If you’re thinking about moving to Mesa, you’re in the right place. We at Homesnacks would hate to see you end up in one of Mesa’s worst neighborhoods, so we’ve compiled a handy list of the neighborhoods that are the cream of the crop.
While Phoenix is the biggest city in Arizona, its eastern neighbor of Mesa boasts many credentials that make it a more attractive place to live. Lower crime, a slightly cheaper cost of living, and better public schools. In either city, you can count on stunning views of the Superstition Mountains and a desert climate that’s best for people who seriously enjoy the heat. With summertime averages over 100 degrees every day, you’d just better remember to pack your high-grade sunscreen.
So what did we look for when determining the best neighborhoods to call home in Mesa? Well, we looked for expensive homes, usually a good indicator of the demand to live somewhere. But we also took into account how much people living in those neighborhoods earn as a way of seeing what places had a healthy balance of quality and affordability. Of course, crime, public schools, unemployment rates, and the availability of top-notch amenities also came into play.
A sprawling city of 130+ square miles, Mesa’s 23 neighborhoods offer a wide diversity of styles. Those looking to rub elbows with the city’s elite will find the company they’re looking for in Apache Wells or Northgrove, where the median incomes are well over $1,000,000/year. Folks that want to avoid all that boujee business will feel much more comfortable Downtown. In any case, people of all economic backgrounds will enjoy living near Golfland Sunsplash, a prime spot for family fun (or just staying cool on those 110 degree days).
So slap on some sunscreen, grab a chimichanga, and salt the rim of your margarita glass, because we’re taking a tour of Mesa’s best neighborhoods for 2026.
$80,903 median income · $369,367 median home value
$47,460 median income · $204,655 median home value
$106,534 median income · $405,759 median home value
$76,872 median income · $183,194 median home value
$35,982 median income · $172,030 median home value
$72,016 median income · $199,495 median home value
$95,862 median income · $544,266 median home value
$62,994 median income · $230,332 median home value
$93,977 median income · $201,964 median home value
$44,903 median income · $214,448 median home value
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Arizona’s statewide median.
Arizona statewide median: $79,964
Arizona statewide median: $423,330
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the best Mesa, AZ neighborhoods in 2026
To rank the best neighborhoods in Mesa, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 23 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Mesa.” We’re lookin’ at you, Lehi.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Mesa, Arizona has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Mesa.
The full plate
Table: Best Mesa neighborhoods for 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by neighborhood name.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lehi | 8,424 | $369,367 | $80,903 |
| 2 | North Center Street | 2,250 | $204,655 | $47,460 |
| 3 | The Groves | 5,555 | $405,759 | $106,534 |
| 4 | Parkwood Ranch | 2,818 | $183,194 | $76,872 |
| 5 | C.A.N.D.O. | 2,651 | $172,030 | $35,982 |
| 6 | Dobson Woods | 3,454 | $199,495 | $72,016 |
| 7 | Northeast | 4,071 | $544,266 | $95,862 |
| 8 | Dobson Ranch | 11,657 | $230,332 | $62,994 |
| 9 | Crismon Creek | 423 | $201,964 | $93,977 |
| 10 | Heritage Park | 510 | $214,448 | $44,903 |
| 11 | Marlborough Mesa | 1,524 | $182,471 | $66,121 |
| 12 | Alta Mesa | 7,971 | $239,452 | $60,862 |
| 13 | Ridgeview | 900 | $255,609 | $88,878 |
| 14 | Mesa Grande | 8,617 | $148,554 | $45,524 |
| 15 | Downtown | 2,377 | $143,064 | $33,724 |
| 16 | Northgrove | 1,987 | $416,540 | $7,983,126 |
| 17 | Rancho del Mar | 500 | $173,034 | $54,452 |
| 18 | Red Mountain Ranch | 2,353 | $224,326 | $71,092 |
| 19 | Glenwood-Wilbur | 284 | $143,043 | $29,329 |
| 20 | Apache Wells | 1,445 | $209,154 | $3,007,045 |
| 21 | Sunland Village | 2,563 | $199,643 | $42,883 |
| 22 | Superstition Springs | 5,530 | $190,841 | $53,295 |
| 23 | Sunland Village East | 1,379 | $190,841 | $62,094 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. All 23 Mesa neighborhoods.
Summary
Summary: Putting a bow on our analysis of the best neighborhoods in Mesa
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Mesa where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Mesa are Lehi, North Center Street, The Groves, Parkwood Ranch, C.A.N.D.O., Dobson Woods, Northeast, Dobson Ranch, Crismon Creek, and Heritage Park.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Mesa aren’t all good. Sunland Village East takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Mesa.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below. Not sold on Arizona? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Neighborhoods In Mesa FAQs
What is the best neighborhood in Mesa?
Lehi is the best neighborhood in Mesa for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. North Center Street and The Groves are next.
What are the best neighborhoods in Mesa?
The best neighborhoods in Mesa are Lehi, North Center Street, The Groves, Parkwood Ranch, C.A.N.D.O., Dobson Woods, Northeast, Dobson Ranch, Crismon Creek, and Heritage Park. We ranked all 23 neighborhoods in the city.
How expensive is Lehi?
The median household income in Lehi is $80,903 and the median home costs $369,367. The best blocks in Mesa rarely come at a discount.
How do you rank Mesa neighborhoods?
Each neighborhood is scored on income, home values, population density, unemployment, and crime, using Census tract data. The neighborhood with the best combined score, Lehi, takes the top spot.
Which Mesa neighborhood ranked last?
Sunland Village East came in last of the 23 neighborhoods we scored. Every city has a bottom of the table; in Mesa the numbers put it there.
