1,447,100
Population
Sunny Days: 266
85100 Affordability
90100 Schools
100100 Diversity
90100 Safety
Stay Sexy
San Diego, California
Sandy Eggo
Downtown San Diego
Mission Beach, San Diego, Credit: Sean Mullowney
LookyLOO Review of San Diego
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.
There are some downsides including: square footage costs are well over average. And frankly, so is everything else. And, the fires and drought and earthquake -- not great.
Lifestyle
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.
Worklife
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.
Schools
The San Diego Unified School District is one of the best in California, rating an "A" on niche.com with exceptional ratings for College Prep.
While there are schools with "A's" throughout the district, the highest scoring regions are on the north/west sides and the far east region near Mission Trails Park. A couple of secondary pearls amidst the large district include:
-Mt Everest Academy: a K-12 Alternative Public, that receives an A+ on niche.com and is rated the best elementary school in California.
-Scripps Ranch High School is another gem. Located north of the city it also rates an "A+" on niche.com and is renowned for Academics and College Prep.
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.
Reviews of San Diego from Locals
The Shirt off your Back
ronj1983
Living in San Diego
1y ago
✭✭✭✭✭
From NYC 37 years. Here 2.5 years. The fucking people here will give you the shirt off their backs. I am black and have been in trouble in some all white, upper class areas and the people have hepled me there greatly. So much so I thought I was on candid camera. I hangout at Sky Deck, which is a rooftop bar in Del Mar. Only black person there and it is all love. I run so I am friends with everybody. White, Mexican, Indian/Middle Eastern etc. Just go to a bar, shoot your mouth off, and people will love you. South of the 94 is supposedly the hood for the most part. Again, I'm from NYC so I laugh at that. Encanto and Lincoln Park are south of the 94 and are supposed to be the worst areas. Again, I laugh. Personal favorite? I am biased as I work from Del Mar to Carlsbad so that is it for me. If I am close to home? My place would be Kensington to live. Middle East background? You will love Kearny Mesa and Mira Mesa for food. Very good Indian/Middle Eastern food there. I live right off of El Cajon Blvd and College Ave. Kinda diverse and in the middle of everything. Get to the beach in 20-25 minutes driving no traffic.
For more reviews of what living in San Diego is like from locals check out: The Reviews
Living in San Diego
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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.