Find Your San Diego

San Diego neighborhood quiz

Find your San Diego.

Moving to San Diego, or moving across it? Answer ten quick questions and see which of 25 neighborhoods and towns across the county fit the way you live.

Where to live in San Diego

25 places, six corners of the county

San Diego County runs from Oceanside to the border and from the beach to the backcountry. A 20-minute drive can change the weather, the home styles and the price. Open a region to see the short version of each area in the quiz.

Coastal San Diego

La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Coronado
La Jolla $$$$
Coves, sea lions and a walkable village, with UC San Diego and the biotech corridor close by.
Median sale price: $2.39M
Pacific Beach $$$
Boardwalk, surf and a lively bar and restaurant scene a few blocks from the sand.
Median sale price: $1.62M
Ocean Beach $$$
Funky and independent, with Newport Avenue shops, a dog beach and Sunset Cliffs.
Median sale price: $1.35M
Point Loma $$$
Harbor and skyline views, Liberty Station, and a quick trip to downtown and the airport.
Median sale price: $1.74M
Coronado $$$$
A small-town island feel across the bay, with a wide flat beach and the Hotel del Coronado.
Median sale price: $2.89M

Central & Urban

Downtown & Little Italy, North Park & South Park, Hillcrest & Mission Hills, Clairemont
Downtown & Little Italy $
Condo living near the bay, Petco Park, the trolley and Little Italy's restaurants and Saturday market.
Median sale price: Downtown $680K · Little Italy $578K
North Park & South Park $$
Craftsman bungalows, breweries and coffee shops along 30th Street, next to Balboa Park.
Median sale price: North Park $895K · South Park $1.34M
Hillcrest & Mission Hills $$
Historic homes on canyon-edge streets, with walkable dining and a central location.
Median sale price: Hillcrest $782K · Mission Hills $1.54M
Clairemont $$
Mid-century ranch homes on canyon rims, in the middle of everything and near Mission Bay.
Median sale price: West Clairemont $1.15M

North County Coastal

Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe
Carmel Valley $$$
Newer planned neighborhoods off the 5 and 56, a short drive to Del Mar's beaches and Sorrento Valley.
Median sale price: $1.89M
Del Mar $$$$
A small seaside village with ocean bluffs, the racetrack and the fairgrounds.
Median sale price: $4.10M
Encinitas $$$$
A classic surf town along Highway 101, from Leucadia to Swami's and Cardiff.
Median sale price: $2.05M
Carlsbad $$$
A beach village, three lagoons, the Flower Fields and newer neighborhoods, with Coaster rail service.
Median sale price: $1.58M
Oceanside $$
A pier, a harbor and a growing downtown. One of the more attainable beach cities in the county.
Median sale price: $889K
Rancho Santa Fe $$$$
Estates, horse trails and quiet winding roads a few miles in from the coast.
Median sale price: $6.00M

North County Inland

San Marcos & Vista, Escondido, Poway, Rancho Bernardo & 4S Ranch, Scripps Ranch
San Marcos & Vista $$
Newer homes in the hills along Highway 78, a state university and a strong craft brewery scene.
Median sale price: San Marcos $974K · Vista $859K
Escondido $
Historic Grand Avenue, larger lots, nearby wineries and the Safari Park.
Median sale price: $792K
Poway $$
Known as the City in the Country, with big lots, Lake Poway and miles of trails.
Median sale price: $1.23M
Rancho Bernardo & 4S Ranch $$$
Planned communities along the I-15 with golf courses, parks and newer homes.
Median sale price: Rancho Bernardo $1.01M · 4S Ranch $1.82M
Scripps Ranch $$$
Eucalyptus-lined streets around Lake Miramar, with a short drive to central job centers.
Median sale price: $1.36M

East County

La Mesa, Santee, Ramona & Alpine
La Mesa $
A walkable village main street, character homes around Mt. Helix and a trolley line to downtown.
Median sale price: $841K
Santee $
Warm and sunny, next to Santee Lakes and Mission Trails, with good value for the space.
Median sale price: $787K
Ramona & Alpine $$
Backcountry towns with acreage, horses, wineries and wide open views.
Median sale price: Ramona $824K · Alpine $1.15M

South Bay

Chula Vista: Eastlake & Otay Ranch, Imperial Beach
Chula Vista: Eastlake & Otay Ranch $$
Large planned communities with newer homes, lakes, parks and village centers.
Median sale price: Chula Vista citywide $858K · Otay Ranch $897K
Imperial Beach $
A laid-back beach town with a pier and an estuary, and prices below most of the coast.
Median sale price: $846K
  • $Under $850K
  • $$$850K to $1.25M
  • $$$$1.25M to $2M
  • $$$$$2M and up

Median sale prices are from Redfin, all home types.

New to buying?

Play the road to your keys

Nine stops from pre-approval to closing day. See what you do, what we do, and make one call at each stop. It takes about five minutes.

Play the buying game

Your local guides

Two working journalists who know San Diego street by street

Andrew Luria and Jaime Chambers have covered San Diego for the news for decades, from Oceanside to the border, and both are still on the air. Both grew up in real estate families. They use what they learn on both jobs to help people find the right corner of the county.

4th

generation in real estate

Each of them comes from a family that has worked in real estate for four generations.

50

years in the news, combined

Emmy Award-winning journalists who are still reporting today, out in San Diego's neighborhoods asking questions and listening.

$50M+

in sales in the last two years

More than $50 million in homes bought and sold with our clients over the past two years.

Andrew Luria

Andrew Luria

Fourth-generation real estate, 14-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, and a North County dad of three.

DRE #02215649 · 805-264-5079
andrew.luria@exprealty.com

Jaime Chambers

Jaime Chambers

Fourth-generation real estate, Emmy Award-winning television news reporter, raised around custom home building.

DRE #01965798 · 858-790-9222
jaime@ospreyexp.com

Moving to San Diego

Questions people ask us

What is the best area of San Diego to live in?

It depends on how you want to spend your days. Beach towns like Encinitas and Ocean Beach trade space for sand. Inland communities like Poway and Rancho Bernardo offer bigger homes and warmer weather. Urban neighborhoods like North Park and Little Italy put restaurants at your door. The quiz narrows 25 areas down to the few that fit you.

How different is the weather between the coast and inland?

More than most newcomers expect. The coast stays cooler and often cloudy in late spring and early summer, which locals call May Gray and June Gloom. A few miles inland it is sunnier and noticeably warmer, especially in summer.

What is North County?

North County is the northern part of San Diego County. The coastal side includes Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. The inland side follows the I-15 and Highway 78 and includes Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, San Marcos and Vista.

Where can I get more home for my money?

Prices generally ease as you move away from the coast. East County, inland North County and parts of South Bay tend to offer more space for the price than the beach communities. Our guide shows a recent median sale price for each area. Ask us for this week's numbers.

Do I have to talk to an agent to see my results?

No. Your results appear right away and we do not ask for your email. If you would like a local opinion afterward, send us a note.

Say hello

Want a local second opinion?

Tell us a little about your move. We will reply with honest thoughts on your matches, and places you may not have considered. No sales pitch.

Andrew Luria

eXp Realty · DRE #02215649

Call or text
805-264-5079
Email
andrew.luria@exprealty.com

Jaime Chambers

eXp Realty · DRE #01965798

Call or text
858-790-9222
Email
jaime@ospreyexp.com