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CA area data

La Mesa, CA

Aggregated across 2 ZIP codes in La Mesa.

Population: 74,642 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in La Mesa, CA is $915,698 — up 1.9% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $966,500 after a median 23 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,623/month. 15 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very High, with inland flooding, wildfire, earthquake the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.7% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$915,698

Typical home value

+1.9%

1-year change

23

Median days on market

Very High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$915,698
1-year appreciation
+1.9%
3-year appreciation
+8.1%
5-year appreciation
+22.6%
10-year appreciation
+85.8%
Peak value since 2000 (Feb 2025)
$922,633
House Price Index (state)
423.4 (-0.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$966,500
Median list price
$970,000
Median price per sqft
$555
1-year sale-price change
+4.2%
Median days on market
23 days
Homes sold (recent period)
162
For-sale inventory
181
Sale-to-list ratio
100.0%
Active listings
114
1-year forecast
+1.4%
Days to pending
36 days
New listings (monthly)
66

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,623/mo
1-year rent change
+0.9%
Studio fair-market rent
$2,192/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$2,335/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,823/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$3,743/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$4,526/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
110.7 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
15
Elementary schools
10
Middle schools
2
High schools
1
Charter schools
4
Avg student-teacher ratio
22.3 : 1
School districts serving the area
Helix High District, The Learning Choice Academy - East County District, Cajon Valley Union
Schools include
Helix High, The Learning Choice Academy - East County, Avocado Elementary, La Mesa Dale Elementary, Lemon Avenue Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very High
Top hazards (county)
inland flooding, wildfire, earthquake, heat wave, landslide
Notable hazard ratings (county)
wildfire: Very High · inland flooding: Very High · heat wave: Relatively High · landslide: Relatively High · earthquake: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Moderate
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims (varies by location)
Zone X
NFIP flood claims on record
42
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 100% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
14.8%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
63.0°F
Average high
73.0°F
Average low
53.0°F
Annual precipitation
13.1 in
Annual snowfall
0.7 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
10b (extreme annual low 35 to 40°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Moderate
Median AQI (annual)
67
Days with Good air quality
64
Days with Moderate air quality
268
Days with Unhealthy air quality
7
Highest AQI recorded (year)
161

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
14.1 / 20
Transit service frequency
886
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
138,481
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
145,813

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Cabrillo National Monument (15 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
18
Nearest airport
Gillespie Field (SEE) (4 mi)
Nearest major airport
Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field (NKX) (9 mi)
Hospitals in or near a typical ZIP here
12
Hospitals include
PARADISE VALLEY HOSPITAL, UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR, SCRIPPS MERCY HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.5 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
473
Solar radiation rating
Good (5.4 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-9,330 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1970
Housing built before 1970
49.0%
Housing built 2000 or later
7.3%
Median annual property tax
$5,679
Mean commute to work
20 min
Households with broadband internet
83.6%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
1,288,378
Average weekly wage
$1,611
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Professional Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
11,707

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

La MesaState medianUS median
Typical home value$915,698$695,380$288,527
Median sale price$966,500$696,000$325,000
Median days on market23 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$2,623/mo$2,786/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$5,679$4,533$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in La Mesa, CA?
$915,698.
What is the median sale price in La Mesa, CA?
$966,500.
How long do homes take to sell in La Mesa, CA?
Median days on market: 23 days.
What is typical rent in La Mesa, CA?
Typical rent: $2,623/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in La Mesa, CA?
Overall risk: Very High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: inland flooding, wildfire, earthquake, heat wave, landslide.
Is La Mesa, CA in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property across the city. 42 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is X. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in La Mesa, CA?
Risk to homes is higher than 100% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in La Mesa, CA?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near La Mesa, CA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve La Mesa, CA?
15 schools (10 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is La Mesa, CA walkable?
Walkability index: 14.1/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in La Mesa, CA?
Moderate. Median AQI: 67. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in La Mesa, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 110.7 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in La Mesa

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents