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Mesa vs Phoenix Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Mesa crime rate · Phoenix crime rate

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Is Mesa or Phoenix Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Mesa is safer than Phoenix (Safety Score 42/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 1,948 per 100,000 versus 3,125 for Phoenix — 38% lower. Mesa has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Mesa has a 72% lower rate.

Note: Phoenix is 3.2x 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 Mesa, AZ?

Mesa — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Phoenix — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Mesa, AZ

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

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 1,662,809
Total Crime Rate 3,125.4
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Mesa Phoenix Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,947.9 3,125.4 -1,177.5
Violent Crime Rate 483.3 800.0 -316.8
Murder Rate 2.7 8.4 -5.6
Rape Rate 44.2 64.3 -20.1
Robbery Rate 50.2 181.6 -131.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 385.5 545.3 -159.8
Property Crime Rate 1,464.6 2,325.3 -860.7
Burglary Rate 187.7 317.2 -129.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,078.5 1,582.1 -503.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 198.4 426.0 -227.6

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

Moving from Mesa, AZ to Phoenix, 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 Mesa or Phoenix safer?

Mesa is safer with a total crime rate of 1,948 per 100K vs 3,125 for Phoenix — a 38% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Mesa has a violent crime rate of 483.3 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Mesa has lower violent crime.

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.

About Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.

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