To read this guide in Español, please visit https://exprealty.com/guides/los-5-mejores-suburbios-de-san-diego-ca/
There is something alluring about settling in San Diego’s downtown area. From the lush 1200-acre Balboa Park and the views of Embarcadero Marina to the lively atmosphere of the clubs at Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park’s seasonal events and concerts; there’s a lot to see and do when you live in the heart of California’s second-largest city. Downtown San Diego real estate is also one of California’s most sought-after urban housing markets.
Currently, 1% of San Diego County’s population calls downtown home, almost twice the figure a decade ago. But at the end of the day, Downtown San Diego and its surroundings still follow the standard traits of a buzzing metropolis; and there can be enough congestion in San Diego to entice would-be homebuyers to consider the suburbs.
Fortunately, the city boasts some of the most livable suburban areas in all of SoCal! To make your search for a house in San Diego a little simpler, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 best suburbs of San Diego County.
Poway
Being a coastal California city, the best suburbs of San Diego are commonly pictured as beachside communities of endless ocean views, water-focused recreation, and abundant palm trees, but Poway has a character of its own. Located inland, around 22 miles northeast of San Diego’s core, Poway has a growing population of 50K people who live a pleasant rural lifestyle with all the amenities of a modern city within reach. If you’re looking for a great place to live, work, or raise a family near San Diego, Poway is worth considering due to the following factors:
- Safety: Poway is the only city in the San Diego area that made it to SafeWise’s list of “The 10 Safest Cities in California for 2022.”
- High-Quality Education: The local school district, Poway Unified School District, is the third-best school district in the San Diego Area and one of the 30 best school districts in California, according to Niche.com.
- Low Unemployment Rates: Poway’s unemployment rate of 2.3% is far below the national average, which stands at 3.6%.
- Fantastic Outdoor Attractions: Equine lovers and trail riders will love to know that Poway, known as “The City in the Country,” boasts six sprawling local parks, over 55 miles of hiking trails, and 40 square miles of the city’s open land is dedicated to horse trails.
Though it was often perceived as an old-western cowboy town (Poway hosts the only annual rodeo in San Diego County), Poway has evolved into a focal point for large, high-end neighborhoods and affluent living in northern San Diego. Rancho Bernardo, Sabre Springs, and Sorrento Valley are top communities in the city. The Poway real estate market is a fertile and competitive seller’s market with a median sale price of over $1M and the best homes for sale in Poway go pending within six days.
If you are considering relocating to Poway, you’ll find a wide variety of real estate options. The houses for sale in Poway, CA, are the most abundant form of housing available for purchase. Properties range from modest bungalows and Ranch-style homes of three or four bedrooms to upper-class, lavish residences in acreage of equestrian property. For semi-detached alternatives, there are some gorgeous new construction townhomes in downtown Poway. The apartments and condos for sale in Poway provide the most budget-friendly option for homebuyers in the area.
Attractions & Landmarks: Lake Poway, Maderas Golf Club, Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, Museum of Creation and Earth History, San Dieguito River Park, Old Poway Park, Poway-Midland Railroad.
Distance from San Diego: 22 miles / 28 minutes
Median Sale Price: $1.1M
Zip Codes: 92064
Chula Vista
Chula Vista (Spanish for “beautiful view”) is the second-largest city in the San Diego Metropolitan Area. It is located around 10 miles south of downtown San Diego and seven miles north of the Mexican border. Chula Vista offers endless natural beauty in over 52 square miles of shoreline landscapes, mountains, and canyons. It also provides space for abundant outdoor excursions, a multicultural, close-knit community, and the most authentic Mexican food you’ll find on this side of the border.
Chula Vista is a hub for amenities and recreation in south San Diego and one of Southern California’s most mature, affordable, and sought-after real estate markets. If you’re looking to move into one of the best suburbs of San Diego for work, school, or a more relaxed pace of life, Chula Vista is worth considering for the following reasons:
- A Healthy Job Market And Local Economy: Chula Vista has unemployment rates under the national and state averages (3.4%) and several sectors like IT & Tech, healthcare, education, and manufacturing drive the economic growth.
- Low Crime Rates: Chula Vista has been rated among the safest cities in San Diego County by WalletHub on several occasions.
- Excellent Parks: Chula Vista has 560 acres of public parkland (more than 64 well-cared-for parks).
- Outstanding Schools: The Chula Vista Elementary School District and the Sweetwater Union High School District operate several high-performing schools. Heritage Elementary School, Arroyo Vista Charter School, and Salt Creek Elementary School, all rank 10 of 10 according to greatschools.org.
