Places to Live in San Diego, California

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San Diego is the second largest city in California and sixth largest in the nation. San Diego has both a large conservative and Liberal population. This combination is a great balance and makes San Diego a city for every walk of life. Although it was the site of the first mission in California, the city only really took off with the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad in the 1880s, and in terms of trade and significance it has long been in the shadow of Los Angeles. Times have been changing in the recent years with the construction of a baseball stadium, a booming financial district, tourism on the rise and a new center for U.S. Trade shows. Another reason for the success of San Diego during economic downturns is the revenue from the military. During World War II the US Navy made San Diego its Pacific Command Center, and the military continues to dominate the local economy, along with tourism. San Diego is an easy place to navigate. Its highways and well engineered layout makes maneuvering this large city a breeze.

Below are the Various Ares of San Diego County

Airport, Point Loma and Ocean Beach(City of San Diego)
Point Loma is a peninsula that shelters San Diego Bay from storms with its cliffs and hills. A beautiful drive not to miss is the drive out to Cabrillo National Monument, with high views of the bay and ocean.

El Cajon, Lakeside, and Alpine
El Cajon, California is located inland (east) from San Diego, with La Mesa in between. El Cajon is located in a small valley. In fact, El Cajon means "the box" in Spanish.

Ramona, Warner Springs, Borrego Springs, and Julian
Ramona and Warner Springs, California are located in the rural, uncrowded part of San Diego located among rolling hills and live oak trees.
Borrego Springs is located in the beautiful Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, a favorite vacation spot in winter. In spring, don't miss the desert's beautiful wildflower display.

Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, and Leucadia
Encinitas, California is a beachside city located in northern San Diego County, with 6 miles of beaches. It is home to Moonlight State Beach and Leucadia State Beach. The beaches are full of people in summer surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, volleyball, and other activities. In July and August Moonlight Beach hosts Concerts by the Sea.
Neighboring Communities Beach cities Carlsbad, to the north, and Solana Beach, to the south.

Carlsbad
Carlsbad, California \'Karls-bad\ [German Karlsbad "Charles' watering place"] : A coastal city in northern San Diego County, California. Location: 33 07 41.7 N, 117 16 48.3 W. Population 78,247 (2000 census), Inc. 1952. Elevation 44'.
Carlsbad is a mixed use community of homes and businesses located on the California coast in northern San Diego county. Carlsbad Village, downtown, is a popular area for shopping. The beaches are popular for sunbathing, BBQs, surfing, and camping. Inland, surrounding Palomar Airport, are several high-tech industries Carlsbad web page at
Neighboring Communities Oceanside, to the north, Encinitas, to the south, and San Marcos and Vista, inland. Oceanside and Encinitas are also coastal beach communities. Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista Apartments are often lower-cost than Carlsbad.

Rancho Penasquitos and Carmel Mountain (City of San Diego)
Rancho Penasquitos and Carmel Mountain are communities in the northern part of the City of San Diego. See also Scripps Ranch and Mira Mesa, communities to the south of Rancho Penasquitos, and Rancho Bernardo, to the north (all in San Diego, California).

Del Mar and Carmel Valley (City of San Diego)
Del Mar, California is famous for its racetrack founded by Hollywood stars in the 1940s. Today it's an affluent beach town with specialty shops and restaurants. The County Fair is held at the fairgrounds from mid-June through the end of the 4th of July weekend. Horse racing begins in mid-July and runs through Labor Day in early September.
Neighboring Communities Beach cities La Jolla, to the south. and Solana Beach, to the north. The Winner's Circle Beach and Tennis, Solana Beach is immediately north of the Del Mar Race Track.
Carmel Valley Despite the confusing name, Carmel Valley, in San Diego and inland from Del Mar.

Chula Vista (South of Downtown San Diego)
Chula Vista, California is located along San Diego Bay ("South Bay"). Chula Vista has commercial and industrial areas, with modest homes, along the bay, with newer housing subdivisions inland.
Chula Vista Although not as big as Downtown San Diego, Chula Vista has plenty of civic activities. Listen to live music at Coors Amphitheater at night and during the day soak with the kids at Knott's Soak City USA.
Neighbors National City is north of Chula Vista. South of Chula Vista are the communities of San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, and the city of Imperial Beach.

Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, and Linda Vista (City of San Diego)
Clairemont is a residential community in northern San Diego city. Large parks, Tecolote Canyon and San Clemente Canyon, cut through the community, which is located on top of a mesa.

