Mesa Real Estate Info

One of the anchor cities of the Phoenix area -- and the third largest city in the state after Phoenix and Tucson -- Mesa, Arizona, is a city of more than 130 square miles in Maricopa County. With a population of more than 463,000 as measured in July 2008, it is the 38th largest city in America and its population has risen nearly 17% since the 2000 census.

The Apache tribe inhabited the area prior to European settlement, but the U.S. Army forced the tribes out in the late 19th century to make way for settlers. The initial one-square mile Mesa City was registered in 1878 and incorporated in 1883 with 300 residents. Today, the city has grown and flourished. Mesa residents had a measured median household income of over $51,000 in 2008, and at that time Mesa homes had a median value of more than $218,000, making Mesa real estate rather reasonable and affordable compared to many other areas around Phoenix. Median gross rent in 2008 was $867.

Almost all the children who live in Mesa are served by the public schools in the Mesa Public Schools system, though a few who live in the southern portions of town are zoned to the Gilbert Public Schools, and a part who live in western portions are assigned to the Tempe Elementary School District and the Tempe Union High School District. There are also several private schools, including Christ the King School, Queen of Peace, Pilgram Lutheran and Tempe Montessori School. Mesa is home to Mesa Community College, the largest school in the Maricopa Community Colleges district, and the the Polytechnic campus of Arizona State University. The city 's economy has weathered the recent economic storm better than most; in October 2009, its unemployment rate was just 7.9% compared with the state's average of 9.3%.

Attractions in Mesa include the Mesa Arts Center, the Mesa Amphitheatre, the Arizona Museum for Youth, the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Aircraft Museum, the Mesa Historical Museum and the Arizona Museum of Natural History. HoHoKam Park is home to the Chicago Cubs' spring training. Shopping can be done at Superstition Springs Center, a mall in East Mesa with an outdoor amphitheater, and at Fiesta Mall and Mesa Riverview. The city has dozens of golf courses and several city parks, and it operates the Mesa Public Library. There are half a dozen hospitals in the city to provide medical services, and in the hot months, cool respite can be enjoyed at the Golfland/Sunsplash waterpark.