City comparison
No. Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 131 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Mesa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,620 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and Mesa split most clearly. Mesa scores 54 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,620 in Mesa.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market and Mesa wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Mesa has rougher pockets and Austin has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and Mesa are 854 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,620 a month in Mesa, down $109 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $82,752 in Mesa, down $10,906 (12%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 108 in Mesa, down 54 points (33%).
The move
Mesa and Austin are 854 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,620 a month in Mesa to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $109 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $82,752 in Mesa to $93,658 in Austin, up $10,906 (13%).
The crime index goes from 108 in Mesa to 162 in Austin, up 54 points (50%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Mesa, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Mesa rent is 6% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Mesa
Winner$1,620/mo
Typical rent runs $1,620 a month in Mesa versus $1,729 in Austin, so Mesa is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $109, or $1,308 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Mesa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Austin's median income is 13% higher than Mesa
Austin
Winner$93,658
Mesa
$82,752
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $82,752 in Mesa, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Austin (about $10,906 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Mesa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
33% lower crime
Mesa's crime index is 33% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Mesa
Winner108 (100 = avg)
Mesa's crime index is 108 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Mesa. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Mesa is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Mesa are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Mesa
79°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Mesa averages about 79°F (87°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Mesa sits near 79°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Mesa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,620 a month. Choose Mesa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Mesa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Austin (108 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Mesa: Mesa scores 58/100 versus 45/100 in Austin, with typical rent at $1,620 versus $1,729. I would vet the exact ZIP in Austin before trading 13 safety points for housing savings.
Mesa rent at $1,620/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,620 in Mesa and $1,729 in Austin.
Pick Mesa when you want the stronger safety signal (58/100). Otherwise, Austin's case rests on a Austin ZIP you trust at $1,729 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Mesa, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
