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Mesa vs Scottsdale Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Mesa crime rate · Scottsdale crime rate

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Is Mesa or Scottsdale Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Mesa is safer than Scottsdale (Safety Score 42/100 vs 40/100), with a total crime rate of 1,948 per 100,000 versus 2,029 for Scottsdale — 4% lower. Mesa has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Scottsdale has a 85% lower rate.

Note: Mesa is 2.1x 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

Scottsdale — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Mesa, AZ

Mesa, AZ
Safety Score 42/100
Coverage 513,585
Total Crime Rate 1,947.9
Category Wins 2/7

Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale, AZ
Safety Score 40/100
Coverage 245,237
Total Crime Rate 2,028.7
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Mesa Scottsdale Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,947.9 2,028.7 -80.8
Violent Crime Rate 483.3 153.3 +330.0
Murder Rate 2.7 0.4 +2.3
Rape Rate 44.2 33.8 +10.4
Robbery Rate 50.2 22.0 +28.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 385.5 96.2 +289.3
Property Crime Rate 1,464.6 1,875.3 -410.7
Burglary Rate 187.7 182.3 +5.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,078.5 1,534.8 -456.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 198.4 158.2 +40.2

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

Moving from Mesa, AZ to Scottsdale, 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 Scottsdale safer?

Mesa is safer with a total crime rate of 1,948 per 100K vs 2,029 for Scottsdale — a 4% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Mesa has a violent crime rate of 483.3 per 100K while Scottsdale has 153.3. Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale, Arizona, a vibrant Sonoran Desert city, is known for its luxurious resorts and the historic influence of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West. Located east of Phoenix, it's a popular destination for affluent residents and tourists seeking outdoor recreation and upscale amenities. With a safety score of 40/100 and a population coverage of 245,237, Scottsdale has a total crime rate of 2,028.7 per 100,000 residents.

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