City profile · Arizona · Census ACS 2023

Mescal, AZ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Mescal - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,601
Residents
$52,465
Median income
$182,900
Median home
$1,129
Median rent (state)

Mescal - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Mescal lands in the 23rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

23rd
percentile, household income
37th
percentile, home value
31st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Mescal, AZ

Mescal is a small town in Arizona, home to 1,601 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $52,465 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.9%. Mescal's housing stock carries a median value of $182,900, and the median resident age is 53.4 years. Educational attainment runs 24.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 42.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Arizona tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Arizona at 100.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,129 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Arizona's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 88.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

1,601 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arizona

Median Household Income

$52,465 /yr

Poverty 12.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.7 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arizona average

How does Mescal compare to other US cities?

Where Mescal sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 23% higher than other cities
Home value 37% pricier than other cities
Median rent 31% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Mescal's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Arizona, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

23rdIncome percentile

23rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Mescal's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$182,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 63% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Mescal $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Mescal, AZ Mescal, AZ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mescal, AZ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Mescal, AZ median $52,465/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Mescal, AZ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Mescal, AZ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,601
Median Income
$52,465
Median Home Value
$182,900
Median Age
53.4
Poverty Rate
12.9%
Labor force participation
42.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.3%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
54.4%
Carpool
7.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
37.8%

Based on 539 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arizona - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$34
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arizona state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arizona state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Mescal sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.7
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,129/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arizona

Tonto Basin
1,593 people
Spring Valley
1,610 people
Beaver Dam
1,590 people
Meadview
1,624 people
Cienega Springs
1,640 people
Cactus Flats
1,550 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mescal's 1,601 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ragland, AL
1,601 people
Rossville, IN
1,601 people
Barton, NM
1,601 people
Justice, OK
1,601 people
Oglala, SD
1,601 people
Lakeview, WA
1,601 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mescal's $52,465 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Paonia, CO
$52,466 median income
St. Maries, ID
$52,468 median income
Shenandoah, IA
$52,469 median income
Huntsville, AR
$52,472 median income
Buies Creek, NC
$52,458 median income
Boscobel, WI
$52,457 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mescal, AZ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Mescal, AZ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.2% 17.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 21.8% White 82.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 17.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Mescal compares to nearby Arizona cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Mescal (this city) 1,601 $52,465
Tonto Basin 1,593 $50,871
Spring Valley 1,610 $42,721
Beaver Dam 1,590 $47,256
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AZ OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mescal, AZ?

What is the population of Mescal, AZ? +

Mescal, AZ has a population of 1,601 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Mescal, AZ? +

Mescal households earn a median of $52,465 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mescal? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Mescal; the closest available measure is the Arizona state average, a cost of living index of 100.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arizona vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Mescal, AZ? +

Homes in Mescal carry a median value of $182,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.