Honolulu HI vs Mesa AZ — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Honolulu, HI

Hawaii · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$760,355
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Mesa, AZ

Arizona · Population: 507,478

Median HH Income$78,779
Median Home Price$435,670
Unemployment4.6%
Bachelor's+31.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

507,478

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

N/A

Median Age

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

37.2

Foreign Born

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

11.2%

White

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

69.7%

Black

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

4.4%

Asian

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

2.5%

Hispanic

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

26.6%

Spanish at Home

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

N/A

Metric	Honolulu, HI	Mesa, AZ	Better
Population	N/A	507,478	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	37.2	-
Foreign Born	N/A	11.2%	-
White	N/A	69.7%	-
Black	N/A	4.4%	-
Asian	N/A	2.5%	-
Hispanic	N/A	26.6%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

$78,779

Per Capita Income

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

$39,586

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Honolulu

$63,296

Honolulu +

Mesa

$59,120

Unemployment Rate

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

4.6%

Poverty Rate

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

10.5%

Bachelor's Degree+

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

31.5%

Metric	Honolulu, HI	Mesa, AZ	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$78,779	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$39,586	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$63,296	$59,120	Honolulu +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	4.6%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	10.5%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	31.5%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Honolulu

$760,355

Mesa

$435,670

Mesa +

Homeownership Rate

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

64.3%

Metric	Honolulu, HI	Mesa, AZ	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$760,355	$435,670	Mesa +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	64.3%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Honolulu

276

Honolulu +

Mesa

450

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Honolulu

2592

Mesa

2150

Mesa +

Metric	Honolulu, HI	Mesa, AZ	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	276	450	Honolulu +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2592	2150	Mesa +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

30.7%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

10.6%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

15.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

13.0%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

16.1%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

11.4%

Metric	Honolulu, HI	Mesa, AZ	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	N/A	30.7%	-
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	N/A	10.6%	-
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	N/A	15.5%	-
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	N/A	13.0%	-
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	N/A	16.1%	-
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	N/A	11.4%	-

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Honolulu

77.7°F

Mesa

71.8°F

Mesa +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Honolulu

17.1 in

Mesa

11.7 in

Mesa +

Metric	Honolulu, HI	Mesa, AZ	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	77.7°F	71.8°F	Mesa +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	17.1 in	11.7 in	Mesa +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Honolulu

3.3 µg/m³

Honolulu +

Mesa

7.1 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Honolulu

75.0%

Mesa

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Honolulu, HI	Mesa, AZ	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	3.3 µg/m³	7.1 µg/m³	Honolulu +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Honolulu

N/A

Mesa

26.7 min

Metric	Honolulu, HI	Mesa, AZ	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	26.7 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Mesa offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $435,670. On public safety, Honolulu is safer with a violent crime rate of 276 per 100,000 residents, compared to 450 in Mesa. Honolulu has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 3.3 µg/m³).

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About Honolulu & Mesa

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