La Mesa, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 60,797 Household income: $95,028 Rent: $2,049

Overview

Total population

60,797

Rent

$2,049

Year built

1971

Household income

$95,028

Per capita income

$49,543

Poverty rate

11.5%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

58.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

60,797

Adults over 25

43,389

Total households

25,038

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$95,028

Per capita income

$49,543

Poverty rate

11.5%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

58.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,049

Year built

1971

Households that rent

52.3%

Households that own

47.7%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

56%

Black

8.2%

Asian

6.3%

Two or more races

21.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

27.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

72.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

82.2%

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

17.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

30.6%

High school graduate or GED

16.4%

Some college or associate degree

12.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

40.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of La Mesa, CA with: California United States

La Mesa, CA

Total population60,797

Rent$2,049

Year built1971

Household income$95,028

Per capita income$49,543

Poverty rate11.5%

Unemployment rate4.1%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityLa Mesa, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	60,797	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$2,049	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1971	1976	1980
Household income	$95,028	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$49,543	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	11.5%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of La Mesa, CA, California and United States →

Summary for La Mesa, CA

La Mesa is located in California.

Rent & Income

In La Mesa, the typical monthly rent is $2,049 and the typical household income is $95,028. Rent here is similar to California and higher than the U.S., and household income is similar to California and higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 11.5%, which is similar to the California rate and lower than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 52.3% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 58.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 40.6% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.1%, which is lower than California and similar to the national rate.

La Mesa, CA — Rent vs Household Income

La Mesa, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How La Mesa, CA compares in California (180 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,049	79 / 180	from lower rent	$1,148 – $3,501
Household income	$95,028	106 / 180	from higher income	$57,719 – $234,707
Poverty rate	11.5%	108 / 180	from lower poverty	4.1% – 26.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	57 / 180	from lower unemployment	2.9% – 18.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in California with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for La Mesa, CA

Rent

For typical rent levels, La Mesa is ranked 79th out of 180 major areas in California. Statewide values span from $1,148 in Porterville, CA to $3,501 in Cupertino, CA.

Household income

Looking at household income, La Mesa places 106th out of 180 significant areas. Incomes across California range between $57,719 in Hemet, CA and $234,707 in Cupertino, CA.

Poverty rate

La Mesa places 108th out of 180 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 4.1% in Cupertino, CA up to 26.5% in Davis, CA.

Unemployment rate

La Mesa places 57th among 180 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.9% to 18.2%.

💰 Rent in La Mesa, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,049 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in La Mesa, CA

Annual Household Income: $95,028

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in La Mesa, CA

Estimated Rate: 11.5%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in La Mesa, CA

In La Mesa, CA, households that rent: 13,105 (52.3%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	13,105	52.3%
Owner-Occupied	11,933	47.7%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in La Mesa, CA

In La Mesa, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 7,653 (58.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	7,653	58.4%
Other renter households	5,452	41.6%
Total renter households	13,105	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in La Mesa, CA

Less than High School: 13,292 people (30.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 7,113 people (16.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 5,384 people (12.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 17,600 people (40.6%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 43,389

📊 Unemployment Rate in La Mesa, CA

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Pico Rivera, CA60,821 Vineland, NJ60,692 Santa Cruz, CA60,953 San Rafael, CA60,604 Jupiter, FL61,097 Bristol, CT61,129 Corvallis, OR60,424 Meriden, CT60,418 Great Falls, MT60,412 Euless, TX60,373

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.