City profile · New Mexico · Census ACS 2023

La Mesa, NM

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for La Mesa - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

548
Residents
$40,694
Median income
$108,700
Median home
$1,042
Median rent (state)

La Mesa - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, La Mesa lands in the 8th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

8th
percentile, household income
13th
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: La Mesa, NM

New Mexico's La Mesa is a small town, with 548 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $40,694 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 25.8%. Home values in La Mesa run a median of $108,700, and the median resident age is 63.7 years. Educational attainment runs 6.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 32.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in New Mexico run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts New Mexico at 92.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,042 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $167 across New Mexico, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 96.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

548 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Mexico

Median Household Income

$40,694 /yr

Poverty 25.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Mexico average

How does La Mesa compare to other US cities?

La Mesa measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 8% higher than other cities
Home value 13% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares La Mesa against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New Mexico only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New Mexico-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places La Mesa toward the bottom of New Mexico's cities

Among the 409 New Mexico cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, La Mesa ranks #325 - the 21st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares La Mesa only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#246 of 324
24th percentile in New Mexico
Median Gross Rent
#281 of 409
25th percentile in New Mexico
Median Home Value
#244 of 324
25th percentile in New Mexico
Poverty Rate
#97 of 408
76th percentile in New Mexico
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#325 of 409
21st percentile in New Mexico

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New Mexico only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

8thIncome percentile

8th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How La Mesa's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$108,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 87% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. La Mesa $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. 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 · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - La Mesa, NM La Mesa, NM's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not La Mesa, NM-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution La Mesa, NM median $40,694/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
La Mesa, NM's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for La Mesa, NM. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 25.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 32.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
548
Median Income
$40,694
Median Home Value
$108,700
Median Age
63.7
Poverty Rate
25.8%
Labor force participation
32.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.1%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.7%
Carpool
7.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
6.0%
Work from Home
3.8%

Based on 133 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Mexico - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$167
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Mexico state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Mexico state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county La Mesa sits in

Cost of Living Index
92.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,042/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Mexico

Vaughn
548 people
Rowe
555 people
Glorieta
559 people
Melrose
536 people
Pueblitos
534 people
East Pecos
529 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to La Mesa's 548 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Millry, AL
548 people
Golf, IL
548 people
St. David, IL
548 people
Richland, IN
548 people
Burden, KS
548 people
Deep Run, NC
548 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to La Mesa's $40,694 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Marion, KY
$40,691 median income
Fifth Street, TX
$40,699 median income
Shenandoah, PA
$40,702 median income
June Lake, CA
$40,703 median income
Crossville, IL
$40,682 median income
Dunnellon, FL
$40,707 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - La Mesa, NM Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition La Mesa, NM - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 36.5% 45.1% 12.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 96.9% White 36.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 5.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 45.1% Two or more races 12.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How La Mesa compares to nearby New Mexico cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
La Mesa (this city) 548 $40,694
Vaughn 548 $26,300
Rowe 555 N/A
Glorieta 559 $48,571
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NM NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about La Mesa, NM?

What is the population of La Mesa, NM? +

The population of La Mesa, NM stands at 548 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in La Mesa, NM? +

In La Mesa, the typical household earns $40,694 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in La Mesa? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for La Mesa; the closest available measure is the New Mexico state average, a cost of living index of 92.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Mexico vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in La Mesa, NM? +

La Mesa's median home value sits at $108,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.