Mesa, Arizona, is a city with many areas and more than 500,000 people. Some places are known for their history, culture, and beautiful scenery, while others are known for having a lot of crime, bad housing, and hard living conditions.
It might surprise you to learn that the most dangerous areas of Mesa are the ones with the highest rates of violent crimes per 100,000 people, like murder, rape, robbery, and assault, compared to the rest of the city.
How Does the Crime Rate of Mesa Compare to Other Cities in Arizona
Mesa has a higher crime rate than the rest of Arizona but less than the rest of the country. Here are some specifics:
- It was 205 crimes per 100,000 people in Mesa in 2020, which was 1.2 times less than the U.S. average but more than 76.2% of U.S. towns.
- 104% more crimes happen in Mesa in 2020 than the average year. There are 872 crimes for every 100,000 people. People who live in West Central have a 1 in 18 chance of being a victim of crime.
- The lines show that Mesa is safer than 30% of Arizona cities and 26% of cities across the U.S.
Read More: Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Cities in Arizona!
We Will Now Talk About Mesa’s Five Riskiest Neighborhoods:
The West Central
There are 872 serious crimes for every 100,000 people living in this area, which is 104% more than the average in Mesa. It’s 1 in 18 likely that someone will break the law in West Central.
You can find this area in the southwest part of Mesa, near where Alma School Road and Country Club Drive meet. The Mesa Arts Center, the Arizona Museum of Natural History, and the Desert Botanical Garden are all fun places to visit nearby.
Downtown
In this town of 2,377 people, there are 763 serious crimes per 100,000 people, which is 79% more than the average in Mesa. Homes downtown aren’t worth much ($143,064) and people don’t make much ($33,724). It’s in Mesa’s middle, near Main Street and Monroe Street. The Arizona State Capitol, the Mesa Performing Arts Center, and the Mill Avenue Historic District are all cool places to visit in this area.
Sunland Village East
Sunland Village East has a serious crime rate of 492 per 100,000 people, which is 15% higher than the average in Mesa. It is home to 1,379 people. The median home value is $190,841, and the typical income is $62,094. This makes it one of the less desirable areas.
This area is in the southeast corner of Mesa, close to East Baseline Road and Sunland Village Drive. Sunland Park Golf Course, Sunland Park Shopping Center, and Sunland Park Elementary School are all interesting places in the area.
The Rancho Del Mar
This area is in the northwest corner of Mesa, near the point where N. Dobson Road and Rancho Del Mar Drive meet. There are 414 serious crimes per 100,000 people, which is a bit less than the Mesa average. About 500 people live here. Even so, Rancho Del Mar is seen as one of the less desirable places to live because the median home worth is only $173,034, and the median income is only $54,452.
The Mesa Grande
This area is in the northeast of Mesa, near the point where E. Baseline Road and N. Dobson Road meet. There are 233 serious crimes per 100,000 people, which is less than the average in Mesa. About 8,617 people are living here. The typical home value in Mesa Grande is $148,554, and the median income is $45,524. This makes it one of the worst places to live.
Read More: Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Durham, North Carolina!
Summary
Based on the number of violent crimes per 100,000 people, we looked into Mesa, Arizona’s five riskiest areas. These are Mesa Grande, Rancho Del Mar, Downtown, West Central, and Sunland Village East. Compared to Mesa and other Arizona cities, these areas have higher numbers of murders, rape, theft, and assault rather than the average.
Poverty, unemployment, schooling, social services, drug abuse, and gang activity are just some of the things that can lead to these crimes. People who live or visit these areas aren’t the only ones who are affected by their safety. The community and society as a whole are also affected.
There may be good things or hidden gems in these neighborhoods that aren’t widely known or reported on, but learning more about their history, culture, economy, and people can help you understand how complicated and varied they are. This information can help people from different groups understand and accept each other, which can lead to more social harmony.