Jonesboro AR 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)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
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

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

507,478

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

37.2

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

11.2%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

69.7%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

4.4%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

2.5%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

26.6%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	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

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

$78,779

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

$39,586

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Mesa

$59,120

Mesa +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

4.6%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

10.5%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

31.5%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	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	$53,714	$59,120	Mesa +
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

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Mesa

$435,670

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

64.3%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Mesa, AZ	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$435,670	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	64.3%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Mesa

450

Mesa +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Mesa

2150

Mesa +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Mesa, AZ	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	450	Mesa +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	2150	Mesa +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Mesa

30.7%

Mesa +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Mesa

10.6%

Mesa +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Mesa

15.5%

Mesa +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Mesa

13.0%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Mesa

16.1%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Mesa

11.4%

Mesa +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Mesa, AZ	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	30.7%	Mesa +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	10.6%	Mesa +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	15.5%	Mesa +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	13.0%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	16.1%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	11.4%	Mesa +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Mesa

71.8°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Mesa

11.7 in

Mesa +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Mesa, AZ	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	71.8°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	11.7 in	Mesa +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Mesa

7.1 µg/m³

Mesa +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Mesa

75.0%

Mesa +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Mesa, AZ	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	7.1 µg/m³	Mesa +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Mesa +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Mesa

26.7 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Mesa, AZ	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	26.7 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Mesa is safer with a violent crime rate of 450 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Mesa has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Mesa scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.7%.

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About Jonesboro & Mesa

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