Desert Uplands
Neighborhood in Mesa, Arizona
Maricopa County 85207
Custom homes and gated communities in the Mesa desert
Desert Uplands comprises custom-built homes on private acreage and many gated communities, including Mountain Bridge and Thunder Mountain. Houses are spread across winding, narrow roads lined with cacti, and mountain views as a constant backdrop. Ranch-style, Spanish Revival, Mediterranean and Pueblo-style are the most common types of architecture. Ranch-style family homes sell for $400,000 to $500,000, and detached villas are $500,000 to $670,000. Most other houses in gated communities are $700,000 to $1 million, while a custom home can be $1 million to $3 million. Desert Uplands also has a low CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, compared to the national average score of 4.Usery Mountain, Salt River and Red Mountain District Park have countless outdoor activities
Desert Uplands juts up against Usery Mountain Regional Park, where over 29 miles of hiking trails stretch through the Usery Mountains and into the Superstition Mountains. The park also has archery ranges, campsites and equestrian routes. Usery Mountain hiking trails connect to the Lower Salt River, a popular spot for paddleboarding, fishing and bird-watching. “Those outdoor activities, that outdoor lifestyle, that’s where Mesa truly shines,” says Kelly Cook, a Realtor and team lead with Cook and Associates, who has lived in Arizona for over 20 years. “You have the Salt River you can float down, because who says you can’t have water activities in the desert? You can hike and bike in the mountains, and Usery Mountain is a great place to spend a day exploring.” On the opposite side of the mountains, Red Mountain District Park has over 1,100 acres of green space in the middle of the desert. The park, which surrounds Red Mountain Freeway, has an indoor recreation center, a softball and baseball complex, a dozen soccer fields, and a ring of ramadas around a lake. Half a dozen public and private golf clubs are within 6 miles of Desert Uplands, including Las Sendas, Mawson Creek and Longbow.Dual credits at top-rated Red Mountain High School
Local schools include Las Sendas Elementary, Zaharis Elementary and Fremont Junior High, which all have A-minus scores on Niche. Red Mountain High School has an A rating and offers dual credits in English, math, science and social studies at Mesa Community College on the opposite side of the city. "Red Mountain is one of Mesa’s largest high schools. It’s a whole complex with a stadium, it’s top-rated and right next to Red Mountain Park,” Cook says.Camping and Wild West attractions at Lost Dutchman State Park
Lost Dutchman State Park borders the Superstition Mountains on Apache Trail and brings the Old West to life. The park has hiking trails and over 100 campsites among rock formations and native plant gardens. The Lost Dutchman Museum has exhibits with model trains, memorabilia from Western films and century-old mining equipment. Goldfield Ghost Town, right across the street, has a historic Main Street, gold mine tours and dramatic reenactments.Red Mountain Freeway connects to Mesa and Phoenix
Desert Uplands is on the far east side of Mesa, putting it 16 miles from downtown and 29 miles from Phoenix. Red Mountain Freeway, also called State Highway 202, connects Desert Uplands to the rest of the city. Valley Metro has bus routes between Mesa and Phoenix, and daily westbound routes travel on University Drive, Main Street and Broadway Road.Shopping on Red Mountain Freeway and restaurants on Main Street
While Desert Uplands has the scenery of the rural mountains, it is still close to shopping and dining in the rest of Mesa. Shopping centers like Ridgeview Plaza and Red Mountain Gateway line Red Mountain Freeway and have grocery stores, including Safeway, retail shops with furniture and craft supplies, and restaurants like Sunnyside Breakfast Lounge and What’s Crackin Café. Boulder Mountain Community Church, Generation Church and Red Mountain Community Church also surround the freeway. Main Street, which intersects with Red Mountain Freeway, has more local restaurants, such as Mexican and Latin eateries like Asi Es Mi Tierra and homestyle American diners like Mikey's Family Restaurant and Two Seasons Café.

Agents Specializing in this Area
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Kimberley Couturier
My Home Group Real Estate
(623) 246-4178
31 Total Sales
1 in Desert Uplands
$649,000 Price
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Karen Pokorney
Realty Executives
(888) 828-5237
118 Total Sales
1 in Desert Uplands
$470,000 Price
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Darren Tackett
Responds QuicklyeXp Realty
(623) 349-4978
284 Total Sales
1 in Desert Uplands
$175,000 Price
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John Karadsheh
KOR Properties
(623) 323-1411
121 Total Sales
7 in Desert Uplands
$1.1M - $3.3M Price Range
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Elizabeth Hammer
Realty ONE Group
(888) 521-7129
95 Total Sales
1 in Desert Uplands
$835,000 Price
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Christine Anthony
Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty
(480) 470-8741
83 Total Sales
3 in Desert Uplands
$168K - $1.9M Price Range
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Desert Uplands | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 2 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
Robbery | 1 | 4 |
Burglary | 2 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 | 4 |
Larceny | 1 | 4 |
Crime Score | 1 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Desert Uplands Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Desert Uplands, Mesa sell after 72 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Desert Uplands, Mesa over the last 12 months is $922,500, down 12% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods

Northern Mesa community housing the popular Red Mountain Ranch Country Club

Arizona suburb featuring ample recreation and proximity to nearby cities

Community at the base of the Usery Mountains, 32 miles from Downtown Phoenix

Age-restricted community of 55-plus in Mesa with numerous amenities

East Mesa suburb with compact and expansive homes close to the mountains

55+ recreation oasis close to Phoenix metro area