Coronado (West of Downtown San Diego)
Coronado Island is located just across San Diego bay from downtown San Diego. Coronado, California has a small-town feel and, with the "Hotel Del" and other resorts, is a long-loved vacation spot. The west side of Coronado faces the Pacific Ocean and has one of the widest beaches in the county. It also has good views of Point Loma and, in the evening, sunset. Bayside has great views of downtown San Diego and the bay. Biking around tree-lined streets is a popular activity. The Silver Strand, south of Coronado, is a narrow peninsula of sand that separates San Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean. A highway and bike path span its length. Biking, rollerblading, and jogging are popular on the Strand.
Access You can drive to Coronado (over the Coronado Bridge) or go by passenger ferry from Seaport Village in downtown San Diego.

Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Mission Bay (City of San Diego)
Pacific Beach is a beachside community of San Diego city that's located just north of Mission Bay. "P.B." attracts a young crowd and many visitors who like to hang out on the wide boardwalk that sees pedestrians, rollerblades, and bicyclists.
The younger "party" crowd tends to hang out at Mission Beach, which is on the Peninsula between Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

Downtown San Diego
Downtown is live at night with its Gaslamp Quarter, bayshore walk, Seaport Village, and Horton Plaza. Besides shopping, the "Rep" Theatre is at Horton Plaza, as is a movie theatre and food court.
During the day, don't forget nearby Balboa Park and Museums and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Little Italy, located along I-5 just north of downtown, features restaurants, art studios, and boutique shops.

Escondido
Escondido, California is a inland community in north San Diego County (About 15 miles from downtown San Diego) with a more-rural flavor than the county's coastal communities. Central Escondido is a low- and mid-income community with a commercial, industrial, and residential mix. Outlying areas, especially south, have well-to-do residential areas. Escondido means "Hidden Valley" in Spanish.
Escondido is home to the California Center for the Arts, which hosts concerts, opera, and other events. Don't forget to see the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park in San Pasqual Valley. Nearby is San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, which describes the only battle, fought in California during the Mexican-American War.

Fallbrook
Fallbrook, California is a rural farm community located among avocado and other fruit orchards, wineries, thoroughbred stables, and five golf courses. Fallbrook has a downtown area with antique shops, boutiques, art galleries, For more information, see the Fallbrook webpage.

Mission Hills, North Park, Normal Heights, Kensington, and San Diego State (City of San Diego)
Mission Hills, Hillcrest, North Park, Normal Heights, and Kensington are generally north or east of downtown and Balboa Park. These are mostly older residential communities north and northeast of Downtown San Diego and Balboa Park. San Diego State University is in this area.

Hillcrest

Hillcrest has great nightlife, especially if you're looking for a young, alternative crowd. San Diego's first suburb, today Hillcrest is a colorful and diverse community brimming with coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques.

San Ysidro and Otay Mesa (City of San Diego), and Imperial Beach.
San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, California are San Diego communities that lie on the border with Mexico. They are low-income communities with a residential, commercial, and industrial mix. It is a busy trade region that sees many people cross into Tijuana.
Imperial Beach is a funky, working-class small beach town in the southwest corner of California.
Neighbors Chula Vista is north of Otay Mesa and San Ysidro.

La Jolla, Torrey Pines, UCSD, and University City (City of San Diego)
La Jolla, California is a famous, affluent seaside community of San Diego that was founded above The Cove. La Jolla has many secluded coves, beaches, and ocean caves. With many find restaurants, shops, and an art museum, it is a popular destination. La Jolla is also home to University of California, California, Scripps Institute, with its Birch Aquarium, and the Salk Institute.

La Mesa
La Mesa, California is located in the foothills inland (east) from San Diego, and west of El Cajon Valley.

Loma Portal, Old Town (City of San Diego)
Old Town San Diego is where San Diego was founded and first settled by the Spanish in 1769. Now a State Historical Park, it features many restaurants, shops, and historically-restored buildings. Walk to dinner and the small boutiques in the evening.
Loma Portal is the commercial area just west of I-5 and Old Town. Because it's a busy commercial area.

Mira Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Sorrento Mesa, and Miramar (City of San Diego)
Mira Mesa is a largely residential community in northern San Diego city.
Miramar Marine Core Air Station is located to the south and historic Rancho Penasquitos Canyon, a city preserve, is located to the north.
See also Rancho Penasquitos and Carmel Mountain, communities to the north, and Scripps Ranch and Poway, communities to the east.

