City profile
La Mesa, CA
San Diego County · Population 60,797
La Mesa is a city in San Diego County, CA with about 60,797 residents and a typical home value near $812,000. It is 9 miles from San Diego, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
58°F
Summer avg
72°F
Sunny days / yr
263
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$812,000
Typical monthly housing
$4,891
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
151
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Very High · county score 100/100
Top hazards: Wildfire, Riverine flooding, Earthquake
Nearest major airport
10 mi to San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 57% Democratic / 40% Republican
Community
Population
60,797
Black population
8.2%
County
San Diego County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 60,797 residents
- Typical home value about $812,000
- 9 miles from San Diego, CA
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.