La Mesa, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | La Mesa | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 61,143 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 6721.6 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.46% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.9 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 25,357 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in La Mesa grew by 14.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 61,561 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
La Mesa has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | La Mesa | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $86,461 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.91% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in La Mesa is about 11% lower than in California.
Housing
| Metric | La Mesa | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $625,412 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,951 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 46.0% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in La Mesa is about 26.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,951 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in La Mesa spend about 45 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 186 hours, about 7.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | La Mesa | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.4 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 44.7 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 186 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,779 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 41,752 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,844 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in La Mesa is 22 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
La Mesa has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | La Mesa | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.3% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.38 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Health
La Mesa has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | La Mesa | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.7 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.2% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 11.5% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about La Mesa, California.
What is the population of La Mesa, California?
The population of La Mesa, California is 61,143, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of La Mesa, California?
The population density of La Mesa, California is 6721.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in La Mesa, California?
The median household income in La Mesa, California is $86,461, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in La Mesa, California?
The median home price in La Mesa, California is $625,412, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in La Mesa, California?
The unemployment rate in La Mesa, California is 6.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.