2025 Compare Cities Education:
Santa Barbara, CA vs La Mesa, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- La Mesa spends 2.1% less per student than Santa Barbara.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 7.8% higher in La Mesa than in Santa Barbara. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- La Mesa had 6.3% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Santa Barbara
 Santa Barbara, CALa Mesa, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,358$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$13,158  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$8,084$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio21.01  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock187444573
 Students per Counselor539  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock3.1%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.4.9%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock93.5%88.9%
 Some College Educ.18.5%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock11.3%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.50.5%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock9.7%9.3%
 Professional Degree4.6%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.6%1.5%
Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

   |    Reply

Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

   |    Reply

If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Barbara

Reviews for La Mesa    9 Reviews

The same San Diego prices and high taxes, but not the nice weather. 15 degrees hotter than the coast. Save the money and move to AZ if you like the climate in La Mesa.  More

   |    Reply

I now live in Wyoming but I was a third generation San Diegan, my maternal grandmother having been born on Coronado Island in 1894. If you are a new arrival to the  More

   |    Reply

I Need Correct Information I lived there Over 20 Years  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of La Mesa


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.