Population 5,607 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kearny Mesa
Household size in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.15 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.19 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.06 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Kearny Mesa is a place of small households, averaging 2.06 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.15, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.1 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.0 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.2 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.0 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Kearny Mesa is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.2, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 38.2, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.9% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Kearny Mesa: 4.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Kearny Mesa has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of San Diego neighborhoods.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Kearny Mesa
Renters in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.9% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.4% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 65.8% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +25.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Kearny Mesa: 65.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 14.9% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. The renter share is up 25.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Kearny Mesa is close to the national rate: 8.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has fallen 6.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2002 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2002 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2006 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2002 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Kearny Mesa has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2002, versus 1980 nationally. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Few San Diego neighborhoods have newer homes: only four of 81.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $2,001 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,982 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,254 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,641 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$640 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Kearny Mesa runs $2,641 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $640 a month since 2006–10, up 32%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 34.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Kearny Mesa
Bachelor's degrees in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.6% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 50.7% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 57.8% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +22.8 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Kearny Mesa is highly educated: nearly six in ten adults 25 and older (57.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 22.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.4% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.3% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.8% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.3% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Kearny Mesa is a bit above the national rate: 92.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is down 2.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Kearny Mesa
| Period | Kearny Mesa | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Kearny Mesa: 8.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is up 1.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Kearny Mesa compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kearny Mesa | 2.06 | 37.2 | 4.8% | 65.8% | 8.5% | 2002 | $2,641 | 57.8% | 92.3% | 8.9% |
| Clairemont Mesa | 2.50 | 41.9 | 7.0% | 42.2% | 5.7% | 1968 | $2,481 | 49.6% | 91.9% | 4.2% |
| Serra Mesa | 2.46 | 35.0 | 10.1% | 62.1% | 6.9% | 1989 | $3,078 | 55.9% | 95.2% | 5.7% |
| Bird Land | 2.71 | 38.3 | 10.9% | 58.8% | 9.3% | 1970 | $2,540 | 43.2% | 89.4% | 6.9% |
| Tierrasanta | 2.86 | 36.7 | 7.6% | 44.4% | 8.4% | 1982 | $3,169 | 52.6% | 97.3% | 6.5% |
| North Clairemont | 2.58 | 42.1 | 8.8% | 38.4% | 4.7% | 1960 | $2,201 | 46.6% | 90.5% | 8.2% |
| Linda Vista | 2.70 | 38.1 | 9.1% | 51.5% | 6.2% | 1972 | $2,244 | 41.4% | 86.4% | 5.7% |
| Grantville | 2.08 | 34.2 | 6.5% | 69.6% | 10.5% | 1990 | $2,514 | 48.5% | 94.6% | 7.4% |
| Allied Gardens | 2.79 | 37.8 | 14.0% | 39.0% | 6.4% | 1978 | $2,744 | 59.8% | 95.4% | 3.6% |
| Mission Valley East | 1.86 | 36.9 | 2.0% | 75.7% | 8.7% | 1993 | $2,700 | 40.3% | 96.7% | 7.7% |
| Bay Park | 2.37 | 41.6 | 5.9% | 49.1% | 7.1% | 1964 | $2,701 | 61.5% | 95.9% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Woodridge Lakes, Mesa, AZ · Ardmore, Winston-Salem, NC · Armatage, Minneapolis, MN · Baden, St. Louis, MO · Bailey, East Lansing, MI · Woburn Street Historic District, Reading, MA · Tosa East Towne, Wauwatosa, WI · Coral Ridge, Fort Lauderdale, FL · Sam Hughes, Tucson, AZ · Old Town, Eureka, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Kearny Mesa. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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