The typical owner-occupied home in La Mesa is worth about $206,300, 17% below the New Mexico median of $248,100 and 38% below the national median of $332,700. 77% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 24% of those owners still have a mortgage.
La Mesa at a glance
| La Mesa | New Mexico | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $206,300 | $248,100 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | – | $1,731 | $3,119 |
| Median household income | – | $64,059 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 77% | 70% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 24% | 52% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,063 | $1,564 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.9% | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $570 | $1,067 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 25.8% | 30.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1988 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 48.5% | 12.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 473 | 2,120,246 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in La Mesa
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median La Mesa home of $206,300 with 20% down costs about $1,385 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,729, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $59,370 for the 20%-down payment.
The median rent here is $570 a month, so owning the median home costs about $815 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $41,260 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $165,040 |
| Principal and interest | $1,110 |
| Property taxes (1.10% a year) | $189 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $86 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,385 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $7,220 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $202,563 |
| Principal and interest | $1,363 |
| Property taxes (1.10% a year) | $189 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $86 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $91 |
| Total per month | $1,729 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in La Mesa
What is the median home value in La Mesa?
About $206,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
What income do you need to buy a home in La Mesa?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,385 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $59,370 a year.
More about La Mesa
- Mortgage Refinance in La Mesa
- Debt Relief in La Mesa
- Home Equity Loans in La Mesa
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data