Escondido??? (San Diego, San Marcos, August: apartments, renting, crime)

[LookingtoLeave]

I've been looking at rents online just to do some research and I've noticed that even some nice looking apts. (as far as pics are concerned) are fairly inexpensive. What's the deal? Is Escondido a questionable area? Are schools bad? I just don't get why it's so much cheaper. Same with San Marcos...

[Judy P.]

Escondido and San Marcos have there share of crime and gangs but then thats everywhere in most any city in the U.S.A. so it would be pretty hard to avoid IMHO.
Escondido and San Marcos are inland in San Diego county and so it tends to get pretty hot here in the summer ( a little cooler in San Marcos though) and cooler in the winter.
It really depends on where the apartments are located in the city as far as the crime and gang problems, some places are better than others. Escondido and San Marcos are mostly middle income but of course there are people who are wealthy and poor too. There also is a large population of illegal aliens in both towns.
You also should consider your travel time and the high price of gas depending on where you are working because it could well offset the savings of renting here.
As far as the schools there is a sticky at the top of this forum that would answer your questions.

[LookingtoLeave]

Out of curiosity, when you say hot, just how hot does it get there in the summer? I've heard many people say it's hot when it's in the mid-80's. I am from S. TX and that is not hot-now upwards of 100 is.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by LookingtoLeave

Out of curiosity, when you say hot, just how hot does it get there in the summer? I've heard many people say it's hot when it's in the mid-80's. I am from S. TX and that is not hot-now upwards of 100 is.

Mid 90's mostly, at most 1 or 2 weeks a year over 100. It's always nice and cool at night.

[LookingtoLeave]

I think last time I went to SD I was at Fashion Valley Mall and it mid August it was only 85 while back home it was 104. Did I pick a good time to go or what? And I also loved that at night it was very cool. We stayed and ate in Gaslamp and some of the restaurants had little posts with fire for outside diners. Awww good times.

[Judy P.]

Escondido does hit 100 (or a little above) on occasion but I would say mostly in the 90s and we don't have the humidity you have in Texas, however I have noticed that it has become more humid here in the last few years.

[LookingtoLeave]

How are the winters in SD? Or do they even exist?

[Judy P.]

It gets cold and we even get slight frost on some occasions but we don't get snow here except in the mountains. There has been quite a few times at Christmas people are in short sleeves and a few in shorts!

[kimmer]

We really don't have "winter" per se. It tends to cool down from the 90's around late October. If we're lucky we'll get a few good days of rain between then and May. This year has been cooler. Many days "down" in the 60's (!). Nights can get cold, inland valleys into the 40's. Temps depend on where in the county you are. It's cooler during the day (usually around 10 degrees) the closer you are to the ocean. Go inland around 10 miles, and it's about 10 degrees hotter, but that can vary due to the canyons and valleys that wind down to the ocean. There are spots in San Marcos where you can get a nice cooler breeze from the ocean, and we're considered to be inland.

[LookingtoLeave]

Thanks for the weather info guys, but kinda got off topic. Anyone else have opinions on Escondido-especially where kids are concerned?