Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson, and is located on the east side of the “Valley of the Sun.” The name is pronounced “May-suh” and it means “tabletop” in Spanish.

There are a variety of homes available for rent in Mesa, located in new as well as older areas, with horse properties in the east Mesa area, and lots of apartment and condo rental choices, some on golf courses. The median gross rent in 2009 was $844, and the cost of living index in Mesa is less than the the U.S. average.

Mesa is a big retirement mecca, and there are many “over 55″ communities, as well as large mobile home and RV parks that cater to “snowbirds” (people who live here part-time to enjoy the wonderful weather).

Because the Phoenix area is such a vacation spot, there are a lot of vacation homes that owners rent out, fully furnished, for weeks or months at a time. These can be more comfortable and less expensive than staying in a hotel or resort.

Mesa is convenient to ASU and apartment rent can run a little lower than in Tempe. It also doesn’t have the party atmosphere a lot of the apartment complexes in Tempe have. It’s still important to check on the number of students and the level of evening and weekend quiet, if that concerns you, before you sign a lease.

A Family Community

Mesa is also a true family community, with lots going on all the time. The Arizona Museum for Youth is really cool, with changing hands-on exhibits that are fun for kids and adults as well. Golfland Sunsplash is packed in the summer months and is a good place to cool off and get the beach atmosphere without driving to California. There are many public pools where the kids can go every day. Many rental homes include pools in the backyard, and probably 99% of the apartments have pools.

The City of Mesa has worked hard to refurbish the downtown area, with mixed results. It’s no longer old and rundown, but it still isn’t an urban hangout, either. However, it is a safe place to go.