If you’re looking for the best place to live near San Diego, we’ve got you covered. We looked at a whole bunch of data to figure out which 10 San Diego suburbs were the best of the best.
These suburbs have plenty of amenities, low crime rates, and beautiful homes, close to all the action in downtown San Diego.
Let’s take a look at the winners.
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,966
- Total amenities: 5,037
- Median household income: $91,795
The oceanfront city of Encinitas kicks off our list of the best San Diego suburbs to live in with a range of housing options, from chic modern condos to sprawling Mediterranean style homes.
Arts and culture enthusiasts will love annual events like the Encinitas Arts Festival, while nature lovers enjoy a peaceful stroll through the San Diego Botanical Garden. Residents also enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, and other waterfront activities.
Key Stats:
- Average commute time: 21 minutes
- Unemployment rate: 5.9 percent
- Median household income: $91,103
Coronado comes in second on our list with one of the lowest average commute times of any place we ranked. Home buyers have their pick of spacious contemporary and Mediterranean style homes.
Enjoy a day of swimming, fishing, boating, or strolling along the water at the Silver Strand State Beach or Coronado Beach. Golf enthusiasts can hit the links at the Sea N Air Golf Course or the Coronado Golf Course.
Key Stats:
- Median household income: $107,457
- Unemployment rate: 1.1 percent
- Total amenities: 1,588
The affluent beachside community of Del Mar is tied for second on our list with plenty of luxury condos, contemporary homes, and Mediterranean homes for potential buyers.
Grab fresh local produce at the Del Mar Farmers Market, spend the day swimming, boating, and strolling along the beach. Nature lovers will flock to the challenging scenic trails at Crest Canyon Park.
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,345
- Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent
Poway is the third suburb tied for second on our list with one of the lowest crime rates of any place we ranked. Home buyers have their pick of modern townhomes and sprawling Mediterranean style homes.
Nature lovers will flock to the scenic 700-acre Blue Sky Ecological Reserve for hiking and wildlife watching, while golf enthusiasts hit the links at the Stoneridge Country Club. Residents can also see live music, dance, and theater performances at the Poway Center for Performing Arts.
Key Stats:
- Average commute time: 22 minutes
- Total amenities: 2,205
Home buyers looking for chic modern condos or spacious Mediterranean style homes with oceanfront views have their pick in the seaside community of Solana Beach.
Golf enthusiasts can hit the links at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club, while nature lovers enjoy swimming, boating, or strolling along the water at the beach. Residents also enjoy convenient shopping from brand name retailers at the Solana Beach Town Center.
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 2,087
- Total amenities: 7,996
The oceanfront city of Carlsbad earns the sixth spot on our list with a population of over 107,000 and plenty of amenities to match. Home buyers have their pick of modern townhomes and Mediterranean style homes.
Golf enthusiasts have their pick of numerous country clubs and courses, and the Carlsbad Premium Outlets give residents access to brand name retailers at discount prices. Residents also enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, and other waterfront activities at the South Carlsbad State Beach.
Key Stats:
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,840
- Unemployment rate: 7.9 percent
San Marcos earned the seventh spot on our list with one of the lowest crime rates of any place we ranked. Home buyers will find a range of options, from modern condos to sprawling Mediterranean style homes.
Get to know new neighbors and enjoy live music at the Summer Concerts in the Gardens series, or enjoy a picnic in the numerous municipal parks. Residents can also check out a new book or attend an event at the San Marcos Library Branch.
Key Stats:
- Average commute time: 24 minutes
- Median household income: $70,899
Home buyers looking for the perfect house in Santee will have their pick of modern townhomes, spacious Mediterranean style homes, modest bungalows, and charming craftsman style homes.
Golf enthusiasts can hit the links at the Carlton Oaks Golf Course, while nature lovers enjoy hiking and camping in the expansive nearby Mission Trails Regional Park. Residents also enjoy convenient shopping from brand name retailers and casual dining in the open-air Santee Trolley Square shopping center.
Key Stats:
- Average commute time: 24 minutes
- Total amenities: 4,414
La Mesa earns the ninth spot on our list of the best San Diego suburbs to live in with modern condos, ranch style homes, and sprawling contemporary style homes for potential buyers.
Enjoy convenient shopping from brand name retailers at the Grossmont Center, or pick up fresh local produce at the La Mesa Farmers Market. Nature lovers will flock to the expansive Lake Murray Park.
Key Stats:
- Total amenities: 6,048
- Cost of living: 131, compared to the San Diego average of 144
Vista rounds out our list of the best San Diego suburbs to live in with a range of housing options for home buyers. Modern townhomes, spacious Mediterranean style homes, and charming craftsman style houses are common.
Nature lovers have plenty of ground to explore. Take a stroll through Buena Vista Park and picnic by the duck pond, or visit Bengal Terrace Park, which is home to an amphitheater that hosts live performances, a disc golf course, and the peaceful Alta Vista Botanical Gardens.
Our Methodology
To figure out which San Diego suburbs would make the cut, we took a look at the following criteria:
- Amenities per capita
- Standard of living (cost of living, median home value, median rent, median household income, and high school graduation rate)
- Total crimes per 100k
- Unemployment rate
- Average commute time
We ranked each suburb in the above categories and averaged the scores. The suburbs with the lowest overall scores made our list of the best San Diego suburbs to live in.
To see how the rest of the suburbs we ranked measured up, check out the table below:
Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
