9 Things to Know Before Moving to Mesa

By Patrick Galvan, Storage.com

Are you on the hunt for a new place to live? Mesa, Ariz., could be the right fit for you! A suburb of the Phoenix area, Mesa sees beautiful weather year-round, has a rich southwestern culture, and offers lots of employment, education, and entertainment opportunities. Check out some cool facts about Mesa below!

1. NO COLD WEATHER.

Mesa, AZ, Salt River at Sunset
Photo by ed ouimette

One of the advantages of living in Mesa is you don’t have to deal with bitter winds, freezing temperatures, or snowfall. Mesa’s climate tends to be fairly comfortable year-round with average highs of 86°F. Pair that with plenty of sunshine, low humidity, and less than ten inches of annual rainfall, and Mesa is basically perfect.

2. WORK AT BOEING’S HELICOPTER PLANT.

U.S. Army Apache Helicopter
Photo by U.S. Army

Although there are plenty of employment opportunities in the construction, computer and mathematical sciences, health care, and education industries, Mesa is known for its Boeing McDonnell Douglas facility, which employs more than 4,000 people to design, build, and test Apache helicopters for the U.S. Army. So if you’re looking for a career in aerospace engineering, Boeing is a good place to start.

3. NATURAL SCENERY EVERYWHERE.

Superstition in Mesa, AZ
Photo by Sweet Evie

If you love the outdoors, you’ll love Mesa’s red rock formations, rolling hills, and saguaro cacti. There are a number of hiking trails, too, including the Apache Trail, a former stagecoach trail that passes through the Superstition Mountains, as well as the Tonto National Forest (the fifth largest national forest in the country). Mesa is also close to the Sonoran Desert, which is home to more than 3,000 different species of plants.

4. RICH SOUTHWESTERN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

Goldfield Ghost Town in Mesa, AZ
Photo by Allie_Caulfield

Mesa is proud to represent the American Southwest’s history and culture. At Rockin’ R Ranch, you can enjoy a delicious meal while experiencing the Wild West through western music, gunfight reenactments, wagon rides, and gold panning. Check out the Mesa Arizona Temple and Southwest Shakespeare Company as well. Or how about sightseeing at an actual historical remnant? Goldfield Ghost Town is an 1890s town with saloons, a school house, a general store, and mine tours.

5. MUSEUMS FOR ALL INTERESTS.

AZ Museum of Natural History in Mesa
Photo by Kellee Gunderson

The Arizona Museum of Natural History showcases dinosaurs, ancient Mexican cultures, the Hohokam Indians, and other gems in Arizona’s history. Mesa has several museums for other interests, too, including the Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum and the family-oriented i.d.e.a. Museum.

6. GOLFING GALORE.

Golf Course in Arizona
Photo by Phil Sexton

In the mood for a relaxing day on the green? Mesa has more than 40 nearby golf courses. Some of these courses feature vast desert landscapes while others have tall, beautiful trees. And with the warm Arizona weather, you never have to worry about canceling a tee time!

7. GET A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

Mesa College, Arizona
Photo by Alan Levine

Want to earn a degree in a technological program? Mesa is home to Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus, where more than 11,000 students learn about microelectronics, engineering, air traffic control, and more. The city also has other higher education options at Mesa Community College, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, and a local campus of Pima Medical Institute.

8. SPRING TRAINING IN MESA.

Hohokam Park in Mesa, AZ
Photo by Nick

Mesa’s clear skies and warm climate makes it an ideal location for sporting events, which is why the Arizona Cactus League often hosts baseball spring training. A fan of the Oakland A’s? Then you’ll definitely like Mesa, as the team uses Hohokam Stadium for spring training. The Chicago Cubs previously trained at Hohokam but recently moved their sessions to another Mesa stadium, the recently opened Cubs Park.

9. SHOP TILL YOU DROP.

Mesa Riverview Park
Photo by Alexander Nie

You don’t have to be an out-of-town visitor to enjoy the shopping venues in Mesa. One of the most popular venues for shoppers is the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet, which features a walloping 1,600 shops. Other shopping centers include the beautiful Mesa Riverview, an outdoor shopping venue with dining, shopping, and entertainment options, and Village Square at Dana, which houses upscale shopping venues.

What would you add to our list of great things about living in Mesa, AZ?

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If you’re moving to Mesa, AZ, and need storage space to help with the transition, view Storage.com’s directory of storage units in Mesa.

All images have either been provided by a listed organization or are licensed under the Creative Commons license.