Neighborhoods in Greater SD (San Diego, Chula Vista: middle-class, apartment complexes, condos)

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by Prairieman

Several posters who are planning to move to SD (like me) have asked about good and not-so-good areas in SD with respect to crime, noise, etc. There is a wealth of information on this forum as well as other websites, but it can be difficult and time-consuming to get an overall picture. To get a better understanding, I grouped what I have found out about many areas of SD county into several categories. Since the groupings could be of value to others moving to SD, I would like to share them here on C-D forum. I realize that everyone's idea of "nice" area is somewhat different, but there is surely some common ground. Hope you find this somewhat useful, and I hope I did not screw anything up too badly - please remember that I am (still) not a San Diegan.


Central SD - inner areas:
Gang injunction areas: None.
Other undesirable areas: City Heights neighborhoods of Teralta East, Teralta West, Colina Del Sol, Castle, Fairmont Village, Swan Canyon, Fox Canyon, Isenlair, Chollas Creek, Ridgeview/Webster.
A bit dumpy and rough, but OK: North Park, Normal Heights (south of Adams), El Cerrito, East Village, City Heights neighborhoods of Corridor, Cherokee Point, Fairmount Park, Hollywood Park, Darnall, Oak Park.
A bit noisy, but OK: College East and West (near SDSU), properties on ECB and University Ave outside of City Heights, areas in Downtown SD (e.g. Gaslamp).
Nicer, quieter areas: Bankers Hill/Park West, Little Italy, Middletown, Hillcrest, University Heights, South Park, Golden Hill, Normal Heights (north of Adams), Burlingame, Rolando, Old Town.
Affluent areas: Mission Hills, Kensington, Talmadge.

Central SD - outer areas:
Gang injunction areas: Linda Vista.
Other undesirable areas: None.
A bit dumpy and rough, but OK: parts of Mission Valley.
A bit noisy, but OK: parts of Mission Valley, Pacific Beach (especially near coast), Mission Beach.
Nicer, quieter areas: Ocean Beach, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Bay Park, Bay Ho, Serra Mesa, Birdland, Tierrasanta, San Carlos, Allied Gardens, University City.
Affluent areas: Point Loma, La Jolla, Del Cerro.

Southeast SD:
Gang injunction areas: National City, Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Memorial, Lincoln Park, Valencia Park, south Encanto, north Bay Terraces, Skyline, Jamacha-Lomita, Alta Vista.
Other undesirable areas: Grant Hill, Stockton, Chollas View, Mountain View, Southcrest, Shelltown, south Spring Valley (La Presa).
A bit dumpy and rough, but OK: Emerald Hills, north Encanto, Paradise Hills, south Bay Terraces, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley (older areas).
A bit noisy, but OK: None.
Nicer, quieter areas: Spring Valley (Casa de Oro, Rancho SD, Dictionary Hill).
Affluent areas: None.

East County:
Gang injunction areas: None.
Other undesirable areas: None.
A bit dumpy and rough, but OK: El Cajon (older areas in flats).
A bit noisy, but OK: None.
Nicer, quieter areas: Santee, Lakeside, La Mesa (especially Mt. Helix), El Cajon (Bostonia, Granite Hills, Fletcher Hills).
Affluent areas: None.

South Bay:
Gang injunction areas: Nestor, Egger Highlands.
Other undesirable areas: Chula Vista (Northwest, near the 5), Otay Mesa West (near Main), San Ysidro.
A bit dumpy and rough, but OK: Imperial Beach, Chula Vista (other parts west of the 805).
A bit noisy, but OK: None.
Nicer, quieter areas: Bonita, Eastlake (Chula Vista east of the 805).
Affluent areas: Coronado.

