1. Mesa Is The Super Livable Hub For Families In Arizona

Based on a score of 100, AreaVibes ranks Mesa as a high score of 81 for its affordability and various things to do. It’s also listed as the 16th best area to live in Arizona, which helps make parents prideful. And for the kids, Mesa was made the annual “Playful City USA” by KABOOM!

2. Living In Mesa Leaves More Room In The Family Budget

Mesa’s cost of living is 93 on an index of 100. That’s 6 points lower than the national average cost of living for the country, keep extra bills in your bank account which you can use for college or any of the great things to do around the city.

3. You Can Get A Lot More House For Your Money

The housing market is one of Mesa’s most affordable attributes. With a median home value of $162,000, the houses in Mesa are 10.6 percent less expensive than the national average. The city is filled with affordable and spacious single homes—which is something a lot of other cities only dream of being able to say. And the best part? No lawns to mow.

4. You Can Work Close To Home In Mesa

Mesa’s job market and economy are looking bright, which is great news for families. There are plenty of jobs around, thanks to a super-low 4.9 percent unemployment rate according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And if you can’t find a place that is super close to work, don’t fret because Mesa’s average commute time falls just under the national average with 24.93 minutes a day spent traveling home from work in Mesa.

5. Education Matters In Mesa

Among 137 public schools and 18 private in Mesa, all you have to do is a little bit of digging in the desert to uncover the best school districts. And when the kids graduate, Arizona State University’s Polytech campus is based right here in Mesa, providing a great future for anyone interested in growing up to become an engineer or something like a micro-electrician, as well as Upper Iowa University and Wilkes University.

6. Families Can Sleep Easier In Mesa

City living can usually come with a pretty frightening crime rate, which is why many families choose to opt for the ‘burbs. But at only four percent higher than the national average, Mesa’s crime rate is totally manageable for families and there are plenty of exceptional neighborhoods to choose from, like Northeast Mesa where the crime rate is 21 percent lower than the average of Mesa.

7. There’s A Neighborhood Here Perfect For The Whole Family

Interested in the best places in Mesa to raise a family? Well, there’s not really a bad part of town, if you can believe it or not. But the most desirable section for families is probably Northeast Mesa which has a crime rate that is 18 percent lower than the national average along with a graduation rate that is 7 percent higher than the Mesa average at 89 percent.

8. There Are Plenty Of Places For Kids To Stretch Their Legs

Mesa might be a city in the middle of the desert, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have any green space or play land. Mesa has over 2,280 acres of parks, gardens, and green space within the city limits, the largest of which is Red Mountain Park. You’ll find a lake to paddle in, playgrounds for kids to unleash in, and a basketball and volleyball court.

9. Spoiler Alert: Mesa Gets Hot

In case you weren’t sure for some reason that Arizona is a hot state, I’m here to remind you that it is. In fact, it’s not just a hot city, it’s one of the hottest areas you’ll ever visit in the U.S. Temperatures in February have reached highs of 84 degrees outside while the rest of the country is digging out a parking space for their car. Summer temperatures can reach highs above 110 degrees at times, so knowing how to handle heat is crucial here. But the city keeps it cool with plenty of splash pads and places to beat the heat.

10. The Great Outdoors Provides An Endless Playground

Mesa is perfectly located with three lakes and two rivers all within 30 minutes of your front door to be able to enjoy some awesome outdoor sports as a family on the water like boating, rafting, kayaking, waterskiing, wakeboarding, SUPing, and more. But the Sonoran Desert also offers plenty of outdoor, nature-loving fun including hiking, walking, cycling, rock climbing, and even spots for extreme sports lovers.

11. It Doesn’t Get More Family Friendly Than America’s Pastime

The Cactus League steps up to the Mesa plate every spring in the city to get the season started off on the right bat with Spring Training with over 200 MLB games in 30 days. The games are super family friendly and entertaining for both kids and parents alike with the Cubs hitting hard in Mesa’s Hohokam Park.

12. Kids Learn The Value Of Playing On A Team

There are plenty of ways to get kids active in sports of their own when you live in Mesa. Two resources outside of the school programs include National Youth Sports and the Mesa Family YMCA where kids can sign up for competitive soccer, tackle football, T-ball, cheerleading, basketball, softball, volleyball, and much more.

13. Mesa’s Museums Make It Easy To Learn While Having Fun

The Arizona Museum of Natural History is an amazing place for kids to explore that parents find just as fascinating. You can learn about dinosaurs up close by looking right at one or all about the ancient cultures of Mexico and Native American Indians. Kids who are interested in history or the military will also love the Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum.

14. Mesa Knows You Can’t Put A Price On Creativity

Mesa might be hot but it hasn’t dried up the arts scene. Young kids go crazy for a day at the i.d.e.a. museum which focuses on hands-on creativity, learning, and innovation with parents for a great day of building a love for the arts while bonding together and having fun. And the Mesa Arts Center keeps the arts of the city alive all year long including unique events like the Festival of Creativity which brings works of art to life by local artists for everyone to see.

15. Farmer’s Markets Are Good For Everyone

Don’t worry, gardens still grow out here in the desert. There’s always a place for you to pick up some healthful and local fruits, vegetables, and other foods in the city without spending a fortune thanks to the Mesa Community Farmer’s Market, Power Road Farmers Market, and other markets in the nearby, family friendly town of Gilbert, keeping fresh food on the table, supporting local farmers and agriculture, all while maintaining your family’s health.