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. 


It's a Hidden Gem

LookyLOO Review of Escondido

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**](https://www.escondido.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Daley-Ranch-21), which offers a network of scenic trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, and [**Kit Carson Park**](https://www.escondido.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Kit-Carson-Park-6) which features scenic walking paths, picnic areas, and a pond. 


Lifestyle 

Escondido is served by both the [**Escondido Union School District**](https://www.eusd.org/) (EUSD) and [**San Pasqual Union School District**](https://www.sanpasqualunion.net/) (SPUSD). EUSD gets decent reviews, scoring** a ["B-" on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/escondido-union-school-district-ca/). 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**](https://www.sphsgoldeneagles.org/) and families in South Escondido have access to notable schools including [**L.R. Green Elementary School**](https://lrgreen.eusd.org/) and [**Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences**](https://ddaas.eusd.org/).

Schools

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. 

On The Rise

Why You Should Move Here Now? 

**Hopeful_Mammoth_5329**
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**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/escondido/reviews).

Reviews of Escondido from Locals

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. 

Families/DINKs/Retirees

Lake Hodges

The "center" of Hidden Meadows is the Community Center, which hosts year-round social and play (kiddo and grown-up) activities like holiday parties, fitness classes, and educational opportunities.

The neighborhood has plenty of parks with play structures, courts and green spaces for doggos and kiddos. The neighborhood is zones for nearby schools including Reidy Creek Elementary School and Bear Valley Middle School, both strong options in the district. Housing is mixed between massive new construction, older cottage/ranch style and some condo/townhome options. Homes average in the $1.5m+ but you can find some below that so Hidden Meadows can be a bargain for the area. 



Families

Hidden Meadows

Harmony Grove Village is another beautiful neighborhood built deep in the rolling hills of Escondido. It’s one of the rare planned communities that was smartly designed within the surrounding landscapes and possesses a commitment to preserve the natural beauty of the area. That means locals have acres of open space and preserved natural habitats including an extensive network of trails for hiking, running or biking while you enjoy the views of southern California. 

The Village Commons is the community's central hub. It has a resort-style pool and spa, multiple parks for outdoor play and a BBQ area for family and community events. The Village also has a sports park for the kids to play little league etc., a great dog park, and community gardens when you want to get your zen on. The neighborhood is also close to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which many consider the best zoo on the planet. Locals are typically zoned for Elfin Forest Elementary School and San Pasqual High School, both strong options in the district.
Much of the housing in the area is single-family homes, with the median price in the $800k+ range although some newer construction, larger homes can jump up in the millions quite easily. 

Harmony Grove Village

If you want to live in the heart of the action in the city then pick South Escondido. While it has suburban blocks it is also home to the downtown district and the highest density restaurants/bars, cafes and boutique shopping. If high walk score is important to you this is the place. Historic Grand Avenue is the center of this action and it’s in growth mode so more to come with growth in mind for this emerging Mainstreet USA-style neighborhood. 

The neighborhood, while centered around downtown also has several great parks and rec areas. Kit Carson Park is one of them and it really has it all. Lots of green spaces to run around, playgrounds for the kiddos, and sports facilities for little leagues and informal games. Schools where the locals attend include L.R. Green Elementary School and [**Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences**](https://ddaas.eusd.org/), which in particular is a prized academic choice. 
Housing options in South Escondido are more varied than other neighborhoods due to the mix of smaller single family homes near downtown, larger newer builds in the more suburban surrounding blocks and the condos/apartments, like [**Villa Escondido**](https://www.willowpartners.com/properties/villa-escondido/),   that surround the blocks near the commercial district.


Families/Young Professionals/DINKs

South Escondido

Perhaps the most fabulous neighborhood in Escondido, if rural luxurious escape is on your list of requirements is San Pasqual Valley. It’s really a retreat for those happy with being apart from the city. It has a rich vineyard and general agricultural heritage, built from the lush hills on the north end of the city. Amidst this beauty you also get the [**San Diego Zoo Safari Park**](https://sdzsafaripark.org/), that gives an element of rugged expedition energy to the bucolic blocks. 
You also get some of the more beautiful hiking trails, including the [**Santa Ysabel Preserve**](https://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SantaYsabelNatureCenter.html) and [**Daley Ranch**](https://www.escondido.org/daley-ranch), as well as plenty of golf, wineries, and stunning daily views of the valley. Homes here are pricey, many stretch up above $5m although the media home price is ~$2m. 


San Pasqual Valley

Escondido

**Hopeful_Mammoth_5329**
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.


obmasztirf**
**2 yr ago
🦉🦉🦉

I've always lived in North County and started in Escondido as child and moved closer to the coast as my families finances improved. When the 2008 crash happened we started moving inland as it was more affordable. When I was an adult looking for a home I wanted to stay in North County because I love biking and there was a lot of safe access. Ended up in Escondido soley because I found the right home next to Daley Ranch so could mountain bike from my front door without driving to a trail. The location is great too because I am in East Reidy Creek about 2 miles from El Norte & Broadway but just far enough away that most the crime avoids us. As such it's very quiet and I rarely hear sirens. A big bonus is that I have an ebike and because I am close to town I can get around with that just as fast a car and save lots on gas when running errands. Also I have noticed the pot holes around here get fixed relatively fast where I live which has been nice to see.

My only complaint is how aggressively the police deal with the homeless.

**_dactor_**
Living in Escondido
5mo ago
🦉🦉🦉


Live in SW Escondido and I like it a lot tbh.

Pros:

near I15 so it's a lot faster to drive into San Diego than it is from Vista or Oside

near Del Dios hwy so it's fast and easy to get to Encinitas/Solana Beach/Del Mar as well

cheaper rents than just about anywhere in N County

Cons:

it can get hot in the Summer months, you pretty much need AC

if you spend a lot of time in Carlsbad/Oside the commute out that way is longer than it is from Vista

People will snub their nose at you for living in Escondido (/s because who cares)

**cpenguin**
2y ago
🦉🦉

I live in Escondido. It was relatively affordable to own a home here when I bought. Great access to outdoor activities, pretty easy to reach other communities as well. I feel safe walking at night and I appreciate a lot of the local character. Lots of nice little shops on Grand. Much of the city south of Second Ave is pretty run down. A lot of dilapidated buildings and empty lots. All over the city it seems like there is a surplus of commercial real estate not being used. City services are pretty limited except for cops. It seems like they are everywhere all the time harassing homeless people. If that was going to work it would have by now. Don’t get me started about their helicopter circling overhead and making useless noise.

Escondido, California

Hidden Treasure

Looklyloo Score: 85