El Cajon area (San Diego, Rancho San Diego, Granite Hills: apartment complex, house, crime)

[househunter63]

I've seen some homes in El Cajon, and their prices aren't too bad. Is this a good area to live?

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by househunter63

I've seen some homes in El Cajon, and their prices aren't too bad. Is this a good area to live?

Read through some of the older threads on the subject. Basically, there are some good areas and there are some bad areas. The cheapest areas are usually the bad areas. The best areas are Fletcher Hills, Granite Hills, and the area just to the east of Mount Helix along the Cajon Valley rim.

[traveler guy]

Just drive around the area and use common sense of what a bad area is sorted by. If you conclude with a bad area that you don't feel comfortable in then don't move there. I have seen that most people that just don't do anything that would get them in a sticky situation wouldn't normally become a victim of crime. If you do notice it been a rough area and still move there keep in mind this advice and don't do anything stupid and you will be just as fine as if you were living in a nice part of time.

[jksouthbay88]

Define "Bad Area to Live".
Many San Diegans will tell you different things about what a rough area is.

[msdebagain]

dont buy anything near the DMV because traffic is horrendous. We had a home over there, and the realtor took us in the backway everytime. we didnt know any different. glad we're out. the DMV is off the 67 and Bradley.

[wisker]

Like other posters have said...there are good and bad areas (as in most cities). I was just there yesterday returning a uhaul truck on Main and 2nd Street and the area was "bad". Crack heads all over the place and this was at 4pm. I wouldn't even walk in the area in broad daylight. I think you can usually tell a "bad" area by the number of liquor stores, bail bonds stores and number of apartment complexes. I've seen some good prices on homes also in the area, but do a drive-by and you may be able to see why they are listed so low. Rancho San Diego is considered El Cajon...and that seems to be a nice area. I've also seen some gorgeous homes out by the Indian Casino that is considered El Cajon. I'm not a local, so just giving you my own observations.

[mattyk]

el cajon is one of those places to me that if you stay away from the wrong crowd they'll leave you alone. what i always loved about el cajon is that the damn city has hardly changed since my mom was a kid. i bowled in the same ally my parents did and thats just cool to me but i may just be a dork

[Mystique33]

I have lived in El Cajon for forty plus years. There are some bad places especially near downtown El Cajon. The safer areas are on the outskirts of
El Cajon, such as Pepper Drive, Fletcher Hills, Granite Hills Areas. I will only live in one of these areas. They do cost a little more than the other parts of El Cajon, but at least you can feel safe. The Rancho San Diego Area is very nice, however also VERY expensive (wish I could afford to live there ).

[SD Observer]

Originally Posted by Mystique33

I have lived in El Cajon for forty plus years. There are some bad places especially near downtown El Cajon. The safer areas are on the outskirts of
El Cajon, such as Pepper Drive, Fletcher Hills, Granite Hills Areas. I will only live in one of these areas. They do cost a little more than the other parts of El Cajon, but at least you can feel safe. The Rancho San Diego Area is very nice, however also VERY expensive (wish I could afford to live there ).

We've benn living in Fletcher Hills for 2 years now and we like it very much.

Downtown El Cajon and scattered sore spots are to be avoided. You will see some homeless, drunks, crack-heads, hookers, some gangsters, mentally ill, etc....

Fletcher Hills is a good solid middle class neighborhood with older and newer homes, some needing repair, but not ghetto or dangerous.

Decent people and a clean, quiet area.

[migrator]

Im moving to washington St. in El Cajon is this a good place to raise a 2 year old son?