Mesa, AZ vs Paradise Valley, AZ
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Nov 2026
Report card
| Category | MesaMesa, AZ | Paradise ValleyParadise Valley, AZ | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Elite | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Moderate | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | High Autonomy | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
507,478 people live in Mesa, AZ, compared to 12,621 in Paradise Valley, AZ, according to 2023 Census figures. Mesa's population density of 3,575 per square mile is 4.4 times higher than Paradise Valley's 821 per square mile. The median age in Paradise Valley is 55.5, which is 18.3 years older than Mesa's 37.2, placing Paradise Valley in the 96th percentile for age and Mesa in the 43rd percentile.
Paradise Valley's per-capita income of $149,318 is 3.8 times higher than Mesa's $39,586, ranking Paradise Valley in the 99th percentile and Mesa in the 56th percentile. The median household income in Paradise Valley is $236,250, three times higher than Mesa's $78,779, with Paradise Valley in the 99th percentile and Mesa in the 58th percentile. For educational attainment, 72.9% of adults in Paradise Valley hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 31.5% in Mesa, a difference of 41.4 percentage points, placing Paradise Valley in the 96th percentile and Mesa in the 49th percentile.
Regarding safety, Mesa's violent crime rate of 420 per 100,000 people is 5.8 times higher than Paradise Valley's 72 per 100,000, with Mesa in the 80th percentile for crime and Paradise Valley in the 14th percentile. Property crime in Mesa is also higher at 1,297 per 100,000 versus 561 in Paradise Valley, a 2.3 times difference. Both places share the same air quality index of 77, placing them in the 98th percentile, and have identical unemployment rates of 3.2%.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Nov 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Paradise Valley, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12867th pctl | 46499th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Mesa, AZ 128; Paradise Valley, AZ 464; Paradise Valley is 3.6 times higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $364,30066th pctl | $2,000,00199th pctl | Median home value: Mesa, AZ $364,300; Paradise Valley, AZ $2,000,001; Paradise Valley is 5.5 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,47869th pctl | $3,501100th pctl | Median rent: Mesa, AZ $1,478; Paradise Valley, AZ $3,501; Paradise Valley is 2.4 times higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $78,77958th pctl | $236,25099th pctl | Median household income: Mesa, AZ $78,779; Paradise Valley, AZ $236,250; Paradise Valley is 3.0 times higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $70,77767th pctl | $388,565100th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Mesa, AZ $70,777; Paradise Valley, AZ $388,565; Paradise Valley is 5.5 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $104,04267th pctl | $571,190100th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Mesa, AZ $104,042; Paradise Valley, AZ $571,190; Paradise Valley is 5.5 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Mesa, AZ B-; Paradise Valley, AZ D-; Mesa is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Paradise Valley needs about
$271,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 128 vs 464). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Paradise Valley, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%28th pctl | 3.2%28th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.1%78th pctl | +2.1%78th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $39,58656th pctl | $149,31899th pctl | Per-capita income: Mesa, AZ $39,586; Paradise Valley, AZ $149,318; Paradise Valley is 3.8 times higher. |
| Poverty rate | 10.5%44th pctl | 5.0%13th pctl | Poverty rate: Mesa, AZ 10.5%; Paradise Valley, AZ 5.0%; Mesa is 5.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25 min61st pctl | 22 min40th pctl | Average commute: Mesa, AZ 25 min; Paradise Valley, AZ 22 min; Mesa is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 16.9%76th pctl | 25.8%92nd pctl | Work from home: Mesa, AZ 16.9%; Paradise Valley, AZ 25.8%; Paradise Valley is 8.9 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Strong | Economic opportunity: Mesa, AZ C+; Paradise Valley, AZ A+; Paradise Valley is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Paradise Valley, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 42080th pctl | 7214th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Mesa, AZ 420; Paradise Valley, AZ 72; Mesa is 5.8 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,29745th pctl | 56113th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Mesa, AZ 1,297; Paradise Valley, AZ 561; Mesa is 2.3 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Flat | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Mesa, AZ C+; Paradise Valley, AZ A+; Paradise Valley is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Paradise Valley, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Arizona, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Arizona →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Paradise Valley, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi0th pctl | 10 mi10th pctl | Nearest large city: Mesa, AZ 0 mi; Paradise Valley, AZ 10 mi; Paradise Valley is higher (Mesa: 0 mi). |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Mesa, AZ D-; Paradise Valley, AZ F; Mesa is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 110 mi11th pctl | 114 mi12th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 158 mi38th pctl | 163 mi39th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Paradise Valley, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 507,47899th pctl | 12,62136th pctl | Population: Mesa, AZ 507,478; Paradise Valley, AZ 12,621; Mesa is 494,857 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,57584th pctl | 82122nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Mesa, AZ 3,575; Paradise Valley, AZ 821; Mesa is 4.4 times higher. |
| Median age | 37.243rd pctl | 55.596th pctl | Median age: Mesa, AZ 37.2; Paradise Valley, AZ 55.5; Paradise Valley is 18.3 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.5%49th pctl | 72.9%96th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Mesa, AZ 31.5%; Paradise Valley, AZ 72.9%; Paradise Valley is 41.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.665th pctl | 2.561st pctl | About the same |
More about Mesa's residents · Paradise Valley's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | MesaMesa, AZ | Paradise ValleyParadise Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+4 | R+1 |
| 2024 presidential | D +6.6 pts | R +3.1 pts |
Full politics data: Mesa · Paradise Valley
Moving between Mesa and Paradise Valley
- Median rent: $1,478 in Mesa, $3,501 in Paradise Valley
- Median home value: $364,300 in Mesa, $2,000,001 in Paradise Valley
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 128 in Mesa, 464 in Paradise Valley
- Median household income: $78,779 in Mesa, $236,250 in Paradise Valley
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $104,042 in Mesa, $571,190 in Paradise Valley
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Mesa, 3.2% in Paradise Valley
- Average commute: 25 min in Mesa, 22 min in Paradise Valley
- Violent crime per 100k: 420 in Mesa, 72 in Paradise Valley
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More places like Mesa and Paradise Valley
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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