carlsbad or poway?

[LMP317]

Thanks so much for all of the info! I think we are going to fly over on Tuesday and check out some of the areas. We also have San Clemente area on the table too as an option. We just want our kids to be in a good school, live in a nice neighborhood, semi close to the water and easy commute for my husband so I guess we'll see if it is too tall of an order! Thanks again!

[sdlaura]

Carlsbad is great because of the transit system and beaches, but Poway Unified is the best school district in the area, and is more reasonably priced... but homeowners insurance will be a lot higher, as Poway is an area which is commonly in the brunt of the wildfires
Either town is great and you will love it!

[Chrysaliswriter]

As a former resident of Poway, CA (8 years total with two school-aged children) I have to say that unless things have changed dramatically, Poway Unifed School District is still one of the best school districts in the entire state of CA. The family involvement with children's school and extracurriculur activities is superb. The teachers are some of the best in the state. The school music and art departments were well funded by parents who held events to raise money for band uniforms, trips by bus to other states for competition, and the arts were also well-funded because of tremendous school and parent/community support! We were transferred out of state with my husband's job. We've moved alot. The best neighbors we ever had were in the two areas in Poway where we resided. Our kids felt so welcomed at ages 6 and 9 and were there 8 years, experiencing a plethora of learning and enrichment activities that they will carry with them for a life time. We are now back 'home' in Oregon - the wet and rainy part - and although there are old friends and new friends and some family, the SAD is prevelant among many here. It's very difficult to have lived in sunny So. CA, Utah, AZ and NV to dig in your moss-covered heels to plant down roots here. My vote is for Poway, if you are looking for a great family-friendly community. The beach was always 35 min. or so away from our house - and I think that's doable for the amount of time we were able to get there. The kids' activities often had us doing things besides heading for the beach, but it was there when we wanted it! Good luck to anyone headed to So. CA and looking at Poway or Carlsbad - a place we used to visit often and loved. It does have the cool, ocean breezes that Poway didn't get. But we had lived 8 yrs. in Tucson, as well, and Poway was not hot by comparison. The last 5 yrs. we lived on a bluff and got the breezes from the canyon, which helped keep us cooler, and we didn't have AC in that home either.

[deuterdu]

Carlsbad = excellent Poway= Not bad

[Oerdin]

Carlsbad is by the beach and wealthy but it is also pretty far from most jobs and the nightlife/restaurants of downtown. Poway is cheaper and has better schools but is mostly an upper middle class area instead of a down right upper class area. Both have their pluses and minuses.

Of course when I call Carlsbad an upper class area I do so while classifying a place like Rancho Santa Fe (the second richest zip code in America based on yearly family income) as more of an elite area then just a run of the mill upper class area.

[futo555]

Move to RB (Rancho Bernardo) , a few miles west of Poway. Better schools , better weather , nice people in general. 15 min to the beach, 15 min the air port, 15 min to the zoo, its not busy with traffic in the summer out here. You can rent a 4 BR house for 2200 to 2500 (i know been looking this week to rent again or buy this year).

I love the coast but, it's so busy over there.

[blessedwoman]

Originally Posted by tool123

I wish I could rent my house. I already took a hit on the equity. Renting it would be another 1000 dollar loss from 2500...

Where is your house located and how much would you rent it for?

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by futo555

Move to RB (Rancho Bernardo) , a few miles west of Poway. Better schools , better weather , nice people in general. 15 min to the beach, 15 min the air port, 15 min to the zoo, its not busy with traffic in the summer out here. You can rent a 4 BR house for 2200 to 2500 (i know been looking this week to rent again or buy this year).

I love the coast but, it's so busy over there.

The coast is "so busy" largely because everyone from Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Escondido, et al are at the beach to escape the heat!!