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Welcome to La Mesa San Diego neighborhood
Good To Know Facts about La Mesa:
- City Area – 9 square miles
- City Slogan – Jewel of The Hills City Tree – Plum
- City Flower – Bougainvillea
Located just 9 miles east of San Diego, Downtown is La Mesa – The Jewel of The Hills. This quiet yet sprawling suburb offers you the best of both worlds – the peaceful charm of a South California suburb and the comforts and luxury of an urban lifestyle.
La Mesa – which translates to ‘the table’ in Spanish, is located in the foothills of San Diego County. La Mesa is an excellent place to work and live with comfortable weather throughout the year. According to the official estimates, the city has a population of just over 60000 (as of July 2021).
History of La Mesa
Part of the Spanish colonization of 1769, the region now known as La Mesa was originally a part of the Mission San Diego de Alcala. Known for its natural springs and vast grazing lands, La Mesa used to be called Allison Springs after stockman Robert Allison bought it in 1869. The City of La Mesa was incorporated in 1912 with a population of about 700.
Despite the Wars, the city of La Mesa saw sharp economic growth in the next few decades. By the 1960s, La Mesa had a population of over 30000, with several schools, hospitals, theaters, and a host of businesses.
La Mesa - an ideal place for young families and retired couples
La Mesa has a wide range of activities, entertainment, and community programs, making it perfect for young families and retired couples to own a property. There were over 23.000 households in La Mesa, according to the 2020 census, and the number has been rising.
It’s a great place to raise a family. La Mesa has a highly-rated school system with nearly two dozen elementary, middle, and high schools. There are plenty of community classes for all ages – ranging from martial arts and tennis to theater and tap dancing!
For those who want to take it easy, ‘The Jewel of The Hills’ has several Urban Trails and City Walks tucked along its tree-lined neighborhoods.
The city also has special programs in the community to support senior adults and disabled veterans. The much anticipated Livable La Mesa project through the World Health Organization aims to make La Mesa ‘a community for all ages.
La Mesa jobs city
Although San Diego is hardly a 15-minute drive, La Mesa itself has a growing job market in various sectors. The health care and education sectors are the primary employers, with a median household income of over USD 71000 (in 2020).
Transport
There is a donation-based RIDES 4 NEIGHBORS program to provide door-to-door services for the elderly and those who cannot drive.
Crime prevention and safety in La Mesa
The La Mesa Police Department and several other organizations have introduced and implemented several programs over the years to actively reduce crime rates in the city and better protect its residents and visitors. The city also has three fire stations.
La Mesa has been ranked as one of the top 10 best neighborhoods to live in San Diego. La Mesa is considered safer to live in compared to California’s average safety score.
Entertainment, Recreation, and Cultural Activities
There is no shortage of entertainment and recreation in La Mesa. People of all ages can be seen at the Farmers’ Market in La Mesa Village every Friday. The same venue is also famous for the annual ‘Classic Car Show’ and the most significant event in the city – the 3-day long Oktoberfest.
Free events like the summer concert series Christmas and the Antique Street Fair are also popular with the residents and visitors alike.
Over a dozen parks in La Mesa offer plenty of greenery and an escape from the daily grind. The more adventurous can head to the Windsor Hills area to check out the Secret Stairs – sets of public stairways that will tickle your abilities to handle a steep ascent.
Other popular hiking spots include Mount Helix and Lake Murray. Those who are looking for some wilderness can hike to the neighboring Mission Trails Regional Park.
Those who want to escape the heat can head to the La Mesa Branch Library and bookstore on Allison Avenue, one of the top circulating libraries in San Diego County.
California without wine is simply incomplete. The San Pasqual Winery and Tasting Room is right at the city’s heart, offering wine lovers a taste of their most delectable wines.
Nightlife – Other than the annual events, La Mesa, is home to several clubs, bars, and bowling alleys sprinkled throughout the city. Of course, for those who want a taste of the big city – a mere 15-minute drive takes one to Gaslamp Quarter, the heart of San Diego nightlife.
Shopping and Dining in La Mesa
‘The Jewel of The Hills’ gives you ample opportunities for shopping. There are several shopping districts, mostly along La Mesa Blvd. Some popular shopping spots include the La Mesa Antique Mall, the Fusionglass Company, and Collectiquity.
The neighborhood also offers a wide variety of cuisines, ranging from classic American to Mexican and even Italian, Thai, and Indian, to name a few. La Mesa has everything from pocket-friendly food joints to fine dining restaurants.
Benefits of living in La Mesa community
Living in a metropolis suburb has advantages, and La Mesa is no different. With San Diego just 9 miles away, La Mesa residents enjoy all the amenities and luxury of urban life without going through the everyday stress of living in a large city.
Schools, hospitals, medical centers, and grocery stores are all within a very short drive from any part of the city. Traffic in La Mesa, even during peak hours, is easily navigable. A safe and clean environment makes this city ideal for living for people of all ages.
Although La Mesa has a growing job market, one can also easily take the 15-minute public commute to San Diego for work.
La Mesa is cradled in the lap of nature with beautiful hiking trails and lakes in and around the city. The Farmers’ Market brings the freshest produce to its residents from the neighboring regions.
Sports and adventure lovers will fully enjoy life in the La Mesa community. From various community programs that range from swimming to Tai Chi, residents are continuously encouraged to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. The slightly adventurous ones can head to the San Diego beaches, where the waves are ideal for surfing and attract top surfers from across the country.
Even with all these benefits, the cost of living in La Mesa is much lower than in San Diego, which is just 9 miles away.
With so much to offer, searching for houses in La Mesa for sale makes perfect sense. Owning a property in La mesa gives you the best return on your hard-earned money.
Real Estate trends in La Mesa
With the ever-increasing demand for houses in La Mesa for sale, the price has steadily increased in the last few years. While the median price of houses in La Mesa for sale was $500,000 about five years ago, it has already touched the $825,000 mark in 2022. That is over a 60% rise in 5 years.
More than 60% of the homes were sold above the list price.
Buying in La Mesa – Homes in La Mesa have been on the market for just about a month, according to the current trend (July 2022), which means there is an active interest in buyers to acquire property in this city. This also means that those who want to list their home on the market (i.e., sell a property) will not have to wait too long.
The trend clearly shows that buying a property in La Mesa is a wise investment that will surely bring returns in the future, and Dylan Graham Realtor San Diego is there to help you with it.
Houses in La Mesa for sale – Dylan Graham Realty constantly checks the property listings of La Mesa. The trends and data from the market help us give you the most precise picture of the market that would allow you to get the best deal, both in terms of money and time.
According to the HomeLight website, December is the best month for sellers, with earnings of over 6.5% of the yearly average. Usually, the second half of the calendar year has the trend to get the best deal for sellers. Graham Dylan Realty can help you work out the listing time to get the best market offers.
However, if you want to sell your house fast, the middle of the calendar year is the best – between April and June.
… and discover the best houses in La Mesa for sale.
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