At a Glance
Median Income
$40,694
$19,576 per capita
Home Value
$108,700
Zillow: $283,222
Median Rent
$532/mo
26.4% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
6.1%
61.3% high school+
Unemployment
0.0%
25.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.4%
12.9% 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?
B
3.1 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
La Mesa residents earn a median household income of $40,694 , which is 46% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $19,576. The unemployment rate stands at 0.0% (100% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 25.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 5,817 business establishments, including 357 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in La Mesa is $108,700 , 61% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $283,222. Median rent is $532/month, with 26.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 92.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1982.
Education
6.1% of adults in La Mesa hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(82% below the national average).
61.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
La Mesa has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C).
Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 9.1 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 62.
Data Overview
People
Population548
Median Age63.7 yrs
Density231/mi²
Male / Female60% / 40%
Foreign Born37.6%
Veterans12.2%
Economy
C+
Median Income$40,694
Per Capita$19,576
Unemployment0.0%
Poverty25.8%
County GDP$11,315M
Avg Weekly Wage$961
Housing
A+
Home Value$108,700
Rent$532
Ownership79.7%
Zillow$283,222
Housing Units437
Rent Burden26.4%
Health
Obesity39.4%
Diabetes14.6%
Smoking12.9%
Heart Disease6.0%
Premature Death9,397/100K
Climate
Avg Temp63°F
Rain9.1 in/yr
AQI62 (Moderate)
Elevation3,830 ft
Education
F
Bachelor's+6.1%
High School+61.3%
Graduate+2.7%
School Score4.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 44% / D 54%
Commute23 min
Broadband67.4%
Internet Speed87 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries6
Did You Know?
The median home in La Mesa was built in 1982.
The nearest airport is Las Cruces International (17 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.481 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
33.4% of the population has a disability.
37.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 357 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 26 fatal vehicle crashes.