La Mesa, CA health
La Mesa differs from California on 10 of 40 measures. It has fewer uninsured adults (7.2% vs 10.6%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (14% vs 17.9%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (7.8% vs 6.4%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for La MesaLa Mesa’s Health Grade: A−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, La Mesa is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns and 71% of California towns.
About what its income would suggest. La Mesa does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in California ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares La Mesa with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. La Mesa uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
How La Mesa compares with California
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 La Mesa adults…
Bars show La Mesa; the black tick is California. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
CA 24.6%
CA 35.1%
CA 15.3%
CA 10.9%
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
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.
Living with a disability
of La Mesa adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: California. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
La Mesa and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are the nearest hospitals and community health centers.
Obesity
Care nearby
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas. Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of La Mesa. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for La Mesa
| Measure | La Mesa | Margin | California | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 29.5% | 27.2–32% | 30.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 33.1% | 30.6–36% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 26.3% | 23.2–29.9% | 27.8% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 21.4% | 19.6–23.5% | 20.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 23.1% | 20.8–25.7% | 20.1% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 10.2% | 8.3–12.2% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Asthma | 9.7% | 8.7–10.9% | 9.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.8% | 7.2–8.6% | 6.4% | worse |
| Diabetes | 9.4% | 8.4–10.7% | 11.7% | better |
| COPD | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8% | 5.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.3% | 4.9–5.9% | 5.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3% | 2.8–3.2% | 3.1% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.4% | 9.1–11.9% | 10.9% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 17.1% | 15–19.5% | 15.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 19.5% | 17.3–22.1% | 24.6% | better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5% | 31.1–38% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 73.4% | 70.8–76.2% | 71.9% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 65.6% | 62.8–68.3% | 62.8% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 86.3% | 84.9–87.8% | 85.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 64.1% | 60.2–67.7% | 57.5% | better |
| Mammogram | 77.3% | 71.4–82.3% | 75.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 68.6% | 65.8–71.5% | 71.3% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 6.3–8.3% | 10.6% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35.6% | 32.5–39% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 27.1% | 24.5–30.1% | 28.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.3% | 15.7–19.1% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 18.1% | 16.4–20% | 22.1% | better |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.2% | 11.1–13.6% | 13.4% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 14% | 12.4–15.8% | 17.9% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 13% | 11.6–14.7% | 14.9% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 6.6% | 5.9–7.6% | 7.3% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.2% | 7.3–9.1% | 9.3% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 13.8% | 12.3–15.6% | 15.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.3% | 24.9–30% | 30.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 12.1% | 10.9–13.5% | 13.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 14.1% | 12.7–15.6% | 14.6% | |
| Hearing | 5.7% | 5.1–6.4% | 5.9% | |
| Vision | 4.6% | 4.2–5% | 5.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 7.7% | 7–8.6% | 8.1% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.