2024 Best Places to Live in the San Diego Area

Current Resident: Tucked away on Southern California's sun-kissed sands, Solona Beach is a coastal sanctuary that offers a unique combination of unspoiled beauty, easygoing charm, and a strong sense of community. Nestled between the vibrant metropolises of San Diego and Del Mar, Solana Beach enthralls tourists with its immaculate shorelines, creative flare, and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. There are many good restaurant places to eat including lots of pizza and Italian places.... Read 37 reviews

Current Resident: We moved to Carmel Valley seeking a community, great schools, and safe/peasant place to raise our family. Check, check, and check. It’s an ideal place for people with children. The public schools are all excellent and provide two amazing options at the HS level. Part of what’s great about having excellent public schools is that most kids in the area attend the same schools. This creates a real community with plenty of block parties and holiday events in your immediate neighborhood. Shopping is very convent with five grocery stores all within about a five minute drive. There are two excellent/clean beaches in Del Mar and Torrey Pines within 10-15 minutes. The weather is great year round. The area is centrally located within San Diego making everything San Diego has to offer relatively convenient. You can also get to downtown Los Angeles in about 1 hour 45 minutes.... Read 67 reviews

Current Resident: Its a great location, close to the beach, downtown, and UTC mall. There are many different food places to try around here as well! However, living here is very expensive.... Read 109 reviews

Works Here: Coronado is a great place to live. You have the beach nearby and it's a small town atmosphere. There isn't much here other than military and wealthy people. There's not much of a future for people who look to move here outside of having an occupation that allows you to afford living here. If you can afford to live here, I would certainly do it.... Read 79 reviews

Current Resident: Del Mar, San Diego has some of the best public education in the sate of California, and is the opportune place to start a family and raise children. I have found to be safe, and fun, being close to the beach a a little farther from the city.... Read 22 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Encinitas for the majority of my life and have not a single bad thing to say about it. It is a city right on the beach with great food, great businesses, and great people. It is a fantastic place to live and really has no downsides. Overall, there is nothing bad I could say about Encinitas other than the struggle to find some parking near the beach at times.... Read 166 reviews

Current Resident: I moved into the neighborhood of Sabre Springs about 6 months ago. I liked it right away, its very clean and welcoming. I love the greenery and all the close by trails and nature spots. The neighbors I've met have been very nice and I'm glad to be surrounded by calm and companionable people. One thing I did not expect was crime. There's been reports of car break ins and stolen car parts and other items. Also, I've heard of some alarming suspicious activity, as I'm a petite lady. I'd like to see these things change as its such a beautiful neighborhood and I would love to feel completely safe in my home. Overall, I've really enjoyed my time in Sabre Springs so far and look forward to more little adventures here.... Read 19 reviews

Current Resident: We love it here! We moved to San Diego about 9 years ago, and we have loved it here ever since. From living in an apartment to moving into our own house, CMR has been the most fabulous neighborhood. Everything is within walking distance--restaurants, movie theaters, shopping, you name it and we have it. This is the most wonderful place to be, and despite the high costs of living, I wouldn't change a thing.... Read 20 reviews

Niche User: It's gorgeous, laid-back, and everyone's friendly.... Read 16 reviews

Former Resident: As someone who grew up in Rancho Penasquitos over the past decade, it was wonderful. The community was built for suburban childhood, the schools are fantastic and the local stores and places to eat are all within walking or biking distance of houses and schools. The area is also only a 20 minute drive from the beach. The housing is expensive, but that fits the area. The nightlife is lacking, so most college students will drive to UCSD or downtown for their activities.... Read 99 reviews

Niche User: I live in a very wonderful area and I have access to everything I need. It's a fairly wealthy and very clean area. The only aspect of this area that I do not like is how superficial some people are; there are a lot of plastic surgeons who get lots of business around here and it is a little off-putting how fake people's bodies are and sometimes their personality matches that superficiality.... Read 4 reviews

Current Resident: Carlsbad is a great city and good for new families, it has many activities for kids and adults with new events popping up every year!... Read 391 reviews

Current Resident: Best for families with young children. Good public and private school nearby. Weather stays on the cooler side if you like that. I found it to be a little gloomy most of the time. Freeways are close and most of the neighborhoods are not gated. I grew up in San Diego and although Torreyhills is central, I find it is becoming a melting pot.... Read 6 reviews

