Life in La Mesa research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in La Mesa over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in La Mesa:
The population in La Mesa is 60,835.
The median home value in La Mesa is $864,315.
The median income in La Mesa is $84,337.
The cost of living in La Mesa is 160 which is 1.6x higher than the national average.
The median rent in La Mesa is $1,958.
The unemployment rate in La Mesa is 6.3%.
The poverty rate in La Mesa is 11.7%.
The average high in La Mesa is 73.0° and the average low is 51.8°.
Crime in La Mesa summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in La Mesa. Key points include:
There were 1,083 total crimes in La Mesa in the last reporting year.
The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in La Mesa is 1,794.5 / 100k people.
The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in La Mesa is 415.9 / 100k people.
The property crime rate per 100,000 people in La Mesa is 1,378.6 / 100k people.
Overall, crime in La Mesa is -15.32% below the national average.
| Statistic | Count Raw |
La Mesa / 100k People |
California / 100k People |
National / 100k People |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crimes Per 100K | 1,083 | 1,794.5 | 2,564.5 | 2,119.2 |
| Violent Crime | 251 | 415.9 | 486.0 | 359.0 |
| Murder | 4 | 6.6 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Robbery | 50 | 82.8 | 119.1 | 61.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 189 | 313.2 | 325.8 | 256.0 |
| Property Crime | 832 | 1,378.6 | 2,078.4 | 1,760.0 |
| Burglary | 133 | 220.4 | 305.8 | 229.0 |
| Larceny | 541 | 896.4 | 1,345.2 | 1,272.0 |
| Car Theft | 158 | 261.8 | 427.5 | 259.0 |
Cost of living in La Mesa summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in La Mesa. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around California. Key points include:
The cost of living in La Mesa is 160 with 100 being average.
The cost of living in La Mesa is 1.6x higher than the national average.
The median home value in La Mesa is $864,315.
The median income in La Mesa is $84,337.
| Living Expense | La Mesa | California | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 160 | 141 | 100 | |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 114 | 112 | 100 | |
| Health | 105 | 110 | 100 | |
| Housing | 264 | 195 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 128 | 125 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 108 | 128 | 100 | |
The average high in La Mesa is 73.0° and the average low is 51.8°.
There are 24.3 days of precipitation each year.
Expect an average of 13.2 inches of precipitation each year with 1.2 inches of snow.
| Stat | La Mesa |
|---|---|
| Average Annual High | 73.0 |
| Average Annual Low | 51.8 |
| Annual Precipitation Days | 24.3 |
| Average Annual Precipitation | 13.2 |
| Average Annual Snowfall | 1.2 |
The crime is relatively low for the region. It is a safe and quiet community.
La Mesa Performing Arts Academy is an excellent school, and has received numerous awards from the state of California. Their music program is excellent.
Helix Charter High School is a college preparatory school, and is the alma mater of football greats Alex Smith and Reggie Bush. Classes are on a block schedule, and students have the ability to cross-enroll at local colleges for graduation credits.
Brew Coffee Spot is a great place to get a cup of coffee. Centifonti's restaurant has a variety of menu items, including draft beer, sweets, and gelato. These items are made fresh daily.
Housing costs are high, but La Mesa is minutes from the ocean.
The current population in La Mesa is 60,835. The population has increased 8.2% from 2010.
| Year | Population | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 60,835 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 60,888 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 61,040 | 1.4% |
| 2020 | 60,208 | 1.1% |
| 2019 | 59,556 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 59,562 | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 59,479 | 0.6% |
| 2016 | 59,125 | 0.5% |
| 2015 | 58,858 | 1.1% |
| 2014 | 58,239 | 1.0% |
| 2013 | 57,681 | 0.9% |
| 2012 | 57,182 | 0.8% |
| 2011 | 56,722 | 0.8% |
| 2010 | 56,250 | - |
51.9% White with 31,550 White residents.
8.1% African American with 4,900 African American residents.
0.0% American Indian with 26 American Indian residents.
6.0% Asian with 3,669 Asian residents.
0.2% Hawaiian with 143 Hawaiian residents.
0.2% Other with 145 Other residents.
5.6% Two Or More with 3,434 Two Or More residents.
27.9% Hispanic with 16,968 Hispanic residents.
| Race | La Mesa | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 51.9% | 34.6% | 58.2% |
| African American | 8.1% | 5.3% | 12.0% |
| American Indian | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Asian | 6.0% | 15.1% | 5.7% |
| Hawaiian | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Two Or More | 5.6% | 4.1% | 3.9% |
| Hispanic | 27.9% | 39.8% | 19.0% |
La Mesa is 52.1% female with 31,665 female residents.
La Mesa is 47.9% male with 29,169 male residents.
| Gender | La Mesa | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 52.1% | 50.0% | 50.5% |
| Male | 47.9% | 50.0% | 49.5% |
3.0% of adults in La Mesa completed < 9th grade.
3.0% of adults in La Mesa completed 9-12th grade.
17.0% of adults in La Mesa completed high school / ged.
27.0% of adults in La Mesa completed some college.
12.0% of adults in La Mesa completed associate's degree.
24.0% of adults in La Mesa completed bachelor's degree.
10.0% of adults in La Mesa completed master's degree.
2.0% of adults in La Mesa completed professional degree.
2.0% of adults in La Mesa completed doctorate degree.
| Education | La Mesa | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 9th Grade | 3.0% | 8.0% | 5.0% |
| 9-12th Grade | 3.0% | 7.0% | 6.0% |
| High School / GED | 17.0% | 20.0% | 26.0% |
| Some College | 27.0% | 20.0% | 19.0% |
| Associate's Degree | 12.0% | 8.0% | 9.0% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 24.0% | 22.0% | 21.0% |
| Master's Degree | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% |
| Professional Degree | 2.0% | 3.0% | 2.0% |
| Doctorate Degree | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
4.8% of households in La Mesa earn Less than $10,000.
2.5% of households in La Mesa earn $10,000 to $14,999.
5.2% of households in La Mesa earn $15,000 to $24,999.
6.7% of households in La Mesa earn $25,000 to $34,999.
7.7% of households in La Mesa earn $35,000 to $49,999.
17.2% of households in La Mesa earn $50,000 to $74,999.
13.0% of households in La Mesa earn $75,000 to $99,999.
19.9% of households in La Mesa earn $100,000 to $149,999.
10.8% of households in La Mesa earn $150,000 to $199,999.
12.3% of households in La Mesa earn $200,000 or more.
| Income | La Mesa | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4.9% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 2.5% | 3.0% | 3.6% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 5.2% | 5.2% | 6.6% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 6.7% | 5.5% | 6.8% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 7.7% | 8.4% | 10.4% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 17.2% | 13.3% | 15.7% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 13.0% | 11.8% | 12.7% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 19.9% | 17.9% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 10.8% | 11.1% | 9.3% |
| $200,000 or more | 12.3% | 19.4% | 12.6% |