Photo: Stickpen · Public domainOn CDC estimates, La Mesa is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns
La Mesa differs from California on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for La Mesa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in La Mesa
Cancer runs high in La Mesa
1 in 13 adults have had cancer (7.8%), vs 6.4% across California. Conditions ↓
La Mesa has a top-rated hospital
Grossmont Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
La Mesa is an active town
Only 19.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. Habits ↓
Nearly everyone in La Mesa is insured
Only 7.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10.6% across California. Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside La Mesa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind La Mesa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Mesa is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, #249 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 93% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 46%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). La Mesa’s median household income is $95,028; among the 9,278 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($71K–$119K), it’s healthier than 81%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 La Mesa adults…
La Mesa runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near La Mesa
1 hospital and 1 community health center in La Mesa, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of La Mesa; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
2.4 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of La Mesa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How La Mesa adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, La Mesa runs above California.
1 in 3 La Mesa adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.8% of La Mesa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
La Mesa and the towns around it
La Mesa’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa | A− | 26.3% | 9.4% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix | A | 25.2% | 10.1% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| San Diego | A | 24.2% | 9.2% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| El Cajon | C+ | 30% | 11.8% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Lemon Grove | B | 28.6% | 11.9% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Spring Valley | B+ | 28% | 10.8% | 11.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of La Mesa adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for La Mesa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, La Mesa is better than California on 8 and worse on 2; on the rest, the California figure falls inside La Mesa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | La Mesa | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.1%16.4–20 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.2%11.1–13.6 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.7–19.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.3%23.2–29.9 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8.4–10.7 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.5%27.2–32 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.1%30.6–36 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.4%19.6–23.5 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.7–10.9 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.2–8.6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.9–5.9 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.8–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.2%8.3–12.2 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.4%9.1–11.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.5%17.3–22.1 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%15–19.5 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%31.1–38 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.2%6.3–8.3 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.4%70.8–76.2 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.6%62.8–68.3 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.3%84.9–87.8 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.6%65.8–71.5 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%60.2–67.7 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%71.4–82.3 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%20.8–25.7 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.6%32.5–39 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.1%24.5–30.1 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14%12.4–15.8 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13%11.6–14.7 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.9–7.6 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.3–9.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.8%12.3–15.6 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.3%24.9–30 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.1%10.9–13.5 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.7–15.6 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.2–5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%7–8.6 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in La Mesa
Is La Mesa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Mesa is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #249 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 81%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in La Mesa?
CDC estimates 26.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.2% and 29.9%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to La Mesa?
Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, 0.7 miles in a straight line from La Mesa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in La Mesa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–8.3%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in La Mesa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in La Mesa.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.