City · Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, city, in Maricopa County, Arizona. Mesa had 513,656 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 504,258 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 511,764 (±110). GEOID 0446000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
513,656
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 504,258 · ACS 2020-2024: 511,764 ±110
Median household income
$82,752
±$1,662 (90% margin)
Arizona: $79,964
Median home value
$408,000
±$4,349 (90% margin)
Arizona: $394,500
Median gross rent
$1,620
±$25 (90% margin)
Arizona: $1,543
Where is Mesa and what county is it in?
Mesa is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona. It covers 141.8 square miles of land, 3,556 residents per square mile in 2020.
Mesa is in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Mesa, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 513,656 people lived in Mesa on July 1, 2025, up 1.8% since 2020, slower than Arizona (+6.5%). The 2020 Census counted 504,258 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 511,764 (±110).
| Measure | Mesa | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 511,764 ±110 | 4,559,748 | +12,044 |
| Households | 198,498 ±2,007 | 1,730,696 | +17,368 |
| Average household size | 2.55 ±0.03 | 2.59 | −0.19 |
| Housing units | 222,992 ±1,986 | 1,884,334 | +11,569 |
Mesa's population since 2000
From 396,375 in 2000 to 513,656 in 2025: up 29.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Mesa as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Mesa?
The median resident of Mesa is 37.4 years old; 22.5% are under 18 and 17.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 60.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 26.9%. 11.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Mesa | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 ±0.4 | 37.6 | +1.5 |
| Under 18 years | 22.5% ±0.4 pts | 22.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.5% ±0.4 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 50.0% ±0.4 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 26.9% ±0.8 pts | 31.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 60.1% ±0.8 pts | 52.5% | −1.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±0.4 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±0.2 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±0.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.8% ±0.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 11.5% ±0.6 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.8% ±0.7 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.3% ±0.3 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 13.6% ±0.5 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.6% ±0.6 pts | 10.6% | −1.6 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.2% ±0.4 pts | 89.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 32.5% ±0.6 pts | 36.7% | +5.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.1% ±0.4 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.5% ±0.7 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.4% ±0.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Mesa earn?
Half of Mesa's 198,498 households earn less than $82,752 a year (±$1,662), against $89,300 in Maricopa County and $79,964 in Arizona. In 2015-2019 the median was $71,603 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $11,149 after inflation. 10.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Mesa | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $82,752 ±$1,662 | $89,300 | +$11,149 |
| Mean household income | $105,461 ±$1,676 | $120,016 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,453 ±$576 | $46,183 | +$5,148 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.3% ±0.6 pts | 11.0% | −4.5 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.4% ±1.5 pts | 14.4% | −8.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.0% ±0.5 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.2% ±0.3 pts | 97.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.2% ±0.5 pts | 93.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Mesa?
Owners occupy 64.4% of Mesa's occupied homes and renters 35.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $408,000 by its owner (±$4,349). The median renter pays $1,620 a month including utilities, and 44.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Mesa | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $408,000 ±$4,349 | $452,800 | +$129,248 |
| Median gross rent | $1,620 ±$25 | $1,708 | +$335 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.1% ±1.6 pts | 43.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,843 ±$24 | $1,931 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.4% ±0.8 pts | 65.2% | +3.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.6% ±0.8 pts | 34.8% | – |
| Housing units | 222,992 ±1,986 | 1,884,334 | +11,569 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±0.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.7% ±0.8 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 55.1% ±0.8 pts | 64.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 12.5% ±0.5 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±0.2 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 11.0% ±0.5 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.6% ±0.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.2% ±0.5 pts | 5.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Mesa building?
Builders took permits for 2,015 new housing units in Mesa in 2025 (1,069 in single-family houses), 3.9 per 1,000 residents against 6.8 across Arizona.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Mesa work and get to work?
65.8% of Mesa's workers drive alone and 18.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.
| Measure | Mesa | Maricopa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.6% ±0.6 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% ±0.4 pts | 4.5% | −0.7 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 65.8% ±0.9 pts | 64.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.2% ±0.7 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7% ±0.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 1.3% ±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.7% ±0.6 pts | 20.8% | +12.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.7 min ±0.6 | 26.0 min | −0.7 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Mesa?
118 census tracts lie mostly in Mesa, and 19 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $45,357 (Tract 4221.02) to $205,833 (Tract 4203.04).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4226.47Maricopa County | 12,550 | $153,355 |
| Tract 8176Maricopa County | 9,733 | $139,167 |
| Tract 4226.49Maricopa County | 7,294 | $128,583 |
| Tract 4201.07Maricopa County | 7,067 | $146,985 |
| Tract 4211.02Maricopa County | 6,778 | $92,745 |
| Tract 4226.15Maricopa County | 7,319 | $110,221 |
| Tract 4226.48Maricopa County | 6,282 | $131,131 |
| Tract 4225.03Maricopa County | 6,280 | $87,926 |
| Tract 4201.05Maricopa County | 6,609 | $117,853 |
| Tract 4225.01Maricopa County | 6,256 | $94,871 |
| Tract 4221.06Maricopa County | 6,090 | $58,093 |
| Tract 4226.43Maricopa County | 5,938 | $108,833 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Mesa) · Census block assignment files
How does Mesa compare with other places in Arizona?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Mesa is the 38th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 3rd-most populous of 91 in Arizona.
Mesa ranks 52nd of 196 places in Arizona with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 3rd | 91 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 51st | 85 |
| Residents per square mile | 12th | 210 |
| Median household income | 52nd | 196 |
| Per capita income | 61st | 209 |
| Median home value | 55th | 189 |
| Median gross rent | 35th | 168 |
| Poverty rate | 122nd | 164 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54th | 175 |
| Median age | 138th | 208 |
| Owner-occupied share | 162nd | 206 |
| Work from home | 51st | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 97th | 206 |
Mesa's figures with every place in Arizona (CSV)
Every place in Arizona, sortable · Compare Mesa with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Mesa?
Every figure for Mesa on this page has a coefficient of variation under 40%, the Census Bureau's threshold for a usable estimate.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Mesa are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Mesa.