At a Glance
Median Income
$84,337
$46,783 per capita
Home Value
$738,800
Zillow: $885,051
Median Rent
$1,958/mo
36.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
423/100K
1,390/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
38.4%
94.2% high school+
Unemployment
6.3%
7.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
26.4%
10.5% smoking rate
How La Mesa Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows La Mesa's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is La Mesa a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.7 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
La Mesa residents earn a median household income of $84,337 , which is 12% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $46,783. The unemployment rate stands at 6.3% (75% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 133,031 business establishments, including 8,243 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in La Mesa is $738,800 , 162% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $885,051. Median rent is $1,958/month, with 36.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1969.
Safety & Crime
La Mesa reports 423 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 11% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,390/100K. The murder rate is 6.6/100K.
Education
38.4% of adults in La Mesa hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(14% above the national average).
94.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
La Mesa has an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C).
Winters average 57°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 11.0 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 71.
Data Overview
People
Population60,835
Median Age37.1 yrs
Density6,693/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born14.2%
Veterans8.4%
Economy
B+
Median Income$84,337
Per Capita$46,783
Unemployment6.3%
Poverty7.2%
County GDP$331,868M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,593
Housing
D
Home Value$738,800
Rent$1,958
Ownership46.0%
Zillow$885,051
Housing Units26,150
Rent Burden36.2%
Crime
F
Violent423/100K
Property1,390/100K
Murder6.6/100K
Assault315/100K
Burglary222/100K
Health
Obesity26.4%
Diabetes8.8%
Smoking10.5%
Premature Death5,727/100K
Climate
Avg Temp64°F
Rain11.0 in/yr
AQI71 (Moderate)
Elevation535 ft
Education
A
Bachelor's+38.4%
High School+94.2%
Graduate+13.7%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 40% / D 57%
Commute25 min
Broadband93.0%
Internet Speed138 Mbps
EV Stations13
Libraries88
Did You Know?
The median home in La Mesa was built in 1969.
The nearest airport is San Diego International (10 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.460 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
12.4% of the population has a disability.
14.2% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 138 Mbps.
There are 8,243 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 272 fatal vehicle crashes.
455 declared natural disasters on record.