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La Mesa, CA

Full City Profile · California · San Diego County County

2.8 /5.0
C+ Fair
60,835 Population 6,693/sq mi density
$84,337 Median Income $46,783 per capita
$738,800 Home Value $880,413 Zillow
$1,958 Median Rent 36.2% income on rent
64°F Avg Temperature 330 sunny days/yr
291 Violent Crime/100K 1,670 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.8 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.3 / 5.0
$84,337 median income, 4.2% unemployment
D
Affordability
1.7 / 5.0
$738,800 home value, $1,958/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
291 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.1 / 5.0
38.4% bachelor's degree or higher
La Mesa enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winters average 57°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 11.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.

Temperature

57°F Jan (14°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average64.1°F
19% above US avg
January Average57°F (14°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation535 ft (163 m)
Area9.1 sq mi (23.6 km²)
Population Density6,693/sq mi
Coordinates32.7695°N, 117.0219°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountySan Diego County County
Nearest AirportSan Diego International (SAN)
10 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 11.0"
71% below US avg
Wettest Month (Mar) 2.40"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.04"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0453 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)13.7 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.07 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.50 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.4 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery High
Risk Score99.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability24.8 / 100
Community Resilience8.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Very High
Flood Very High
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively High
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Very Low
Landslide Relatively High
Coastal Flood Relatively Moderate
Tsunami Relatively Low
Volcano Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

8,242 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M6.1. Most recent: M2.8 on Aug 28, 2025.

Apr 23, 1992 The 1992 Joshua Tree, California Earthquake M6.1 148 km
Jun 15, 2010 8km ESE of Ocotillo, CA M5.7 104 km
Jul 7, 2010 20km NNW of Borrego Springs, CA M5.4 88 km
Aug 26, 2012 4km NNW of Brawley, CA M5.4 141 km
Aug 26, 2012 5km NNW of Brawley, CA M5.3 140 km
Mar 23, 1994 35km E of Maneadero, B.C., MX M5.3 139 km
Apr 4, 2010 15km SSW of Progreso, B.C., MX M5.3 135 km
Jun 5, 2021 11km W of Calipatria, CA M5.3 136 km
Apr 14, 2025 5 km S of Julian, CA M5.2 50 km
Jun 12, 2005 10km ESE of Anza, CA M5.2 95 km
Jun 10, 2016 20km NNW of Borrego Springs, CA M5.2 91 km
Oct 31, 2001 16km ESE of Anza, CA M5.0 95 km
Jun 30, 1992 14km ENE of Desert Hot Springs, CA M5.0 150 km
Jun 15, 2004 67km SE of San Clemente Is. (SE tip), CA M5.0 96 km
May 4, 1992 16km NNE of Thousand Palms, California M5.0 146 km
May 18, 1992 15km E of Desert Hot Springs, California M5.0 146 km
Apr 5, 2010 20km ESE of Ocotillo, CA M5.0 115 km
Jul 24, 1992 13km NE of Thousand Palms, California M5.0 143 km
Aug 27, 2012 5km NNE of Brawley, CA M4.9 143 km
Apr 5, 2010 19km ESE of Ocotillo, CA M4.9 114 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

30 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF1. Total: 4 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Feb 19, 2005 EF1 80 km 0
Nov 10, 2000 EF1 20 km 0
Jan 29, 1998 EF1 41 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF1 45 km 0
Mar 19, 1991 EF1 8 km 0
Feb 20, 1980 EF1 17 km 0
Dec 18, 1978 EF1 58 km 0
Oct 8, 1961 EF1 54 km 0
Apr 13, 1956 EF1 16 km 0
Aug 16, 2018 EF0 94 km 0
Sep 22, 2007 EF0 37 km 0
Mar 11, 2006 EF0 38 km 0
Mar 10, 2006 EF0 41 km 0
Feb 23, 2005 EF0 16 km 0
Feb 19, 2005 EF0 73 km 0
Feb 19, 2005 EF0 69 km 0
Oct 17, 2004 EF0 58 km 0
Jul 12, 1999 EF0 61 km 0
Feb 8, 1998 EF0 38 km 0
May 20, 1997 EF0 88 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.2 m (4 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1862 S. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 1.2 m 18 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Salton Buttes (140 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Salton Buttes Lava dome(s) -40 m (-131 ft) 210 140 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: CEDAR (268,362 ac, 2003).

Year Name Acres Distance
2003 CEDAR 268,362 30 km
2007 WITCH 167,551 42 km
2007 HARRIS 90,443 27 km
2002 PINES 65,407 59 km
2003 PARADISE 55,995 49 km
2007 POOMACHA 47,496 60 km
2003 MINE/OTAY 37,232 23 km
2008 YELLOW 33,232 80 km
2020 INDIA 24,193 80 km
1993 CALIFORNIA 23,899 96 km
2003 COYOTE 19,215 80 km
2007 AMMO FIRE 19,213 76 km
1993 GUEJITO 17,141 40 km
2006 HORSE 16,659 38 km
2020 VALLEY 16,517 31 km
1986 UNNAMED 16,390 84 km
1989 VAIL 15,632 73 km
2014 PULGAS 14,937 70 km
2011 EAGLE 14,743 79 km
1989 MATEO 13,280 92 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 57°F (14°C) 2.3 in Coldest
February 58°F (15°C) 2.2 in
March 59°F (15°C) 2.4 in Wettest
April 62°F (17°C) 0.9 in
May 65°F (18°C) 0.2 in
June 68°F (20°C) 0.1 in
July 72°F (22°C) 0.0 in Driest
August 74°F (23°C) 0.1 in Warmest
September 72°F (22°C) 0.2 in
October 68°F (20°C) 0.4 in
November 62°F (17°C) 1.3 in
December 57°F (14°C) 1.5 in

La Mesa has a seasonal temperature swing of 17°F / from 57°F in January to 74°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 11.9 inches, with March being the wettest month (2.4") and July the driest (0.0").

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