La Mesa, CA · standard
ZIP Code 91942
San Diego County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 38,069
- 2,506/sq mi High-density area
- $92,896
- Median income Above-median income area
- $775,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 40.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
La Mesa pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 24%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 5%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,506
- people per sq mi
- 46%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 91942 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 91942 (La Mesa, CA) rose +6.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 354.6 in 2023 to 377.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 91942 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in La Mesa, San Diego County, California, with 38,069 residents across 15.2 square miles, a density of 2,506 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 91942 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $92,896 (9% below the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $49,775. The poverty rate is 12.3%, with unemployment at 5.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $775,700 (0% above the average California ZIP) and median rent is $2,032; 45.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 40.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.7, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in San Diego County, so 91942 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 91942
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in La Mesa, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 91942.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
328 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
195 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
191 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
153 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
145 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 91942, La Mesa, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
38,069
Population
15.2
Area (sq mi)
2,506
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 91942?
37.7
Median Age
48.3%
Male
51.7%
Female
14.2%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$92,896
Median Household Income
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$49,775
Per Capita Income
12.3%
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Unemployment Rate
23.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 91942 ranks nationally
La Mesa, CA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$92,896 Top 24% higher than 76% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
18,607housing units
18,607
Total Housing Units
17,684
Occupied Units
923
Vacant Units
2.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$775,700
Median Home Value
+0% vs state ZIP avg
$2,032
Median Rent
1971
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+6.3%
YoY Change (2024)
377
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+277%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 91942 have increased 6.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +277% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.9% | 257 |
| 2021 | +15.2% | 296 |
| 2022 | +18.3% | 350 |
| 2023 | +1.3% | 355 |
| 2024 | +6.3% | 377 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,532 business establishments in ZIP 91942, employing approximately 20,503 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,239,011,000.
1,532
Businesses
20,503
Employees
$1.2B
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 328 | 21.4% |
| Retail trade | 195 | 12.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 191 | 12.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 153 | 10.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 145 | 9.5% |
| Construction | 117 | 7.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 108 | 7.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 108 | 7.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 60 | 3.9% |
| Educational services | 30 | 2.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 22 | 1.4% |
| Manufacturing | 21 | 1.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 20 | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 19 | 1.2% |
| Information | 13 | 0.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 91942 vs 92119 →
ZIP 91942 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 92105
San Diego (92105)
69,813 residents
- 92114
San Diego (92114)
65,433 residents
- 92115
San Diego (92115)
58,560 residents
- 91977
Spring Valley (91977)
58,368 residents
- 92020
El Cajon (92020)
57,767 residents
- 92071
Santee (92071)
53,422 residents
- 91942
La Mesa (91942)
38,069 residents
- 91941
La Mesa (91941)
31,779 residents
- 92120 26,317
San Diego (92120)
26,317 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 91942 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 91942 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 92120
San Diego (92120)
$120,661 median income
- 91941
La Mesa (91941)
$115,381 median income
- 92071
Santee (92071)
$113,618 median income
- 92119
San Diego (92119)
$113,435 median income
- 91977
Spring Valley (91977)
$99,657 median income
- 92114
San Diego (92114)
$97,794 median income
- 91942
La Mesa (91942)
$92,896 median income
- 91945
Lemon Grove (91945)
$88,016 median income
- 92115
San Diego (92115)
$79,199 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 91942 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92119 | San Diego, CA | 23,057 | 2.3 mi |
| 91941 | La Mesa, CA | 31,779 | 2.0 mi |
| 91945 | Lemon Grove, CA | 25,460 | 3.1 mi |
| 92115 | San Diego, CA | 58,560 | 3.1 mi |
| 92120 | San Diego, CA | 26,317 | 3.1 mi |
| 92020 | El Cajon, CA | 57,767 | 3.3 mi |
| 91977 | Spring Valley, CA | 58,368 | 3.8 mi |
| 92114 | San Diego, CA | 65,433 | 5.2 mi |
| 92071 | Santee, CA | 53,422 | 5.4 mi |
| 92105 | San Diego, CA | 69,813 | 5.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 91942, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (38,069 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in San Diego County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 91942 in?
ZIP code 91942 (La Mesa) is located in San Diego County, California. San Diego County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/san-diego-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 91942?
ZIP code 91942 in La Mesa, CA has a population of 38,069 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 91942?
The median household income in ZIP 91942 is $92,896, which is 22% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 91942?
The median home value in ZIP 91942 is $775,700, which is 179% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 91942?
The largest racial group in ZIP 91942 is White at 56.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 27.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 91942?
ZIP code 91942 has 1,532 business establishments employing approximately 20,503 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 91942?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 91942 are: Health care and social assistance (328), Retail trade (195), Professional, scientific, and technical services (191). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 91942?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 91942 increased by 6.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 277%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 91942?
In ZIP code 91942, 56.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 40.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 91942?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 91942 is 23.7 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 91942?
In ZIP code 91942, approximately 45.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 54.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 91942?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 91942 is 12.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 91942's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 91942 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where La Mesa, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.