Population 71,405 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Southwest Mesa
Household size in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.77 | 2.83 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.82 | 2.91 | 2.84 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.63 | 2.84 | 2.91 | 2.82 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.69 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.11 | −0.08 | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Southwest Mesa is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.50 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the west.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.5 | 37.1 | 35.6 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.2 | 38.6 | 36.9 | 38.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.0 | 39.1 | 38.3 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.3 | 40.2 | 39.1 | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +3.1 | +3.5 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Southwest Mesa is young: half of its residents are under 35.3, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.5, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 11.7% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 13.1% | 14.0% | 13.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 12.0% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 11.9% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in eight households in Southwest Mesa (13.2%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.0 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Southwest Mesa
Renters in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.1% | 32.7% | 32.8% | 32.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 53.7% | 37.8% | 37.7% | 36.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 54.4% | 37.5% | 36.6% | 35.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 50.9% | 33.7% | 33.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Southwest Mesa rent: 50.9% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Just over three in ten owners (31.6%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.8 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 13.2% | 14.1% | 15.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 14.0% | 14.1% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 11.9% | 10.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 9.7% | 8.4% | 9.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −3.5 pts | −5.6 pts | −5.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Southwest Mesa as nationally: 8.6%, against 9.6%. Vacancy has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1985 | 1988 | 1987 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1986 | 1989 | 1988 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1987 | 1990 | 1989 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1990 | 1993 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Southwest Mesa are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Mesa overall, where the median home dates to 1990.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $955 | $1,044 | $1,123 | $1,043 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $934 | $1,079 | $1,158 | $1,078 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,132 | $1,234 | $1,342 | $1,227 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,675 | $1,815 | $1,927 | $1,736 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$719 | +$771 | +$804 | +$694 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Southwest Mesa costs $1,675 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in Mesa as a whole ($1,815). Rents are up $719 a month from 2006–10, a 75% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Southwest Mesa
Bachelor's degrees in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.1% | 23.4% | 27.8% | 26.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.2% | 24.1% | 28.5% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.2% | 26.9% | 31.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.6% | 32.3% | 35.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +8.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Southwest Mesa (32.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.8% | 85.3% | 85.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.5% | 86.8% | 86.0% | 85.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.7% | 88.3% | 87.2% | 86.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.6% | 90.7% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Southwest Mesa is a bit above the national rate: 91.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Mesa. The share with a diploma has risen 6.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Southwest Mesa
| Period | Southwest Mesa | Mesa | Phoenix area | Arizona | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 6.8% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 9.4% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Southwest Mesa runs below the national rate: 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Southwest Mesa compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Mesa | 2.39 | 35.3 | 13.2% | 50.9% | 8.6% | 1981 | $1,675 | 32.6% | 91.6% | 4.4% |
| Escalante | 2.60 | 32.4 | 3.1% | 55.2% | 5.9% | 1991 | $1,832 | 41.9% | 79.7% | 6.6% |
| West Central | 2.97 | 32.8 | 23.0% | 59.3% | 7.7% | 1979 | $1,504 | 17.5% | 77.5% | 5.6% |
| Meyer Park | 2.29 | 33.8 | 6.2% | 43.9% | 9.3% | 1975 | $1,721 | 45.6% | 98.6% | 4.7% |
| Hohokam Village | 2.60 | 31.4 | 25.1% | 54.7% | 8.8% | 1983 | $1,687 | 32.5% | 89.8% | 13.7% |
| Heritage District | 2.31 | 34.3 | 7.4% | 50.2% | 5.3% | 1992 | $1,758 | 36.6% | 90.9% | 1.7% |
| The Islands | 2.38 | 44.4 | 9.0% | 19.4% | 3.3% | 1992 | $2,730 | 47.6% | 95.3% | 3.4% |
| Downtown Tempe | 1.82 | 21.6 | 1.8% | 84.8% | 19.0% | 2006 | $2,011 | 78.3% | 98.7% | 6.1% |
| Peterson | 2.21 | 28.7 | 17.5% | 74.7% | 5.6% | 1982 | $1,723 | 40.9% | 93.2% | 9.3% |
| Tempe Junction | 2.35 | 30.1 | 8.5% | 59.2% | 21.6% | 1964 | $1,613 | 60.5% | 93.1% | 12.5% |
| Woodridge Lakes | 2.96 | 38.4 | 8.6% | 17.3% | 4.5% | 1978 | $1,688 | 39.7% | 93.5% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Willow Glen, San Jose, CA · Near North Side, Chicago, IL · North Long Beach, Long Beach, CA · Richmond Hill, Queens, NY · Ridgewood, Queens, NY · Soundview, Bronx, NY · East Village, Manhattan, NY · East End, Houston, TX · Downtown San Jose, San Jose, CA · Cordova-Appling, Cordova, TN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Southwest Mesa. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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