Mesa city, Arizona Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Mesa city is a major urban center located in Arizona. The total population is 507,478. It ranks as the 3rd most populous out of 445 cities and towns in Arizona.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mesa city is 37.2 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mesa city is $78,779. This is 2% higher than the state median of $76,872. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 10.5%. This is 18% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 5.2%. The median home value is $364,300. Housing costs are 2% higher than the state median of $358,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 64.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Mesa city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 26.6%.

Education

31.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 32.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Mesa city, Arizona is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Arizona state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 445 Census-designated places in Arizona. For official data, visit data.census.gov.