Living in America’s finest city – San Diego. According to CITYPOPULATIONREVIEW, the city in the US state of California is best known for its great climate and extremely popular with surfers due to its beaches. We have listed the different parts of the city to live in for you.
DOWNTOWN
Downtown San Diego is known as a cultural and financial center and thus as the central business district of the city. The city center is also home to the Convention Center, the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera, as well as several museums. Petco Park, home of the San Diego Baseball Padres, is also south of downtown. The transport connections are not that bad here, but it is often difficult to find a parking space.
The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego is particularly popular with young adults because of its nightclubs and bars, but most of them cannot afford a downtown apartment here.
Little Italy is a district of downtown that was originally known as the Italian fishing district. It’s a beautiful and active district that hosts tons of festivals and events every year. Since Little Italy is quite popular and has the lowest crime rate compared to other parts of downtown, the rental prices here are also extremely high.
BANKERS HILL
Bankers Hill is a neighborhood with lots of nice corners and borders Downtown to the south and Hillcrest and Mission Hills to the north. The neighborhood surrounds the famous and beautiful Balboa Park, which is also home to the popular San Diego Zoo and several museums. If you want to live here, you should expect slightly higher rental costs. Those who prefer to spend a little less on rent should look around Mira Mesa or Bay Park.
NORTH & SOUTH PARK
North and South Park are perfect for people who don’t want to live right in the city center or right on the beach. Both districts also border the beautiful Balboa Park and are also easily accessible via the freeway. Since these residential areas are very popular with young people, there is no shortage of cafes, restaurants or shops.
South Park is a small, charming residential area that convinces with cozy restaurants. The Street Dog Park offers a wonderful view of the downtown skyline. North Park primarily attracts hipsters, young professionals, and students. The nightlife takes place near the North Park Observatory, where concerts are held regularly.
Outside the city center
CLAIRMONT & MISSION VALLEY
The districts of Clairmont and Mission Valley have a lot in common. Their direct connections to the freeway draws people to the inexpensive residential areas. The University of San Diego borders both parts of the city here.
The Mission Valley district has hit the jackpot with the “Fashion Valley Mall”, as this is the largest shopping center in the city. In addition to the mall, you will also find other well-known shops here, such as the inexpensive Ross clothing store. There is also no lack of restaurants, bars and cafes here. Popular restaurants such as the Cheesecake Factory or In-N-Out Burger are also in the immediate vicinity.
CHULA VISTA & IMPERIAL BEACH
The residential areas of Chula Vista and Imperial Beach are located in the south of San Diego, not far from the Mexican border. Chula Vista is right on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is just a 15-minute drive from downtown. Chula Vista is Spanish for “beautiful view”.
At Imperial Beach you can enjoy the 450 meter long pier and take a wonderful stroll on the beach promenade. The district borders directly on Coronado – a town on a peninsula that is connected to the mainland via the raffle called Silver Strand. Due to its close proximity to Tijuana, Mexico, roughly half of Imperial Beach’s residents are Latinos, followed by European whites, who make up more than a third.
COLLEGE AREA & LA MESA
The college area is particularly popular with exchange students from San Diego State University. If you want to save the rental costs for a car, this is the place for you. There are enough student residences and many students also share houses with each other. The university’s famous fraternity houses are also in the College Area.
Both the College Area and La Mesa offer cafes, restaurants and various shopping opportunities. Directly connected to the freeway and the tram network, a trip to the city center or to the beach takes around 10-20 minutes. Uber and lift are also in great demand here.
ESCONDIDO & POWAY
Located close to the Pacific coast, Poway and Escondido are perfect residential areas for average wage earners. Young families can still afford a plot of land here and fulfill their dream of having their own four walls with children. Life outside of San Diego also has many advantages for children, as it is away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and offers a lot of nature. However, the summer months get really hot here and the traffic could sometimes cause problems.
Beachfront neighborhood
LA JOLLA
La Jolla is a suburb of the city and arguably the most beautiful beach area on the coast of San Diego. About 20 minutes from downtown, La Jolla, north of Pacific Beach, has a quiet and upscale character. In addition, the regions in the north of La Jolla such as Solana Beach, Encinitas or Carlsbad convince with their beautiful white sandy beaches.
Surfing, yoga and delicious healthy food are very popular with local residents. The quiet beach location naturally also explains the high rental prices. So it’s no wonder that the quiet neighborhoods around La Jolla are very popular with high-income families.
MISSION BEACH
Mission Beach is almost completely surrounded by water and lies between the Pacific and Mission Bay Area. In this small place there is practically no area from which it takes more than 2 to 5 minutes to get to the beach. So exactly the right place for all beach lovers.
The main artery in Mission Beach is Mission Boulevard, where you will find numerous cafes and restaurants that are within easy walking distance. There are also many recreational opportunities here, such as SeaWorld or Belmont Park – a small amusement park with a roller coaster. In contrast to the traffic in La Jolla, the freeway in Mission Beach can be reached quickly and easily.
OCEAN BEACH
Ocean Beach is located on the Pacific right at the mouth of the San Diego River and is very popular with all age groups. Here you can find an interesting mix of people from hippies and surfers to the older generation.
There is also a dog beach here, which should be an advantage for all dog owners. Another plus is the direct beach location and the breathtaking sunsets, which you can watch from the Sunset Cliffs.
Unfortunately, some of the houses here are showing their age. So caution is advised when buying a plot of land. At peak times, people like to get stuck in traffic here. You should be patient, especially when heading north.
PACIFIC BEACH
Pacific Beach is a neighborhood in San Diego that borders La Jolla to the north and Mission Bay to the south. Pacific Beach is home to the party scene, making it a haven for young college students. There are numerous restaurants, bars and clubs along the notorious Garnet Avenue party street.
Although the so-called “PB” is particularly popular with young people, there are also quiet, beautiful areas. In addition, more and more wealthy people are drawn to the area due to the steadily rising rental costs. The transport connections to the freeway are not without problems, especially at peak times.