Current Resident: La Jolla is a beautiful coastal area in San Diego with stunning ocean views, upscale shops, and a relaxed vibe. The beaches, like La Jolla Cove and Windansea, are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or just relaxing by the water. The neighborhood also has great restaurants and cafes, with a mix of casual and fine dining options. What I really liked was the natural beauty—especially the clear blue waters and the chance to see sea lions up close. The hiking trails around Torrey Pines and the scenic routes along the coast are also highlights. However, the area can get pretty crowded, especially during weekends and tourist seasons, which sometimes makes parking difficult. I’d love to see better parking options or more public transportation routes to ease traffic. Overall, La Jolla is a fantastic spot if you’re into nature, good food, and coastal charm.... Read 128 reviews

Current Resident: This neighborhood is perfect for families, it is a quiet and safe community with many parks and stores nearby.... Read 113 reviews

Current Resident: Very Safe Neighborhood, Two of the top 5 high schools in the San Diego Area (Westview and Del Norte), top rated public schools of all grades, top rated school district (PUSD), Extremely clean and community oriented, amazing public pools and parks, bike paths and hiking trails in the area.... Read 1 review

Current Resident: Pacific Beach is filled with things to do: go to the beach, shop, eat at any type of food place you'd like, etc. Night life is great and the atmosphere is awesome.... Read 77 reviews

Former Resident: I lived in Hillcrest for a year or so. As a San Diegan, it's odd to see Uptown listed as a neighborhood. It's not something I hear often and even when I Google "Uptown" the bar pops up but not a neighborhood. I believe the Uptown area would be a fantastic place to live if you can afford it, are looking for a lively yet safe LGBT community to happily live your best life or are looking for an exciting change from planet boring. I'll never get over how beautiful Balboa Park is, the museums filled with so much to learn and see, various events, the pride festival, Halloween trails, the fruit loop, and so much more. Great for runners. Many every morning (great morning view). Like the rest of San Diego public transportation could be better. Parking sucks depending on the time of day or if there are events happening. Great night life and eateries. Growing up, I was told Mission Hills was La Jolla back in the days. I would say much like La Jolla, there are some beautiful homes.... Read 26 reviews

Current Resident: Middle to upper middle class. Families with children going to public and private schools. Homes priced just below $2 mil to $4+ mil. Low home sales inventory, this neighborhood is highly sought after. Drives up prices. Lots of Teslas on driveways and streets. Neighbors are kind, respectful, like their privacy...yet, some can come off snobby, entitled, plastic or anti-social. Good diversity, good restaurant choices nearby. Freeway access is easy but can get crowded during rush hours. Good access points in all four directions. High wildfire zone area, we've had to evacuate twice in 2003 and 2007. Difficult finding home insurance coverage because of the wildfires.... Read 23 reviews

Current Resident: Rancho Santa Fe is small and tight-knit town. There are plenty of community events throughout the year, such as concerts, farmer's markets, and holiday celebrations. Another great thing about Rancho Santa Fe is its location. The town is situated just a few miles from the coast, which means residents can enjoy all the benefits of beach living without the crowds and congestion of larger cities. Additionally, the town is surrounded by rolling hills and open space, which provides ample opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities. In terms of education, Rancho Santa Fe has some of the best public and private schools in the area. Overall, Rancho Santa Fe is a wonderful place to live. It offers a high quality of life, a strong sense of community, and plenty of opportunities for recreation and education. If you are looking for a safe, welcoming, and beautiful place to call home, Rancho Santa Fe is definitely worth considering.... Read 9 reviews

Current Resident: It's a quiet suburb about 25 minutes north of downtown San Diego. There are plenty of restaurants and outdoor activities. Not too far from the beach, about 20 minutes. It's a really good location. I have no complaints about living here.... Read 60 reviews

Current Resident: Amazing community. I've lived in this area since I was born and some of my best childhood memories are biking through all the neighborhoods with my neighbors. Everyone is very nice and I have never experienced feeling unsafe in my neighborhood. With a grocery store, gas station, elementary, middle, and high school all near by, it really is the perfect place to live. Everything is in walking distance and it is a beautiful area to be in, especially since it's only 15-20 minutes to the beach.... Read 18 reviews