Mesa is a better place to settle down. Anaheim is an expensive city despite the dining and shopping options. Mesa, on the other hand, is an affordable city. It has a healthy job market and provides residents with many things to do.
The best thing about living in Mesa is the cost of living.
Both Mesa and Anaheim present their residents with numerous activities to keep them occupied. Both cities also have healthy job markets.
The difference is in the cost of living.
Anaheim is just too expensive for my taste. And with Mesa bringing you a small-town vibe with city amenities, I can’t help but go for Mesa over Anaheim.
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What are the pros and cons of Anaheim vs. Mesa?
Anaheim is Orange County’s oldest city and is rich in historical landmarks. It also has many open spaces like parks, plus it also has delicious food! On the other hand, Mesa is affordable, has a healthy job market, and provides many activities for its people.
Anaheim is famous as the home of Mickey Mouse. And this alone made the city famous among tourists.
Every year, we find millions of these tourists visiting Anaheim. The influx then causes traffic and overcrowding in certain months.
But aside from Disneyland, Anaheim has more to offer. And we will talk about that later.
On the other hand, Mesa has hot summers, bothering a few others. Also, the city falters when it comes to dining and shopping options, something that Anaheim can quickly provide.
Here, we will discuss what it is like living in Anaheim and Mesa.
Read on.
Anaheim Living
Anaheim is an old city. As such, the city is rich in history. Let us see how life is here.
Pros
I love Anaheim. Why?
Read on.
- Historical Anaheim
- Open Spaces
- Yummy Anaheim
Anaheim is Orange County’s oldest city.
The city is no stranger to history and a horde of interesting tidbits.
Muzeo is a perfect destination for you if you love Imperial Russian art. You can also drop by Anaheim Colony and the Historic Palm district in the downtown area.
Try finding the Anaheim Colony monuments to complete your exploration.
Also, some streets in Anaheim have names of female personalities.
If you walk through a street named Claudine or Wilhelmina, these are early pioneer women. Pay your respects to Anaheim’s influential women in history.
Now, once in a while, you get tired of the city vibe.
In Anaheim, you can easily find several open spaces to explore.
For instance, Yorba Regional Park is just a few minutes away. Here, you can stroll along many paths between lakes and dog-friendly spaces.
There are also parks and other open spaces where you can while your time away.
Because of the diversity, it is no wonder that the city has many delicious food options to offer.
The Catch Restaurant serves the freshest Ahi tuna. Drop by the Ranch Restaurant for some ribeye steak and a lot of dancing.
Whatever preferences you may have regarding food, a delicious meal is never far from your reach.
Cons
Anaheim has downsides. And it is natural.
Here are a few things you have to know.
- The Traffic
- The Cost of Living
- Mesa Living
As already mentioned, Anaheim is a tourist destination. You can always expect tourists to crowd the city in certain months.
The overcrowding of the city can be overwhelming at times. It can also impact the supply of the town versus the demand. Since there are more tourists, the need for certain items can soar.
The influx of tourists can also result in traffic that can go heavy.
Locals consider the heavy traffic normal. But for a newbie in the area, it can get frustrating.
When moving to Anaheim, be sure to have enough patience.
Also, leave home earlier than usual when you go to work.
Anaheim belongs to the Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine group. The metro area ranks 10th in the country regarding its cost of living.
The cost of living in the city is so expensive that experts estimate it to be more than 50% higher than the national average. As such, Anaheim has become one of the most expensive cities in the country.
Life in Mesa is all about the beautiful weather, an affordable cost of living, and a horde of activities you and your family can do.
Pros
I love Mesa for many reasons.
Here are the advantages of moving here.
- The Cost of Living
- The Job Market
- The Mesa Lifestyle
Like the rest of Arizona, Mesa has a relatively median cost of living.
If you are moving from a larger metro like New York or any other city in California, you would quickly find that living in Mesa is more affordable.
The cost of living here is more affordable except for housing and transportation costs.
The transportation costs can be because of the cost of insurance and registration fees which are higher than in other cities.
The cost of housing could also be because of the high-end homes sprouting up all over the city.
And it’s never a surprise at all since those who could earn more wanted a home with a nice view.
But if you are scouring the city for a more affordable option, there will always be something for you.
Over the past few years, Mesa saw significant growth in its economic activity.
The industries that have done well in recent years are tech and healthcare. You can easily find work in Mesa if you fall into these categories.
There is a high demand for all types of engineers.
Recently, Apple and Google put up large data centers in the city; lucky you if you are an engineer.
And as Mesa continuously grows, the city has needs for other types of jobs.
There will be more jobs for everyone.
Also, the Mesa Public Schools education system is one of the biggest in Arizona. If you are a teacher, this could be a perfect time to move here.
Life in Mesa is more than just going to work and sleep.
In the end, memories and our experiences with friends and family matter.
If you find the outdoors fun, there are lots of activities in Mesa that you would easily enjoy.
You can go trail running, biking, or even boating. You can tube down the river. You can go horseback riding or even hiking.
Mesa is also an excellent spot to go fishing.
If you think you are up to it, you can test your athletic prowess at Usery Mountain Regional Park.
Cons
Naturally, there are downsides to Mesa that you should know.
Here are two of them.
- Dining and Shopping – Or the Lack of It
- The Hot Summers
When it comes to dining and shopping options, Mesa falls short compared to other cities.
Mesa does not have the shopping and dining choices you will easily find in other cities like Phoenix.
Yes, there are family-owned places that serve delicious food. But as a city, it needs something they can call its downtown or entertainment area.
