La Mesa is home to 60,797 people in California. The typical home is worth $812,000, having more than tripled since 2000. That puts it in the top 9% of US cities for household income. Owners hold 48% of the housing stock. There are 6,687 people per square mile. Median rent is $2,049 a month.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $95,028, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 131%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about La Mesa
What changed most since 1990
White share84.0% → 50.8%(−33.3 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Hispanic share10.0% → 27.9%(+17.9 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$393,131 → $812,000(+107%)US over the same years: +67%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)48.9%(2,113)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)26.2%(1,134)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era19.8%(855)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.2%(139)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II3%(128)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 4,323 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
La Mesa, decade by decade
La Mesa population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
52,931
$74,813
$393,131
24.3%
35.3
2000
54,749
$75,950
$351,215
27.6%
54.1
2010
57,065
$76,146
$628,655
32.8%
70.5
2020
61,121
$86,403
$684,681
37.1%
79.6
2024
60,797
$95,028
$812,000
40.6%
81.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
