordable community feel. As one of the Southwest’s leading cities, Mesa provides access to arts, sports, dining, and recreation within the Greater Phoenix region—making it an ideal place to live, grow, and locate a business.
Affordable Living
Mesa offers the diverse amenities of a major metropolitan city, without the high cost of living. As one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing cities in the nation, living and working here is both exciting and affordable.
| Median Home Value* | $444,821 |
| Average Rent Price (2 bedroom)** | $1,510 |
| Median Household Income* | $83,458 |
| Personal Income Taxes*** | 2.5% |
Sources: *ESRI, 2025; **Costar, 2025; ***AZ Department of Revenue
Major Sporting Attractions
If you are a baseball lover, basketball enthusiast, or football fanatic, you will find top teams and excitement in the Phoenix-Mesa metro.
An Outdoor Playground
Plentiful Arts & Culture
Shopping, Restaurants & Drinking Establishments
And So Much More!
Agritourism
Fresh farm experiences, seasonal harvests, chef-driven dining, and festivals connect visitors to Mesa’s agritourism year-round.
Free Activities
Mesa offers year-round free attractions and activities, delivering fun experiences without spending money.
Day Trips
Experience a day trip from Mesa to Arizona’s diverse natural wonders, from desert vistas to lakes and rivers.
Entertainment
Mesa offers all-ages attractions, from modern entertainment to historic Western experiences, adventures, and nearby countryside escapes.
Events
Mesa hosts year-round family-friendly events, from markets and festivals to comedy, theater, and live music.
Family Fun
Mesa is a top family-friendly destination offering interactive attractions, parks, museums, and memorable experiences for all ages.
Golf
Mesa is a premier Southwest golf destination offering world-class courses, scenic views, renowned designers, and year-round play.
Native Culture
Explore Native American culture near Mesa through art, festivals, cuisine, traditions, and experiences from Arizona’s tribes.
Downtown Mesa
Downtown Mesa offers vibrant dining, shopping, events, arts, culture, and community experiences for visitors and residents alike.
Visit Mesa
VisitMesa.com highlights Mesa’s travel info, attractions, events, dining, lodging, and trip-planning resources.
Arizona Office of Tourism
VisitArizona.com is Arizona’s official travel guide, inspiring trip planning with attractions, experiences, and vacation resources.
Arizona State Park
Arizona State Parks’ official site highlights natural and historic parks, trails, camping, recreation, and outdoor adventure opportunities statewide.
Additional Resources
Higher Education Institutions
Mesa is home to more than 14 colleges and universities with more than 40,000 students currently enrolled in higher education. Visit the Higher Education page to learn more.
K-12 Schools Districts
The City of Mesa is home to many of Arizona’s top primary education schools, including 27 “A”-rated schools and 10 “A+” School of Excellence awardees. Mesa is served by four school districts and the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT). Mesa Public Schools serves most of the city, with Gilbert, Higley, and Queen Creek districts covering southeast Mesa, all exceeding state and national ACT and SAT averages.
Accessibility
Mesa’s accessibility benefits residents, visitors, and businesses through strong connections by road, rail, air, and transit. Centrally located in the Greater Phoenix region, Mesa offers efficient access to regional and international markets.
A comprehensive highway network serves the city, including Loop 101, Loop 202, US 60, and State Route 87, with quick connections to Interstates 10, 17, and 8. Planned improvements, such as the State Route 24 extension, will further support growth and mobility.
Rail service from Union Pacific and BNSF Railway supports freight movement, with the planned PIRATE rail spur extending Class I rail access to Southeast Mesa.
Mesa’s air assets include Falcon Field Airport for general aviation and Mesa Gateway Airport, which offers commercial flights, long runways, on-site U.S. Customs, and development-ready land for cargo and business uses. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is minutes away.
Valley Metro bus and light rail services connect Mesa to the broader metro area, enhancing everyday mobility.
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