- Tons of Things To Do: From the hiking and relaxing picnicking opportunities in 200-acre Otay Valley Regional Park, cycling the Bayshore Bikeway, or going on kayaking and boating adventures at The Chula Vista Marina & Yacht Club.
Compared to seaside California cities like San Francisco, the housing market in the suburbs of San Diego is still reasonably priced. With a median home price of just over $800K, Chula Vista real estate is a great example of it. The price you end up paying, though, will depend on factors like the property size and attributes, and the neighborhood you’re buying in. Purchasing Chula Vista homes for sale in communities like Fenton Street, Otay Ranch, and East Lake can give you a little extra bang for your buck.
The housing supply in Chula Vista includes single-family detached homes of three, four, and even five bedrooms and desirable family-focused features. These properties rarely rise above the $1M mark, which, in California, is God-given. If you crave even more affordability, go for attached housing alternatives, like the Chula Vista townhouses, changing hands for around $600K. If low-rise condos are a more appealing option for your lifestyle, there are both existing and newly constructed units in Chula Vista, ranging between $349K – $1.3M.
Attractions & Landmarks: Chula Vista Marina View Park, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the Living Coast Discovery Center, Otay Valley Regional Park, Imperial Beach Pier, Aquatica by SeaWorld, Mattress Firm Amphitheatre.
Distance from San Diego: 10 miles / 13 minutes
Median Sale Price: $809K
Zip Codes: 91910, 91911, 91913, 91914
La Mesa
Tranquil and suburban La Mesa, CA, is a family-friendly community east of San Diego’s core blessed with warm Mediterranean weather, a thriving arts & culture scene, and plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, and picnicking in the nearby hills as well as water-based recreation in the neighboring lakes and reservoirs. La Mesa residents are known for their friendliness. This is the kind of place where strangers greet you in the streets, and it is common to see different generations enjoying community events. Being located just minutes from San Diego State University is another enticing attribute of this best suburb of San Diego.
If you’re looking for a place to call home in SoCal, La Mesa should be at the top of your list. Here are some additional perks:
- Great Schooling Options: La Mesa-Spring Valley School District provides high-quality education and its highest-rated schools include Helix Charter High School, La Mesa Arts Academy, Murdock Elementary School, and Grossmont High School.
- Convenient Transportation: Traffic is no longer an issue for frequent commuters in La Mesa. A trolley system runs between the city’s many stops and several attractions across downtown San Diego.
- Plentiful Amenities: La Mesa amenities include commercial areas with abundant shopping and dining options, public transportation with bus and trolley services, and 21 parks and sports facilities, including La Mesita, Harry Griffen, and Aztec Park.
- Incredible Natural Scenery: There’s no shortage of natural wonders to explore in La Mesa, CA. From the vast open spaces of Mission Trails Regional Park to the views of Lake Murray.
La Mesa frequently earns a spot in almost any list of the best suburbs of San Diego because of the different types of La Mesa real estate options available. If the single-family homes for sale in La Mesa are your main real estate pursuit, you’ll encounter anything from modest Ranch-style homes to sprawling estates of Contemporary design on generous lots. The market is dynamic, and the median sale price is $860K, not exorbitant by California standards.
For more wallet-conscious homebuyers, the condos for sale in La Mesa are a great choice, with 1-bedroom units on low-rise buildings starting at around $390K. Another affordable alternative is the townhouses in La Mesa. Some of these properties have two or three bedrooms and gorgeous hills views, costing between $475K and $800K.
Attractions & Landmarks: Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, Harry Griffen Park, MacArthur Park, Mission Trails Regional Park Lake Murray, La Mesita Park.
Distance from San Diego: 12 miles / 15 minutes
Median Sale Price: $860K
Zip Codes: 91941
Rancho Santa Fe
Affluent Rancho Santa Fe is a San Diego’s North County locale in high demand for its sophisticated atmosphere, proximity to the beach, and lush surroundings. Often featured on the Forbes list of America’s most expensive zip codes, Rancho Santa Fe offers a lifestyle similar to that of other famed rich California areas, like Beverly Hills, Bel Air, or Malibu. If you want to live in an exclusive community of vast golf courses, with a wide range of luxurious houses and a number of premium gated communities, Rancho Santa Fe is the ideal suburb of San Diego for you.
With its idyllic setting and top-notch amenities, relocating to “The Ranch” will bring you many joys. Here are some of the most notable ones:
- Proximity To The Ocean: Rancho Santa Fe is a quick 13-minute drive from beaches like Tide Beach or Fletcher Cove Beach.