North County - coastal:
Gang injunction areas: Oceanside (Eastside, Crown Heights, Libby Lake).
Other undesirable areas: Oceanside (Back Gate aka Deep Valley aka Mesa Margarita - near intersection of Vandegrift Blvd. at N. River Rd.).
A bit dumpy and rough, but OK: Oceanside (older downtown areas).
A bit noisy, but OK: Oceanside (downtown areas near train and coast).
Nicer, quieter areas: Oceanside (newer areas, e.g. Fire Mountain), Carlsbad (especially La Costa and Calavera Hills), Encinitas, Solana Beach.
Affluent areas: Del Mar.

North County - inland:
Gang injunction areas: Vista (between Santa Fe Ave. and railroad), San Marcos (around Rancho Santa Fe Rd. between Mission Rd. and San Marcos Blvd.), Escondido (area bordered by Grand, Escondido, Lincoln and Midway streets; area bordered by Grand, Juniper, Felicitas and Upas streets).
Other undesirable areas: None.
A bit dumpy and rough, but OK: Escondido (other older central areas).
A bit noisy, but OK: Mira Mesa (especially busier streets).
Nicer, quieter areas: Vista (Sycamore, Shadowridge, Buena Creek, Alta Vista, etc.), San Marcos (San Elijo Hills, Santa Fe Hills, Discovery Hills, etc.), Escondido (newer southwest, southeast and northern areas), Poway, Rancho PQ, Scripps Ranch, Ramona, Carmel Valley, Sorrento Valley.
Affluent areas: Rancho Bernardo/4S, Rancho Santa Fe.

For someone who doesn't even live here yet, you did a pretty good job of assessing the areas. Did you really compile this list from info you've read on City-Data? If so, I'm very impressed.

The only description that sticks out to me is your reference to Mission Valley as being a bit dumpy and rough. I can honestly say it's neither. Again, great job!!

[SD Observer]

Prarieman speaketh the truth ! ............. Very detailed, useful and lucid info for anyone unfamiliar with San Diego.

[pixomb]

thanks for this awesome post! you haven't any idea how helpful this was

[X-RAIDED1913]

SAN MARCOS-
Gang injunction areas: autumn dr. and Richmar Ave. the part were all the shooting happens, (I've heard that)
the reason why its on the new gang injunction, also on the gang injunction, include surrounding parts of MISSION HILLS HIGH SCHOOL and WOODLAND PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL.

[X-RAIDED1913]

GANG INJUNCTIONS

[ubringliten]

Great post Prairieman!

You have to add La Jolla to your affluent areas for North County coastal, and take out 4S/Rancho Bernardo from the affluent areas of North County inland, especially if you have Rancho Santa Fe there.

[SanDiegoTeen]

RSF is in it's own league, I agree. La Jolla, it can be argued, isn't really part of N. county, but then again it's up one's personal definition. I consider places from Del Mar north to be N. County, La Jolla is kinda by itself and anywhere south of La Jolla is south county. Of course, that's probably not the right definition either...

Truth be told, I don't really go south of Torrey Pines state beach all that often. La Jolla is nice and all, but it's crowded and the further you get away from Encinitas means the further you have to drive.

Two towns I would add to "north county inland" in the wealthy/nice section, are Fallbrook and Bonsall. These towns are very nice. Mansions to more regular homes, rural, horses, quite, beautiful, warmer or colder....one of my favorite areas.

[Oerdin]

I'm surprised that Scripps Ranch and Poway didn't make the list and I'm equally surprised that Mira Mesa was listed as "noisy" as it is a sleepy suburb.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by Oerdin

I'm surprised that Scripps Ranch and Poway didn't make the list and I'm equally surprised that Mira Mesa was listed as "noisy" as it is a sleepy suburb.

Poway and Scripps Ranch are both on the list, read it carefully.

[T. Damon]

For Central San Diego (where I live) I would nominate an upgrade for Hollywood Park and Fairmont Park. I don't live there but have friends who do and have walked around there several times and it seems like a pretty nice and quiet place to me. Maybe there are some crime stats I am unaware of.
Also East Village is in the midst of a huge transformation related to Ballpark adjacent development so although there remains some definitely scruffy/shelter corners other areas have gotten quite urban upscale.

Otherwise a pretty bold and surprisingly accurate post for an outsider.