1,447,100
Population
Sunny Days: 266
70100 Affordability
90100 Schools
66100 Diversity
81100 Safety
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San Diego, California
Sandy Eggo
Downtown San Diego
Mission Beach, San Diego, Credit: Sean Mullowney
The Best Thing About San Diego?
The chill vibe in a big city.
Tech startups and VCs are flocking to San Diego. The attraction is a big, functional city with all the attendant benefits but set in a surfer’s paradise. Long known as the older, less cool cousin to Los Angeles, the beach scene, the LGBTQ scene, the craft brew scene, the college town scene and the proximity to the best Mexican food anywhere (Mexico) have coalesced to create something youthful and unique.
Here's a review about living in San Diego from a transplant:
Former Bostonian here. The lifestyle here is slow and laid back. It does take time to adjust to it. When I first got here I found it annoying that the person ahead of me was chatting with the grocery checker - hurry up! But after a few months, I was the one chatting. A fair number of people, though, never get used to the slow pace and have to move back East. The weather is lovely. You never realize how much work it is to put on coat, boots, scarf, hat, earmuffs, and bring your umbrella. Here, you just get dressed and go out. For me, the moment came when I was taking out my trash cans, at night, in December, in a t-shirt, and I wasn't cold. If it's in the 50s or 60s, you'll get to laugh at the natives in puffy coats and earmuffs.
For more reviews of what living in San Diego is like from locals check out: The Reviews
The Worst Thing About San Diego?
Housing is not cheap.
Square footage costs are well over average. And frankly, so is everything else. And, the fires and drought and earthquakes…not great.
Here's a local on the problem with the costs of San Diego:
Everywhere in the US is getting more expensive, but San Diego is still outpacing most of the cities, aside from places like SF and NY and such. Plus the salaries here can be a bit lower than in some similarly expensive areas, so it's worse here than in many of the major cities in the country.
For more reviews of what living in San Diego is like from locals check out: The Reviews
Lifestyle of San Diego
One of the biggest contributing factors to the lifestyle of San Diego is the nice weather. Being sunny and temperate almost all year round, plus the proximity to some amazing beaches, means that people spend a lot of time outside. Everyone you know either surfs, spends their weekends hiking or biking, or plays beach volleyball. Despite being a huge city, this gives it a relaxed, beach-town vibe. The median age in the city is just under 35, which means it’s a great city for young professionals and young families. The city is also influenced by its proximity to the border, the military, and tech and tourism.
If you want to see what's happening in San Diego now and throughout the year check out the calendar of events.
Workstyle of San Diego
San Diego has a ton of economic opportunities for recently relocated residents. Even with the pandemic, San Diego has seen steady job growth over the past few years, with large industries like defense/military, tech, and life sciences dominating the job market. The top employers are the US Navy, Kaiser Permanente, The University of California, San Diego, and Sharp HealthCare.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
Escape
San Diego is the perfect place if you find yourself wanting to escape the bleak winters of the East Coast or the dreary fog of the Pacific Northwest. It may be expensive, but you can earn good money, live close to the ocean, and live like you’re in a Corona commercial.
Living in San Diego
Neighborhoods in San Diego
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The Area
San Diego is situated in the southwestern corner of the US. It’s the second largest city in California and the eighth largest city in the country. Considered the cooler, more chill younger sister city of Los Angeles, it’s south of LA and Irving and is north of Chula Vista (on the border). The city itself is bordered on the north by the famous San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park. The city itself can feel really clogged, especially during rush hour and peak tourism seasons. The location of the city influences the city a lot: it’s a border town, a beach town, and in California, which means it’s expensive. The city has a lot of great neighborhoods, but if you want to escape the dreaded traffic you’re going to want to head to any one of the super popular San Diego suburbs like Encinitas or Chula Vista which are nice, but definitely not San Diego.
University City
College Students
San Diego is home to a couple of great universities including UC San Diego, University of San Diego, San Diego State, and National University. One of the more popular universities, UC San Diego, is right next to University City, which is a large residential and university district close to campus. Through the center of the neighborhood is Rose Canyon Open Space Park, which has hiking trails and woodland areas perfect for weekends away from campus. There’s also a ton of great restaurants, shopping, and more in the area— what else can you ask for?
- University City
- La Jolla Village
- College Area
Hillcrest
Young Professionals
Young Professionals
What better way to spend your time after work than on the beach or grabbing drinks with friends on an outdoor patio? Living in San Diego as a young professional makes the 9-5 sludge almost bearable. If you’re wanting to relocate, we’d suggest starting your search in Hillcrest. This neighborhood is just north of downtown near the Zoo and is known for its friendly neighbors, walkability (by San Diego standards), and is at the heart of the LGBTQ+ community in SD. It has a ton of restaurants and bars, has live events, and a plethora of townhomes and apartments to choose from.
- Hillcrest
- North Park
- Ocean Beach
North Park
Young Families
Young families looking to relocate to San Diego are in luck. On top of everything that’s great about the city, San Diego also has amazing schools. If you’re looking to settled down, but not embrace suburbia yet, we suggest starting your search in North Park. The neighborhood has a city feel to it, but there are a ton of single-family homes, condos, and townhomes to choose from. On the weekends, you can get out and wander around art galleries, attend a festival, or hit the farmer’s market with the fam!
- North Park
- Mira Mesa
- La Mesa
Carmel Valley
Established Families
San Diego has a lot to offer for families with older children like great schools and some pretty stellar neighborhoods. That being said, it can get pricey. If you can afford it, Carmel Valley is our vote for the first place to check out in the city. It has a really family-feel to it, you won’t get side-eyed for saying “hello” to neighbors, and there are great schools!
- Carmel Valley
- Torrey Hills
- La Jolla