Living in La Mesa, CA
Suburb in California
La Mesa is a suburb in California, home to about 61,000 people, with 2.8 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is La Mesa a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 13 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: SAN is 10 mi away
- Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
- Low natural disaster risk: 11 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Few dog parks: 28 within 9 mi
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $888k, and rent is $4,000 a month
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.67% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how La Mesa ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in La Mesa: common questions
What is the cost of living in La Mesa?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $888k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $4,000 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 112, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in La Mesa?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.67% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is La Mesa safe?
Violent crime is close to the national rate (0.8× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in La Mesa?
La Mesa is warm all year: winter days average around 69°F and summer days around 85°F.
Does La Mesa get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.18 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to La Mesa?
The nearest major airport is SAN, about 10 mi away.
How La Mesa scores
Each bar compares La Mesa with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is La Mesa right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.