Oceanside? (San Diego, Vista: condo, crime, houses)

[loyallikebros]

What is Oceanside like? A friend of mine wants me to move in with him and insists its great, but I've also heard bad things. I'm in my early 20s and just want to live someplace fun with a lot of other young people, and of course, be by the water.

[Imperial1904]

Good areas, not so good areas, heavy military presence, there's a small college scene out there, heavy traffic at times, and of course the worst of it all are the gangs.

It's an OK city, but it doesn't beat San Diego.

[cnkad]

I used to live in Vista, just east of oceanside, and I wasn't aware that their was a huge gang problem in Oceanside...good to know I guess. Anyway if I were young and in college oceanside probably would not be my first choice in san diego, just because it is far from a lot of the "action" But I actually like oceanside despite the fact that there are some questionable neighborhoods (and again this is all relative, if you are coming from any big city I dont think you will find oceanside to be all that scumy or crime ridden.) It is not as upscale as many of the other beach areas in san diego but over all I dont think it is a bad place to live. I actually would consider moving to oceanside if it wasnt so far from where my husband worked. So I guess the bottom line is you really do have to check it out for yourself...everyone likes different things.

[THE OCEANSIDE GANGBUSTER]

Originally Posted by loyallikebros

What is Oceanside like? A friend of mine wants me to move in with him and insists its great, but I've also heard bad things. I'm in my early 20s and just want to live someplace fun with a lot of other young people, and of course, be by the water.

Then you want Pacific Beach, San Diego.

[SDrelocate]

Oceanside is great, If you don't mind the occasional burst of automatic weapons. But no seriously, it is just fine. Just don't have a bumper sticker on your pickup truck that says "Protected by Smith&Wesson", criminals usually target those houses knowing it may be easy score for some weapons. These gang thugs are brazen!
Steve

[newtosandiego24]

ESPN - OTL: Miles Apart - E-ticket

[72degreeboredom]

My husband and I own a condo in Oceanside and have lived here for over 6 years. Growing up in San Diego, all I had ever heard were bad things about Oceanside, but when we moved here in 2002 (we were 24 at the time) and decided to buy a house, we could get so much more for the money in Oceanside than we could in most parts of San Diego. Our neighborhood would be considered borderline (sits on the border of a nice new development and an older low-income area), but we have never had a break in, only lock our doors at night, have NEVER heard gun shots, loud neighbors, or any of those things you associate with "undesirable" cities.

Whether you will find it a lively place is entirely dependent on which neighborhood you live in (closer to beach is always more "lively". But, you may find yourself doing hour+ drives down to San Diego to truly absorb the 20-something night life. There is only the beginning of a hip bar and restaurant scene here (as the city transitions away from being a Marine playground). So if that's what you're in to, you may be frustrated by choosing Oceanside. If, however, and active nightlife for you means going to movies and eating an chain restaurants, and visiting the beach, you'll find Oceanside just fine.

[edwardius]

I agree. I think the reputation for crime in Oceanside is overstated. But if you were looking for things do in your twenties, you might want something closer to SD.