Mesa, Arizona, is a city with more than 500,000 people and various neighborhoods. Some areas are famous for culture, history, and beautiful sights, while others are known for high crime rates, subpar housing, and tough living conditions.
If you’re wondering about the most dangerous neighborhoods in Mesa, the surprising answer lies in those with the highest rates of violent crimes per 100,000 people, such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault compared to the average in Mesa.
How Does the Crime Rate of Mesa Compare to Other Cities in Arizona
Mesa has a lower crime rate than the average in Arizona but higher than the national average. Here are some details:
- In 2020, Mesa’s crime rate was 205, 1.2 times smaller than the U.S. average, but higher than 76.2% of U.S. cities.
- The 2020 crime rate in Mesa is 872 per 100,000 people, 104% more than Mesa’s average. Residents of West Central face a 1 in 18 chance of being a crime victim.
- Mesa is safer than 30% of cities in Arizona and, as shown in the graphs, safer than 30% of Arizona cities and 26% compared to cities across the U.S.
Here, We will delve into the top 5 most dangerous neighborhoods in Mesa:
West Central
This area has about 61,951 people and a violent crime rate of 872 per 100,000 residents, which is 104% higher than the average in Mesa. If you live in West Central, you have a 1 in 18 chance of being a crime victim.
This neighborhood is in the southwest part of Mesa, close to the intersection of Alma School Road and Country Club Drive. Some interesting places nearby are the Mesa Arts Center, the Arizona Museum of Natural History, and the Desert Botanical Garden.
Read More: Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Rockville, Maryland
Downtown
This place has 2,377 people, and the violent crime rate is 763 per 100,000, which is 79% higher than Mesa’s average. Downtown is not great when it comes to home values ($143,064) and income ($33,724).
It’s in the middle of Mesa, close to Main Street and Monroe Street. Some cool stuff around here includes the Arizona State Capitol, the Mesa Performing Arts Center, and the Mill Avenue Historic District.
Read More: Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Union County, North Carolina
Sunland Village East
This area, Sunland Village East, has a population of 1,379 people and a violent crime rate of 492 per 100,000, which is 15% higher than the average in Mesa. It’s considered one of the less desirable neighborhoods, with lower median home value ($190,841) and median income ($62,094).
You can find this neighborhood in the southeast part of Mesa, near Sunland Village Drive and East Baseline Road. Some places of interest in the area include Sunland Park Golf Course, Sunland Park Shopping Center, and Sunland Park Elementary School.
Read More: This City Has Been Named the Worst City to Live in New Jersey
Rancho Del Mar
This neighborhood is in the northwest part of Mesa, close to where Rancho Del Mar Drive and N. Dobson Road meet. Around 500 people live here, and the rate of violent crime is 414 per 100,000 people, a bit lower than the Mesa average.
Despite this, Rancho Del Mar is considered one of the less desirable areas because of its lower median home value ($173,034) and median income ($54,452).
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Mesa Grande
This neighborhood is in the northeast part of Mesa, close to where N. Dobson Road and E. Baseline Road meet. Around 8,617 people live here, and the rate of violent crimes is 233 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the average in Mesa.
However, Mesa Grande is considered one of the least favorable areas when it comes to median home value ($148,554) and median income ($45,524).
Read More: This City Has Been Named the Poorest City in Maryland
Final Words
We’ve looked into the five most dangerous neighborhoods in Mesa, Arizona, based on the number of violent crimes per 100,000 people. These neighborhoods are West Central, Downtown, Sunland Village East, Rancho Del Mar, and Mesa Grande.
These areas have higher rates of serious crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and assault compared to both the average in Mesa and other cities in Arizona. The reasons for these crimes are complicated and involve factors such as poverty, unemployment, education, social services, drug abuse, and gang activity.
The safety situation in these neighborhoods doesn’t just affect the people who live there or visit; it also impacts the broader community and society as a whole.
While there might be positive stories or hidden gems not widely known or reported, understanding more about these neighborhoods’ history, culture, economy, and people can provide insight into their complexity and diversity. This knowledge can foster empathy and respect among different groups of people and promote social harmony.
