La Mesa, California Income Statistics
La Mesa Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
La Mesa Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | La Mesa | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $95,096 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $69,462 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.4% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 19.2% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 14.0% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in La Mesa is about 4% lower than in California. Income has been growing faster in La Mesa (6.4%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 19% of adults in La Mesa earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in La Mesa, California grew by 82.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $95,096 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in La Mesa
| Metric | La Mesa | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.516 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $84,846 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $70,142 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.3% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In La Mesa, it is 0.516, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in La Mesa, California. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $514,640 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in La Mesa, California has widened from about 14% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2013, and was narrowest at 5% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,269 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in La Mesa widened by 3.8 points while California's narrowed by 4.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | La Mesa | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 17.6% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 2,024 people are unemployed in La Mesa, California.
The average commute time in La Mesa is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in La Mesa, California has fallen from 9.0% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.9% in 2013.
La Mesa, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
La Mesa, CA is the 2nd largest of the 5 cities compared here, 61,731 residents against a local median of 31,400. Nothing separates La Mesa, CA sharply from the cities around it. Each measure below lands within 15% of the local median, close enough that the differences are within what survey sampling alone would produce.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 15% above the local median at 6.4%/yr against 5.6%/yr. La Mesa, CA has the 2nd highest income growth of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa, CA | 61,731 | $95,096 #3/5 | 6.4%/yr #2/5 | 5.9% #3/5 | 0.516 #1/5 |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 28,050 | $89,238 | 5.4%/yr | 5.9% | 0.529 |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA | 22,051 | $125,144 | 6.8%/yr | 4.7% | 0.534 |
| La Presa, CA | 34,750 | $96,192 | 5.8%/yr | 7.5% | 0.559 |
| El Cajon, CA | 97,437 | $66,977 | 4.8%/yr | 9.8% | 0.586 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, La Mesa, California has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with California, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in La Mesa, California.
How Rich Is La Mesa, California?
La Mesa has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $95,096, about 4% lower than the California average of $99,161.
How has median household income changed in La Mesa, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in La Mesa, California rose 82%, from $52,178 to $95,096. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +82% against +64%.
What was the median household income in La Mesa in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in La Mesa, California was $86,491, up 3% from $83,785 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in La Mesa in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in La Mesa, California was $70,217. By 2024 it had risen 35% to $95,096.
What is the Gini coefficient in La Mesa, California?
The Gini coefficient in La Mesa is 0.516. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in La Mesa, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in La Mesa, California has widened from about 14% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 20% in 2013, and was narrowest at 5% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,269 since 2009.
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