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Compare towns

Monrovia vs La Mesa

111 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (12× in Monrovia) and conserved land (+53.5 pts in Monrovia).

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Monrovia, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 37,571 people
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La Mesa, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 60,797 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $560 more a month in Monrovia

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Monrovia$5,690/mo
Typical home $980K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.68% · or rent about $2,114/mo · Housing →
La Mesa$5,130/mo
Typical home $885K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.66% · or rent about $2,049/mo · Housing →

The difference: $560 a month, about $6,800 a year, between Monrovia and La Mesa.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Monrovia places higher on 12 of 22 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
MonroviaLa Mesa
Snow a year0″0″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)91st44th
Outdoors & history
MonroviaLa Mesa
Trails29 mi2 mi
Conserved land56.7%3.2%
National Register places5—
Archive photos1212
Famous people born here23—
Community
MonroviaLa Mesa
Library hours a week45 hrs51 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

111 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Monrovia ↔ La Mesa111 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MonroviaLa Mesa
People
Population 37,571Lowest 60,797Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +3.7%Lowest CA: +6.1% +7.1%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 38.3±1.2Highest about the CA average 37.4±0.9Lowest about the CA average
Monrovia and La Mesa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.7%±2.1 CA: 22% 21.7%±1.8 CA: 22%
Age 65+ 14.7%±1.4Lowest CA: 15.7% 15.5%±1.1Highest CA: 15.7%
La Mesa and Monrovia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 42.7%Highest CA: 37.1% 40.6%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.8%±1.1Lowest CA: 7.6% 7.6%±0.9Highest CA: 7.6%
La Mesa and Monrovia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $96,021±$5kHighest 3% below CA $95,028±$8kLowest 4% below CA
Monrovia and La Mesa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $909,400±$25kHighest 24% above CA $812,000±$17kLowest 11% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,114±$81Highest 4% above CA $2,049±$64Lowest about the CA average
Monrovia and La Mesa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $6,178Highest 21% above CA $5,339Lowest 4% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 54.9%±5.8Lowest CA: 55.3% 60.8%±5.8Highest CA: 55.3%
La Mesa and Monrovia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 10.3%Lowest CA: 12% 11.5%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 46.3%Lowest CA: 55.9% 47.7%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than CA 1971Highest 5 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 30 minHighest 5% above CA 24 minLowest 17% below CA
Work from home 18%±2.3Highest CA: 17.2% 17.8%±1.6Lowest CA: 17.2%
Monrovia and La Mesa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 8%Highest 7.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.8 miHighest 9.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.05Highest 0.88Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Los Angeles (23%)San Diego (53%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in La MesaFew work in Monrovia
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 56.7%Highest 3.2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 28.7 miHighest 2.4 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.1 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 12Lowest 15Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 42.5Lowest 125Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #170 of 574 in CA#504 of 574 in CA
School district Monrovia UnifiedHelix High District · Sparrow Academy District
High school in town Monrovia HighHelix High
Students per teacherat that high school 24.9Highest 23.2Lowest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Monrovia neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Monrovia’s Town Square.

La Mesa neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to La Mesa’s Town Square.

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Bordering Monrovia

Towns like Monrovia

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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