150,270
Population
Sunny Days: 266
85100 Affordability
80100 Schools
85100 Diversity
95100 Safety
Escondido, California
Hidden Treasure
Downtown Escondido
Escondido Train Station
Historic Escondido
Sip The City Festival
LookyLOO Review of Escondido
It's a Hidden Gem
It's hard to find a city in California that hasn't been run through the wringer and emerged unscarred but Escondido just may be the exception. Situated about 30 miles northeast of downtown San Diego, while not on the coast, this big suburb with mostly temperate weather is well-located in the big scheme of things. The city is going through a major downtown renovation that is revealing a brand new Mainstreet USA-type city. Prices are cheaper than the rest of the San Diego area and yet, you're still in the San Diego area.
Virtually all West Coast cities of any size have an unhoused population. While locals crave a compassionate solution the size of Escondido makes the issue more apparent than for residents of bigger cities. This means they're more likely to complain.
Lifestyle
Escondido is home to 150,000 people and there is a historic downtown that is undergoing a big upgrade but for most, this is suburban life; Masterplanned communities, gated housing developments, parks, community centers and plenty of ample lots. There are rural areas as well and it’s all plopped down in the middle of rolling hills and tranquil scenery with easy access to downtown and major highways (I-15) that will take you to San Diego and other coastal cities like Carlsbad and Oceanside. Most residents own but there’s more downtown development these days including luxury apartments.
The California Center for the Arts serves as a cultural hub, hosting performances, art exhibits, and educational programs. The annual Grape Day Festival is popular and the Dia de los Muertos celebration is lively.
Notable outdoor destinations include Daley Ranch Preserve, which offers a network of scenic trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, and Kit Carson Park which features scenic walking paths, picnic areas, and a pond.
Schools
Escondido is served by both the Escondido Union School District (EUSD) and San Pasqual Union School District (SPUSD). EUSD gets decent reviews, scoring** a "B-" on niche.com**. SPUSD is just a single school elementary school so it impacts less of the overall education experiences of the city. Escondido is also home to highly regarded private schools as well as Palomar College, a well-respected community college.
Families with children in Harmony Grove Village have access to schools in the Escondido Union School District including San Pasqual High School and families in South Escondido have access to notable schools including L.R. Green Elementary School and Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
On The Rise
Escondido is undergoing a major upgrade to its downtown. Turning a suburban city with a small commercial district into a more authentic Mainstreet USA vibe. It's hard to find cities before they become "hot" but one of the big early alerts is when an upgrade is coming to the downtown area.
Reviews of Escondido from Locals
HopefulMammoth5329
Living in Escondido
4mo ago
🦉🦉🦉
Hi! My husband and I moved to San Diego in 2021 and were renting in Mission Valley. Our commute home was ~45 minutes and so when we started looking to buy, Escondido didn't look so bad, just ~45 minutes in the other direction. We bought a house in very north Escondido in 2022 and we love our neighborhood. It is very safe, quiet, and so beautiful. (Also, we bought a 3k sqft house on an acre, with a long driveway, on top of a hill, for the price of a condo/townhouse in San Diego.) We love the local wildlife and frequently see birds of all kinds, owls, butterflies, bunnies, bobcats, racoons, and other critters. We tolerate the mice/scorpions/coyotes/taranchulas/snakes because they are a package deal with all the pretty birds. Also, I think this is more of a rural/canyon life thing than an Escondido thing :-) I work in the Kearny Mesa area and am convinced that Hidden Meadows' air is cleaner.
We are really happy with our decision to move North. We still make visits to San Diego in our free time because it is a great city, but we love going home to Escondido and spend many weekends at home now, inviting friends over instead of going out. There are also many restaurant gems in Escondido, we love Frida's! We frequently go to Grand Avenue (so many cute restaurants & cafes), I love the hiking around my house and in the Dixon Lake area. The summer car shows are cute, we want to make more of an effort to go to community events and even cute restaurant-hosted events. We walked in on trivia at a burger bar near Grand St and it was just such an inviting, nice place to be. And I can't wait to try the yoga studio with the giant window on Grand Street. I think that Escondido's unfussy, laid back atmosphere is part of why we love it so much.
For more reviews of what living in Escondido is like from locals check out: The Reviews.
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Living in Escondido
Neighborhoods in Escondido
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Lake Hodges
Families/DINKs/Retirees
Lake Hodges is renowned for its strong community and outdoor recreational opportunities. At the heart of the neighborhood lies the lake itself which spans over 1,200 acres. This reservoir invites boating, kayaking, and fishing. Lake Hodges Park and the trails that wind through the hills and meadows provide for hikers and cyclists and offer playgrounds and picnic areas.
Lake Hodges has a mix of single family homes and townhomes/condos so while popular with families, there are smaller footprint options if you're empty-nested/retired or just not in the family way. Some of the housing stock is classic socal adobe but you'll also find plenty of very modern homes. The median home price is $1.5m so that beauty and nature comes with a price.