- Great High Schools: Two local public high schools (Canyon Crest Academy and Torrey Pines High School) under the supervision of The San Dieguito Union High School District are listed in Niche’s Top 10 of the Best Public High Schools in California.
- High-End Shopping & Dining: Although Rancho Santa Fe is primarily residential, there are a few sections – like the town center – that have luxury shopping, eateries, galleries, and civic buildings.
- Renowned Golf Clubs: Golfing is a big deal in Rancho Santa Fe, and the top places to practice your swing in town are Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club, Del Mar Country Club, Farms Golf Club, and Lomas Santa Fe Executive Golf Course.
Buyers home shopping in Rancho Santa Fe should expect hefty prices, but they will also get accustomed to grand-scale living, gorgeous scenery, and truly unique, lavish properties. No wonder the area stands out as one of the best suburbs of San Diego. Real estate in Rancho Santa Fe can be found in over 35 distinct enclaves, many of them being gated communities filled with benefits and comforts. Fairbanks Ranch, Cielo, and The Bridges are among the best places to live in Rancho Santa Fe.
The single-family detached homes for sale dominate the market in this posh San Diego suburb. Still, some condo residences and a limited number of Rancho Santa Fe townhouses are also available. Many houses are four to five-bedroom Spanish single-story estates, newly-constructed custom mansions of contemporary design, and Mediterranean-style villas with stately grounds and sweeping hill views. Prices in this area go from $2.8M to over $98M.
Attractions & Landmarks: San Dieguito Park, Torrey Pines State Reserve, Torrey Pines State Beach, San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Nature Center, San Diego Polo Fields.
Distance from San Diego: 25 miles / 30 minutes
Median Sale Price: $3.8M
Zip Codes: 92067, 92091
Encinitas
Encinitas is a charming beach city located between Solana Beach and Carlsbad, around 26 miles north of San Diego and 95 miles south of Los Angeles, CA. Lying along six miles of coastline, Encinitas is a popular destination for surfers and sunbathers. The city is also home to a number of eclectic art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants, a cute historic downtown district, and the San Diego Botanic Garden. Locals can enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Ocean from the cliffs of Cardiff State Beach or take a meditative stroll through the Self-Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens. Keep reading to discover why so many people consider Encinitas one of the best suburbs of San Diego:
- The Vibe: Encinitas is a chill spot with a chic beachside attitude. This is the perfect place to enjoy a 1960’s surf culture while also experiencing the newest and most innovative interior design, fashion, food, and spirits.
- The Schools: Highly-rated Encinitas Union Elementary School District provides outstanding K-6 education to the local children. The area boasts 63 schools in total, with Flora Vista Elementary School and San Dieguito High Academy among the best options.
- The Recreation: Encinitas boasts some of the best beaches along historic Highway 101, including Moonlight State Beach and Sea Cliff. Strolling the gardens, taking a hike at the 2.1-mile Encinitas Ranch Trail, and golfing are other popular activities in the area.
- The Safety: Encinitas is a safe place to reside in Cali; in fact, the crime rate is nearly half the national average. The overall crime rate is about 13 per 1,000 people.
The city of Encinitas is composed of five well-defined neighborhoods, each with its own communities and home types. Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Olivenhain, and New Encinitas are among the most popular areas to buy a home for sale in Encinitas. Currently, the median sale price for properties in this best suburb of San Diego is almost $2M, and homes sell after spending a median of 45 days on the market.
The most abundant type of real estate in Encinitas, CA, is the single-family detached house, ranging from simple single-story 4-bedroom suburban homes to state-of-the-art mansions on the water. If condos in Encinitas are a more convenient option for you, two and three-bedroom units in low-rises are available to purchase. But if an Encinitas townhome sounds more convenient for your specific needs, there are options with all the commodities and incredible Pacific Ocean views priced between $650K and $4M.
Attractions & Landmarks: San Diego Botanic Garden, Swami’s Beach, San Elijo State Beach, Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens, Moonlight State Beach, Cardiff State Beach.
Distance from San Diego: 26 miles / 30 minutes
Median Sale Price: $1.9M
Zip Codes: 92024
The Best Suburbs Of San Diego, CA
Considering a move to the Golden State? You’ll be pleased with the highly-rated communities on our list. These 5 best suburbs of San Diego provide a peaceful way of life while still being close to all the downtown activities and amenities. If you’re unsure about San Diego, check out the 5 best suburbs of Los Angeles, CA that offers quieter lifestyle but still close to all the LA action. Whenever you’re ready to take the next step, reach out to a local eXp real estate agent. They would be more than happy to help you start your house-hunting journey!
