Mesa ranked Best Big City in the Southwest
Money.com, owned by Time, Inc., released the Best Places to Live 2015 ranking with Mesa being named the Best Big City in the Southwest. Mesa joins Pittsburgh, Tampa, Denver and Omaha in the top 5 best places to live for cities with more than 300,000 residents. The popular financial website reviewed 63 urban centers looking at the job market, affordable housing, and factors such as accessibility to health care, culture and open space. They also gave extra points for low crime and strong public schools in selecting the top city in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and West.
“I agree, Mesa is the best big city in the Southwest and we are only getting better,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said. “Mesa is a great place to live and raise a family. Mesa Arts Center and our Parks and Recreation Department are national leaders while Apple, Inc. and the new light rail extension make our city attractive to the millennial workforce.”
The online story’s subtitle reads, “Great schools (and great golf) create the newest Arizona star.” The article continues, “There are bigger cities in Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson) and bigger golf meccas too (Scottsdale). Mesa can hold its own in both categories, and it beats them all in one key way—it’s a great, affordable city for raising a family.”
The City was also listed in the top five “best places for outdoor lovers.” In selecting these urban areas, Money.com ranked cities based on access to green spaces, percentage of the population that is at least moderately physically active, proximity to camp sites, ski resorts and golf courses. Most weight was given to green space access and physical fitness with only one city being chosen per state.
“For those of us that have chosen to make Mesa our home, these rankings come as no surprise.” Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said, “However, it is always gratifying to receive third party endorsements and acknowledgement.”
The article cited “the Mesa area is great for hikers, cyclists, horseback riders and kayakers looking to explore. Within the city limits, residents can also enjoy Mesa’s unique series of urban fishing lakes…as well as over 200 golf courses nearby.” Also, ranked in the top 5 were Anaheim, Colorado Springs, Minneapolis and Anchorage.
I so agree add our terrific arts, our reviving downtown. Mesa is a great town. If you don’t believe me thumb through my ‘Mesa Arizona Resource guide‘.