Young families and outdoor adventure-seekers need look no further than Mesa, Arizona, as a place to call home. The 139.4 square-mile southeastern suburb of Phoenix was settled in 1878. Today, most of its residents work in technology, healthcare, education, tourism, and aerospace/defense. The median age is 36.2 (2022).

Nestled in the Sonoran Desert, Mesa is dotted with Mediterranean, Spanish, and Craftsman-style homes, as well as low-slung ranch houses, and single-family subdivision homes on wide roads. Homes cost an average of $416,589, which is an increase of 4.8% over the past year (Zillow, 2022). Annual events, such as the bike festival Cyclomesa, the Mesa Film Festival, and a Renaissance festival, enhance the city’s family-friendly environment.

Mesa employs a grid system for street numbering, and several freeways serve the area, including U.S. Route 60, and Arizona State Routes 101 and 202. Tucked into the corner of where Route 60 and Highway 101 meet, the neighborhood of Dobson Ranch offers homebuyers condos, townhomes, and single-family homes surrounding a lake. Those types of homes can also be found in Northgrove, south of Highway 202 further north. Mesa Grande, situated where Highways 101 and 202 come together, is a terrific area for families and young professionals. Real-estate options here include small to medium-sized single-family homes.

Mesa is the place to be for anyone who loves warm weather and living an active lifestyle.