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La Mesa, CA
City in San Diego County, California. ZIP codes: 91941, 91942.
Population
60,797
Land area
9.1sq mi
People per sq mi
6,687
ZIP codes
2
La Mesa and its ZIP codes
La Mesa at a glance
- La Mesa is about 27 times as dense as California as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 152nd among 1,570 cities and towns in California.
- The median household income is $95,028, 4% below the California median of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $812,000 (11% above California) and median rent is $2,049 a month.
Local data for La Mesa, CA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes9
- Schools19
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks12
- Post Offices3
- Parks22
- Grocery Stores18
- Restaurants221
- Affordable Housing2
- Home Health Agencies5
- Hospice Care2
- Dialysis Centers1
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers4
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment4
- Private Schools6
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
Housing and community stats
La Mesa, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$95,028
Poverty rate
11.5%
Median home value
$812,000
Median rent
$2,049/mo
Homeownership
47.7%
Bachelor's or higher
40.6%
Median age
37.4
Average commute
23.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (12,851), Irish Americans (6,651), German Americans (5,765).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for San Diego County. PPP loans are for La Mesa.
Unemployment rate
4.9%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$85,402
1,535,067 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$84,312
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$35.8B
FY 2026, $10,862 per person
PPP loans
$112M
1,731 loans, 14,971 jobs reported
How people get to work
La Mesa, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone69.9%
- Carpooled6.8%
- Public transit1.3%
- Walked2.6%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.5%
- Worked from home17.8%
Average one-way commute: 23.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
La Mesa, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very High
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
2,698
Countywide, mostly high wind
Flood insurance policies
6,088
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 43°F
11.6 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in La Mesa, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
26.3%
U.S. 33.3% -7.0 pts
Diabetes
9.4%
U.S. 12.1% -2.7 pts
Smoking
10.4%
U.S. 12.8% -2.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.2%
U.S. 11.1% -3.9 pts
ZIP codes in La Mesa
2 in or overlapping La Mesa. Population shown
Cities near La Mesa
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon GroveCity | 2.7 mi | 3.9 |
| Casa de Oro-Mount HelixCensus-designated place | 3.1 mi | 6.9 |
| Spring ValleyCensus-designated place | 4 mi | 7.3 |
| El CajonCity | 4.4 mi | 14.5 |
| La PresaCensus-designated place | 4.5 mi | 5.5 |
| Rancho San DiegoCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 8.7 |
| BostoniaCensus-designated place | 6 mi | 1.9 |
| SanteeCity | 6.5 mi | 16.5 |
| Granite HillsCensus-designated place | 6.8 mi | 2.8 |
| Winter GardensCensus-designated place | 7.1 mi | 4.4 |
| BonitaCensus-designated place | 7.2 mi | 5 |
| San DiegoCity | 8.6 mi | 326.1 |
| Eucalyptus HillsCensus-designated place | 8.9 mi | 4.8 |
| CrestCensus-designated place | 8.9 mi | 6.5 |
| LakesideCensus-designated place | 9 mi | 6.9 |
| JamulCensus-designated place | 9.5 mi | 16.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is La Mesa, CA in?
- La Mesa is in San Diego County, California.
- What ZIP codes are in La Mesa, CA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping La Mesa include 91941, 91942.
- What is the population of La Mesa, CA?
- About 60,797 people live in La Mesa, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near La Mesa?
- Nearby places include Lemon Grove (2.7 mi), Casa de Oro-Mount Helix (3.1 mi), Spring Valley (4 mi), El Cajon (4.4 mi), La Presa (4.5 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023