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Cottonwood vs Mesa Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Cottonwood crime rate · Mesa crime rate

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Is Cottonwood or Mesa Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Cottonwood is safer than Mesa (Safety Score 60/100 vs 42/100), with a total crime rate of 1,391 per 100,000 versus 1,948 for Mesa — 29% lower. Cottonwood has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Cottonwood has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Mesa is 38.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Cottonwood, AZ?

Cottonwood — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Mesa — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Cottonwood, AZ

Cottonwood, AZ
Safety Score 60/100
Coverage 13,441
Total Crime Rate 1,391.3
Category Wins 7/7

Mesa, AZ

Mesa, AZ
Safety Score 42/100
Coverage 513,585
Total Crime Rate 1,947.9
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cottonwood Mesa Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,391.3 1,947.9 -556.6
Violent Crime Rate 223.2 483.3 -260.1
Murder Rate 0.0 2.7 -2.7
Rape Rate 14.9 44.2 -29.3
Robbery Rate 22.3 50.2 -27.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 186.0 385.5 -199.5
Property Crime Rate 1,168.1 1,464.6 -296.5
Burglary Rate 133.9 187.7 -53.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 944.9 1,078.5 -133.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 89.3 198.4 -109.1

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Cottonwood, AZ to Mesa, AZ?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cottonwood or Mesa safer?

Cottonwood is safer with a total crime rate of 1,391 per 100K vs 1,948 for Mesa — a 29% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cottonwood has a violent crime rate of 223.2 per 100K while Mesa has 483.3. Cottonwood has lower violent crime.

About Cottonwood, AZ

Cottonwood, Arizona, nestled in the Verde Valley, was once a thriving ranching community. This Yavapai County town, with a population around 12,000, sits near the scenic Verde River. With a safety score of 60/100 and a population coverage of 13,441, Cottonwood has a total crime rate of 1,391.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Mesa, AZ

Mesa, Arizona, a sprawling Sonoran Desert city, is home to a significant proportion of the state's Mormon population, reflecting its early agricultural settlements. It's the most populous city in the East Valley, bordering Tempe to the west. With a safety score of 42/100 and a population coverage of 513,585, Mesa has a total crime rate of 1,947.9 per 100,000 residents.

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