Map the Block › Places › California › La Mesa
La Mesa, California by the numbers
The violent-crime rate in La Mesa was 4.0 per 1,000 residents in 2025, close to the statewide rate (4.3). The median household income is $95,028 and the median home value is $812,000. Population: about 60,797 (Census, 2020-2024).
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income by neighborhood · home values · schools
What is the crime rate in La Mesa?
La Mesa's violent-crime rate for 2025 was 4.0 per 1,000 residents, based on 241 offenses reported to the FBI. It stands at close to the California rate (4.3); the U.S. figure is 3.3. The department recorded 1 murder. There were also 813 property crimes, a rate of 13.4 per 1,000. Violent crimes rose 32% between 2021 and 2025 (183 to 241).
| Offense (2025) | La Mesa count | Per 1,000 | California per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 241 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Rape | 15 | 0.25 | 0.33 | 0.36 |
| Robbery | 44 | 0.73 | 0.95 | 0.49 |
| Aggravated assault | 181 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.4 |
| Property crime | 813 | 13.4 | 17.9 | 15.3 |
| Burglary | 126 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 1.9 |
| Larceny-theft | 573 | 9.4 | 12.0 | 11.4 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 114 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 2.0 |
How has crime in La Mesa changed since 2021?
| Year | Violent crimes | Property crimes | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 183 | 1,166 | 2 |
| 2022 | 187 | 1,261 | 1 |
| 2023 | 230 | 1,003 | 2 |
| 2024 | 254 | 832 | 4 |
| 2025 | 241 | 813 | 1 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. City figures are the La Mesa Police Department's own reports.
How does La Mesa compare with California?
La Mesa's median household earns $95,028 a year, close to the state figure ($99,122). The median owner-occupied home is worth $812,000 by owners' estimates, and half of renters pay more than $2,049 a month. About 60,797 people live on 9 square miles of land, roughly 6,687 per square mile. The city lies in San Diego County.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | La Mesa | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 60,797 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $95,028 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $812,000 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $2,049 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 6.2% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 11.5% | 12.0% | 12.5% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 40.6% | 37.1% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 47.7% | 55.9% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 37.4 | 37.9 | 38.9 |
What environmental sites and hazards are in La Mesa?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, San Diego County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Very High”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are wildfire (Very High), river flooding (Very High), heat waves (Relatively High) and earthquakes (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Is there road construction in La Mesa?
No highway work zones were listed in La Mesa city limits in the October 11, 2026 state feed. Some states publish only part of their road work in open feeds, so check the state's 511 site before you travel. The map's layer refreshes every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in or near La Mesa?
Federal school lists place 13 public and 6 private schools within La Mesa. 9 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes are in the city. Within about 15 miles: National Park Service sites here: Cabrillo National Monument. 3 state parks or recreation areas: Border Field State Park, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and Silver Strand State Beach.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in La Mesa
Gun shops
2 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map inside the La Mesa city limits (1 from the ATF licensee list, 1 from OpenStreetMap). On the ATF list: Fine Firearms (La Mesa).
Liquor stores
14 liquor stores are on the map inside the La Mesa city limits: 5 Star Market & Liquor (La Mesa), 7 Q Liquor (La Mesa), A & W Liquor (La Mesa), Bevmo (La Mesa), Bottle Rack Liquor (La Mesa), Eastridge Liquor (La Mesa), Excalibur Liquor (La Mesa), La Mesa Wine & Spirits (La Mesa) and 6 more.
Planned Parenthood
There is no Planned Parenthood health center inside the La Mesa city limits on the map.
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in La Mesa?
In 2025, La Mesa had 4.0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (241 reported), close to the California rate (4.3). The property-crime rate was 13.4 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in La Mesa?
$95,028 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024), compared with $99,122 for California.
How much do homes cost in La Mesa?
The median value of owner-occupied homes is $812,000 (Census ACS 2020-2024), against $734,700 statewide.
What natural hazards affect La Mesa?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, San Diego County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Very High”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are wildfire (Very High), river flooding (Very High), heat waves (Relatively High) and earthquakes (Relatively High).
Nearby cities
El Cajon, CA (4 mi) · Santee, CA (6 mi) · San Diego, CA (7 mi) · National City, CA (8 mi) · Chula Vista, CA (10 mi) · Encinitas, CA (24 mi)
More: California statewide numbers · county page: San Diego County · Sex-offender registry search (NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, agency counts 2021-2025 (Return A); state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables, for the Census place La Mesa city.
- Land area: Census 2024 Gazetteer. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores (county level).
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026).
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026).
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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