Mission Valley (City of San Diego)
Mission Valley is located in central San Diego city. The San Diego river flows down the middle of the valley to Mission Bay. Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, California's first mission that was rebuilt here by the Spanish in 1777, still stands in the eastern end of Mission Valley. Qualcomm Stadium, which hosts ball games and other events, is also located here. Along I-8 at the west end of Mission Valley are several hotels, restaurants, and two large malls.
Unfortunately, I-8 runs down the south side of Mission Valley, where most of the hotels are, so forget peace and quiet and nice, relaxing views. However, the hotel rooms are clean, cheap, in a good neighborhood, and are centrally located to the tourist attractions and beaches. Hotels south of I-8 are above the freeway. Generally the hotels north of I-8 are slightly quieter and, since they are closer to the San Diego River, they are more lush.
If you're looking for a budget or family hotel or motel, I advise also looking in the nearby Point Loma or Old Town areas. Old Town is in a nice place and you can walk around and enjoy it in the evenings (with all its restaurants and shops).

National City
National City, California is located south of downtown San Diego and north of Chula Vista. National City has a mixture of commercial and industrial areas along with modest homes. National City is a good place to get a low-price hotel room near downtown San Diego, which is accessible via the San Diego Trolley's blue line. However, parts of National City are not safe at night.

Oceanside
Oceanside is a beachside city located in northern San Diego county, with 3.5 miles of beaches and Oceanside Harbor. The beach is full of people in summer surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, volleyball, and other activities. Oceanside is located just south of Camp Pendleton, a marine base, in northern San Diego County. Oceanside is a low-income working-class city. Hotels don't cost as much as in Carlsbad, a well-to-do neighbor to the south, yet most Hotels are near the beach or Harbor.
Oceanside Harbor features fishing and sightseeing cruises (in winter they have whale watch excursions), with a lot of interesting shops to visit.
The second Spanish mission in California, Mission San Luis Rey (1798), is located in Oceanside.
Neighboring Communities Carlsbad, another beach city to the south, and San Marcos and Vista, inland.

Scripps Ranch (City of San Diego) and Poway
Scripps Ranch is a well-to-do community full of eucalyptus trees in the northern part of the City of San Diego. It has a business park to the north and another one along I-15.
Poway, California is the "City in the Country" to the north of Scripps Ranch.
See also Mira Mesa, to the west of Scripps Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, to the north, and Rancho Penasquitos, to the northwest (all in San Diego, California).

Rancho Bernardo (City of San Diego)
Rancho Bernardo is located inland on an old Spanish land grant in the northern part San Diego, California. "R.B.," as the locals call it, is a well-to-do retirement and residential area with multiple golf courses and its own small winery, The Bernardo Winery (since 1889).
See also Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Mountain, and Poway, communities to the south of Rancho Bernardo.

Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe
Solana Beach, California is a beachside city located in northern San Diego county, just north of Del Mar, with its race track and fairgrounds. The best restaurants are long old Highway 101 and (parallel) S. Cedros Ave. This is called the Cedros Design District for its small shops.
Rancho Santa Fe, California, located inland from Solana Beach, is home to wealthy and well-known residents who live among the secluded eucalyptus and citrus groves and horse stables. The eucalyptus groves were originally planted by the Santa Fe Railroad, but the wood soon proved unsuitable for railroad ties.
Neighboring Communities Beach cities Encinitas, to the north, and Del Mar, to the south.

San Marcos and Vista
San Marcos and Vista, California are suburban communities located among rolling foothills slightly inland from the coast in northern San Diego County. In summer, kids will enjoy The Wave Water park and adults the Moonlight Amphitheatre performances. If you or someone needs pampering, The Golden Door, in San Marcos, was selected the best spa by Travel and Leisure magazine.
San Marcos Restaurant Row If you visit here, don't forget to dine at San Marcos "Restaurant Row" on San Marcos Blvd. Restaurant Row features restaurants with various cuisines (Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, etc.) in an old California setting. Thursday afternoons they have a farmers market.
Golf San Marcos is also home to Lake San Marcos Country Club with a restaurant and private golf course overlooking a lake. Twin Oaks and Executive golf courses, also in San Marcos, are open to the public.
History Don't forget to visit the Vista Historical Museum the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum, and the Rancho Vista Adobe (c. 1850).
Neighboring Communities Carlsbad and Oceanside, beach cities to the west, Fallbrook, to the north, and Escondido, inland to the east and south.

Serra Mesa and Tierra Santa (City of San Diego)
Serra Mesa is located in the central part of San Diego, California north of Mission Valley. Serra Mesa is largely a light industrial area located around with a small airfield, Montgomery Field.
Tierra Santa, to the east, is a residential community of San Diego located along I-15.