BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Mesa, AZ

B
Score
57/100
Rank #54 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Mesa is a strong match for remote work if you value broadband subscription alongside typical rent (2br). Overall, it’s a solid performer in this set (#54 of 200). One thing to keep in mind is bachelor’s+ rate.

Methodology · Sources · AZ rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Mesa ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,458/mo (1% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 92% (2% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Work-from-home share: 17% (37% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Bachelor’s+ rate: 31% (9% lower than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Commute 45+ min share: 12% (5% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
507,478
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 50%Female 50%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,458/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
17%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
92%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$78,779
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
31%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
12%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
66/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
92/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
30/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
88/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

9%
Less than HS
60%
HS / Some college
21%
Bachelor’s
11%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

17%
Work from home
83%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

92%
Broadband
8%
No broadband

Map

Open in OpenStreetMap →

Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,458/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
92%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
17%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$78,779
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
31%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
12%

Similar cities (by score)

#52 Oklahoma City, OK
57/100
#53 Eugene, OR
57/100
#55 Kansas City, MO
57/100
#56 Lakewood, CO
57/100

FAQ

›What is Mesa’s remote work score and rank?
Mesa, AZ scores B (57/100) and ranks #54 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Mesa city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Mesa, AZ?
Population is about 507,478 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Mesa, AZ?
About 50% male and 50% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Mesa, AZ?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,458/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Mesa, AZ?
Work-from-home share is 17% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Mesa, AZ?
Broadband subscription is 92% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Mesa, AZ?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 9%, HS/some college 60%, bachelor’s 21%, advanced 11%.
›Where does this data come from for Mesa, AZ?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).