Bars, clubs, and restaurants are not as available here.
It also does not have large shopping centers in bigger cities.
If you feel like shopping or partying, go to Phoenix.
Summers in Phoenix are hot. But if you go to Mesa, summers here can be worse.
The heat can stay in the Mesa area. Expect most of the year to be hot when you are in the city.
Did you ever wonder why most homes in Mesa have pools?
It is because summers here can be super hot.
Mesa or Anaheim – Which is cheaper?
The cost of living in Mesa is more affordable compared to Anaheim. Anaheim is 52.2% higher than the national average. On the other hand, Mesa is 4.2% more expensive than the national average.
| Living Expenses | Anaheim | Mesa |
| Housing | 257.1 | 108.7 |
| Food & Groceries | 102.5 | 97.2 |
| Health | 95.9 | 92.2 |
| Utilities | 97.4 | 100.1 |
| Transportation | 118 | 114 |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more than the national average
<100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing/Rent
Anaheim is one of the most expensive in the US regarding housing costs.
It is 157.1% more than the national average. Compared to Mesa, it is a disadvantage to move to Anaheim simply because of the cost of housing and rental.
On the other hand, Mesa is also more expensive than the national average. But it is only 8.7% more expensive.
It only means that Mesa is more affordable in housing and rental costs than Anaheim.
And the difference is enormous!
Utility Costs
The cost of utilities is cheaper in Anaheim compared to Mesa.
Mesa is 0.1% higher than the national average, while Anaheim is cheaper than the national average by 2.6%.
While Anaheim is more affordable, the difference is not that significant.
The cost of utilities should never be your determining factor in moving to another city.
Because in the end, it is your consumption that would determine how much you pay for utilities.
But for comparison purposes, Anaheim is more affordable.
Food and Groceries
The cost of food and groceries is an essential aspect of your budget.
But comparing the two cities, Mesa is more affordable.
Food and groceries are 2.5% more expensive than the national average in Anaheim. In Mesa, food and groceries are 2.8% cheaper than the national average.
These numbers give Mesa an advantage, especially if you move with your family.
When it comes to food and groceries, the costs in Mesa are lower.
Transportation Costs
Transportation costs in Mesa are higher than the national average. But despite this, it is still cheaper compared to Anaheim.
Anaheim is 18% more expensive than the national average. On the other hand, Mesa is only 14% more expensive than the national average.
The difference of 4% may not be much for now.
But in the long run, and when accumulated, the costs can amount to a lot.
Healthcare
When it comes to healthcare, Anaheim is more expensive compared to Mesa.
It should be obvious, especially if you consider the cost of medicine. The difference also shows when you compare professional fees between the two cities.
You will most likely spend less when you are in Mesa between Anaheim and Mesa.
Healthcare costs are 4.1% cheaper than the national average in Anaheim. In Mesa, the prices are 7.8% more affordable than the national average.
Healthcare is an aspect of your budget that needs prioritizing. It should get enough attention, especially when you are finalizing your costs.
Is Mesa bigger than Anaheim?
When it comes to land area, Mesa is larger than Anaheim. Mesa has a land area of 133.13 square miles. Anaheim has a land area of only 50.3 square miles, making Mesa larger in land area.
Mesa is larger, not just in its land area.
Even in population size, Mesa is larger than Anaheim. As of the end of 2021, Mesa has a population of 512 000. On the other hand, Anaheim’s population by the end of 2021 was only 349,000.
However, when it comes to population density, Anaheim is higher.
Anaheim has a population density of 6,949 people per square mile. On the other hand, Mesa’s population density only sits at 3,970 per square mile.
Is Mesa safer than Anaheim?
When you compare the two cities, Anaheim has more crimes than Mesa. Anaheim has a crime index of 53.24, while Mesa is at 40.68. The crime index alone tells us that more people in Mesa feel safer than those in Anaheim.
When you compare both numbers, it appears that the population of Mesa feels safer than those in Anaheim.
Even when you look at the increase of crimes in both cities in the past three years, the numbers point to Anaheim having more crimes.
Anaheim saw an increase of 59.72% in crimes over the past three years. The rise in Mesa was only 54.17%.
Most crimes in Mesa were only at low to moderate levels. Crimes in Anaheim tell a different story.
For example, crimes related to things stolen from cars are at 38.89% in Mesa. In Anaheim, it is at 66.67%.
It is the same story when it comes to problems related to corruption and bribery. In Mesa, it is only at 36.76%. In Anaheim, the same issues sit at 61.11%.
Overall, the numbers show that Anaheim has more crimes than Mesa.
It is thus safe to say that Mesa is safer.
Is Anaheim better than Mesa?
Mesa is better compared to Anaheim in many ways. The major reason is the cost of living. Mesa is more affordable, while Anaheim is expensive. Also, Mesa has fewer crimes than Anaheim. These, and more, make Mesa the better option.
If given a chance to choose between the two cities, I would go for Mesa.
The reason is apparent.
First of all, Mesa is more affordable compared to Anaheim.
Anaheim, especially its housing and rental costs, is more expensive. And when it comes to crimes, Anaheim has more.
When it comes to your safety, you will see fewer crimes in Mesa than in Anaheim.
The summers in Mesa may be hot. But that is what the cool pools are for!
Anaheim is a lovely city. It is the home of Mickey Mouse, anyway.
But overall, I would instead go live in Mesa than in Anaheim.
How about you?
Is Anaheim for you? Or is it Mesa?
Let me know what you think.