1. The Real World Sucks A Lot Less In Mesa
Graduating and trying to find a job in a stagnant economy isn’t very exciting but a city like
Mesa is a game changer. With an unemployment level below the national average at 5.7 percent, and a poverty level that falls 13.8 percent below Arizona’s average, prospects are much brighter here.
Top employers in the city include Banner Health Systems, the Mesa Public School system, The Boeing Company, City of Mesa government jobs, Aviall Inc., Empire Southwest, and CBI Medical & Behavioral Health.
2. Living In Mesa Won’t Break Your Budget
Once you land in job in Mesa, you’ll be thrilled to discover you’ll be holding onto a lot more of that paycheck than most other places. The cost of living index for the city is 93 against a national average of 100, which makes Mesa 4.4 percent cheaper to live in than the Arizona average and 6.5 percent cheaper than the national average.
Utilities, groceries, and healthcare are all cheaper on average here, as well as housing. The median value of a home in Mesa is $162,000. That’s 10.2 percent cheaper than the average value of homes nationally, for anyone keeping track.
3. No One Ever Complains About Too Much Sunshine
Summers are the off season here in Mesa because (spoiler alert) life here gets hot. Like, molten lava hot. They say you can cook an egg on the sidewalk on a random day in July when the temperature is soaring above 110 degrees.
Winter, on the other hand, is an absolute dream, with a February average high of 84 degrees, and with 301 days of sunshine, you won’t have to worry about the gloomy day blues.
4. Downtown Mesa Is Everything You Want It To Be
Downtown Mesa is the hub of the city where you’ll find everything to make life fun here. Great restaurants, independent coffee shops, comic and book stores, museums, shops and boutiques, delicious bakeries, gastropubs, and more. If you’re not downtown, then you should be.
5. The Fun Doesn’t Stop When The Sun Goes Down In Mesa
Mesa’s nightlife is laid back but still offers plenty of exciting things to do. There are great pubs and bars throughout downtown that you can explore. Main Street comes alive every second Friday of the month for the Second Friday event. And the first Friday of the months between September and June brings the Motorcycle on Main event which brings over 3,000 bikers and motorcycle lovers to Main Street for a mini-Sturgis.
And then there’s the annual Mesa Rocks Block Party which brings everyone to the street to celebrate. So, Mesa might not have the nightlife of a city like Scottsdale. But Scottsdale is only 30 minutes away when you want a crazier scene.
6. Springtime Means Training Time
And it’s the best training of all because it’s the kind where you get to sit the entire time. Mesa is right in the middle of Arizona’s Cactus League Spring Training events which brings over 200 MLB pre-season games in 30 days. Sloan Park at Mesa Riverview is home to the Chicago Cubs games. And the Oakland A’s have returned to Mesa Hohakam Stadium.
7. Living In Mesa Means Always Living On The Edge
With a landscape like this as your backyard, how could you not be outdoorsy? Biking, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding…The world is your oyster when you live in Mesa.
8. Mesa Also Gets Pretty Extreme
Mesa adventures are for all skill levels, including for the borderline insane. This is a popular spot for BMX bikers, marathon bikers in the El Tour de Mesa, half-marathon runners, and runners who like to put themselves through the special kind of torture known as Tough Mudders, too.
9. Getting Around Mesa Requires Wheels
Mesa definitely isn’t the kind of place where you don’t want to have a car. The city is really spread out, so it isn’t even really that bikeable. But downtown or in the C.A.N.D.O or Escobedo Historic District neighborhoods are the best places to get around Mesa without a ride.
If you do have a car, though, the good news is that traffic is perfectly manageable in Mesa. Rush hour can get jammed up like any other city, but the average commute time is 25 minutes, on par with the national average.
10. Mesa Means Table, So Obviously The Food Rules
Were you expecting anything other than a culinary heaven from a city with a name that means table in Spanish? Of course not.
From truly authentic Mexican to gourmet dining to farm-to-table, Mesa will never leave you hungry. For the best Mexican in the city at prices that are grad-friendly, check out Backyard Taco and be amazed at what you’ve been missing out on.
11. You’ll Find Art Everywhere You Look
Mesa’s art scene is already incredible but it just gets better and better every year. With public art displays and culture, you never have to look far to find something beautiful to inspire you. A trip to the Mesa Art Center will help feed your creative brain.
And the annual Spark! Festival of Creativity is an amazing (and free) event for all ages celebrating arts, innovation, performance and more in some of the most unique ways you’ll ever see.
12. There’s Somewhere To Shop For Every Budget
Dana Park is an amazing village of shopping center, restaurants, and services. Yes, a village. Grab a burrito from Chipotle, get your nails done, grab some new drumsticks at Guitar Center, or browse through the latest bestsellers at Barnes & Noble.
But when the budget runs thin, you can also check out the Mesa Community Farmers Market where you’ll not only be able to get a great portion of healthful and local food, but also browse through the affordable local vendors. The Mesa Market Place Swap Meet is another great place to find goods when you’re looking to stretch a dollar or just to casually browse for the morning.
13. Grab A Brew Or A Few
With Arizona’s wine country becoming so well-known and respected, it’s probably no surprise that Mesa is a haven for wine. But if you didn’t already know, it’s also a mecca for craft beer, too.
Make sure to visit Desert Eagle Brewery in Downtown Mesa for a microbrewing experience at its finest. And B.R.I. is a new craft brewing treasure to Mesa. Short for Beer Research Institute, this brew pub focuses on Belgian-style ales and unique blends.
14. Location, Location, Location
Listen up all you bucket-listers. If you’re looking for the perfect city that also acts as the perfect launch pad for adventure, then look no further. Living in Mesa means that a roadtrip adventure is only a tank of gas away.
Scottsdale and Phoenix are both only about 30 minutes from Mesa. A trip to the Grand Canyon is four hours and Las Vegas is five. Even a trip to Tijuana is only a little over six hours from your front door.
15. Your Friends Will Actually Come Visit You In Mesa…And Maybe Stay
If you’re reluctant to make a move to somewhere like Mesa because you don’t want to leave behind your family and friends, don’t worry. As soon as everyone starts seeing just how awesome your life in Mesa is, your couch will be occupied in no time with visitors. And once they realize what a great spot it is for college grads, who knows? Maybe they’ll follow in your footsteps and move to Mesa, too.
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