downtown mesa is shitty. lots of strip malls and wannabe gang bangers. mesa was actually established by mormons, and the police force proves it.
out in east mesa things are more wide open, lots of pretty views and old people. just don't venture too far and end up in apache junction unless you want venereal disease and more wannabe gangbangers, this time they'll be white instead of hispanic though.
ughhhhh.
i like chandler better. tempe is the college town. gilbert is the family town. queen creek is developing rapidly, but when i left it was all hicks and rural mexican families.
my two cents, your mileage may vary.
source: lived in tempe/gilbert/chandler for 10 years.