Economy, jobs and prices in La Mesa, California: official figures
The median household income in La Mesa was $95,028 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 274th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.
What is the per capita income in La Mesa?
Income per resident (per capita income) in La Mesa averaged $49,543 a year in 2020-2024, 235th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in La Mesa?
La Mesa's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.428 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 253rd least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in La Mesa, California?
6.2% of the civilian labor force in La Mesa was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (2,002 people), 241st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in La Mesa have jobs?
30,406 residents of La Mesa held civilian jobs, 62.5% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 1,283 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in La Mesa?
The largest industry group for working residents of La Mesa was education, health care and social assistance (26.1% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (16.4%) and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (9.3%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in La Mesa work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 6.5% of working residents of La Mesa, 209th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 16.4% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in La Mesa, California?
Commuters in La Mesa took 23.8 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 360th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 4.1% travelled an hour or more and 21.9% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in La Mesa get to work?
17.8% of workers living in La Mesa worked from home in 2020-2024, 265th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 69.9% drove to work alone, 6.8% carpooled, 1.3% used public transport and 2.6% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in La Mesa, California?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in La Mesa was $2,049 a month in 2020-2024, 147th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in La Mesa?
Owner-occupied homes in La Mesa had a median value of $812,000 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 89th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in La Mesa?
The median home value in La Mesa was 8.5 times the median household income, 55th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in La Mesa have no internet?
4.5% of households in La Mesa (1,124) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 371st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 8.7% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow La Mesa compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 274 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 271 | Anaheim | $95,227 |
| 272 | Bonita Springs | $95,210 |
| 273 | Georgetown | $95,062 |
| 274 | La Mesa | $95,028 |
| 275 | Vista | $94,975 |
| 276 | Denver | $94,718 |
| 277 | Missouri City | $94,390 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 235 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 232 | Santee | $49,612 |
| 233 | St. Charles | $49,608 |
| 234 | Urban Honolulu | $49,569 |
| 235 | La Mesa | $49,543 |
| 236 | Madison | $49,425 |
| 237 | Wilmington | $49,405 |
| 238 | Longmont | $49,333 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 571 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 568 | Watsonville | 0.428 |
| 569 | Gresham | 0.428 |
| 570 | Hanford | 0.428 |
| 571 | La Mesa | 0.428 |
| 572 | Sandy | 0.428 |
| 573 | Rock Hill | 0.428 |
| 574 | Palatine | 0.428 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 241 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 238 | Evanston | 6.2% |
| 239 | San Antonio | 6.2% |
| 240 | Highland | 6.2% |
| 241 | La Mesa | 6.2% |
| 242 | Kokomo | 6.2% |
| 243 | Brownsville | 6.2% |
| 244 | Tucson | 6.2% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 198 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 195 | Greenville | 69.2% |
| 196 | Plano | 69.2% |
| 197 | Revere | 69.2% |
| 198 | La Mesa | 69.2% |
| 199 | Greenwood | 69.2% |
| 200 | Cary | 69.1% |
| 201 | Ogden | 69.1% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 464 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 461 | Kirkland | 23.9 |
| 462 | Napa | 23.9 |
| 463 | Manchester | 23.9 |
| 464 | La Mesa | 23.8 |
| 465 | Royal Oak | 23.8 |
| 466 | Camden | 23.8 |
| 467 | Bristol | 23.7 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 265 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 262 | Stonecrest | 18.0% |
| 263 | Euless | 17.9% |
| 264 | Plantation | 17.8% |
| 265 | La Mesa | 17.8% |
| 266 | Baltimore | 17.8% |
| 267 | South Fulton | 17.7% |
| 268 | Orange | 17.7% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 367 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 364 | Carson City | 1.3% |
| 365 | Springfield | 1.3% |
| 366 | Mableton | 1.3% |
| 367 | La Mesa | 1.3% |
| 368 | Glendale | 1.3% |
| 369 | Santa Rosa | 1.3% |
| 370 | Joliet | 1.3% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 615 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 612 | Upland | 6.6% |
| 613 | Medford | 6.5% |
| 614 | Norwalk | 6.5% |
| 615 | La Mesa | 6.5% |
| 616 | Redmond | 6.5% |
| 617 | Charleston | 6.5% |
| 618 | Gulfport | 6.5% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 188 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 185 | San Luis Obispo | 26.1% |
| 186 | Mission | 26.1% |
| 187 | Brentwood | 26.1% |
| 188 | La Mesa | 26.1% |
| 189 | Murrieta | 26.1% |
| 190 | Lee's Summit | 26.1% |
| 191 | Alhambra | 26.0% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 147 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 144 | Davie | $2,066 |
| 145 | Manteca | $2,065 |
| 146 | Gaithersburg | $2,058 |
| 147 | La Mesa | $2,049 |
| 148 | Pembroke Pines | $2,046 |
| 149 | Escondido | $2,046 |
| 150 | Boynton Beach | $2,041 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 89 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 86 | Simi Valley | $823,800 |
| 87 | Whittier | $822,600 |
| 88 | Garden Grove | $814,100 |
| 89 | La Mesa | $812,000 |
| 90 | Shoreline | $811,100 |
| 91 | Long Beach | $806,600 |
| 92 | Concord | $797,600 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 53 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Irvine | 8.7x |
| 51 | South San Francisco | 8.7x |
| 52 | Fullerton | 8.7x |
| 53 | La Mesa | 8.5x |
| 54 | South Gate | 8.5x |
| 55 | Redondo Beach | 8.5x |
| 56 | Laguna Niguel | 8.5x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 658 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 655 | Lynwood | 47.8% |
| 656 | Baton Rouge | 47.8% |
| 657 | Minneapolis | 47.7% |
| 658 | La Mesa | 47.7% |
| 659 | Pittsburgh | 47.7% |
| 660 | Wilmington | 47.6% |
| 661 | Baltimore | 47.5% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 335 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 332 | Southaven | 93.5% |
| 333 | Westminster | 93.5% |
| 334 | Manteca | 93.5% |
| 335 | La Mesa | 93.5% |
| 336 | San Leandro | 93.4% |
| 337 | Jurupa Valley | 93.4% |
| 338 | Citrus Heights | 93.4% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 453 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 450 | Charlotte | 4.5% |
| 451 | Orland Park | 4.5% |
| 452 | Marietta | 4.5% |
| 453 | La Mesa | 4.5% |
| 454 | Conway | 4.5% |
| 455 | Salt Lake City | 4.5% |
| 456 | Jurupa Valley | 4.5% |
More on La Mesa: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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