San Marcos (San Diego, Escondido, Poway: rentals, crime, neighborhood)

[sfw1979]

What do you think of San Marcos? Does it get hot in the summer since it's inland a bit more? The schools look decent and the crime is ok, lower than a lot of other citites...overall what do you think of San Marcos?

[Hobgoblin]

I like it. Like you say, housing is reasonable and crime is low. There are a few "bad" parts to look out for, but even they're not seriously bad and relatively small areas that can easily be avoided.

The schools are a little hit or miss, but some research will help you avoid the worst of them. The school district has a boundary search to make it easy to find out which schools serve a particular address.

San Marcos offers a fair amount of shopping and restaurant options. Granted a lot of eateries are chain type establishments, but at least you have a lot of them to choose from.

The area we live in has lots of parks and green areas. They are neighborhood maintained as opposed to city, but the city does maintain a large parks and trails system as well.

A lot of people don't seem to have a lot of nice things to say about San Marcos, but not everyone can afford to live on the coast or want to pay a premium for living in places that have nothing more going for them than better schools. Not that I'm knocking good schools, but they're not the be all end all of picking a neighborhood even if you do have kids. There are always other options for supplementing school work and turning out well educated bright kids even from a school rated a 7 instead of a 10. Despite what some people might feel.

As for weather, summers can be hot in San Marcos, but the intensity varies a lot depending on exact location. I'm in North San Marcos on a hill and this summer routinely had temps several degrees lower than the current temps being reported for the area. We don't have a/c and there were only a few days last summer that were so hot that we were really uncomfortable, but last summer was pretty mild from what I understand and I haven't been here through a more intense summer.

Generally, the closer to the coast you are, the cooler it will be in the summer.

[lucyluc]

the back hills country area is probably the only place I would consider.

[sfw1979]

Originally Posted by Hobgoblin

I like it. Like you say, housing is reasonable and crime is low. There are a few "bad" parts to look out for, but even they're not seriously bad and relatively small areas that can easily be avoided.

The schools are a little hit or miss, but some research will help you avoid the worst of them. The school district has a boundary search to make it easy to find out which schools serve a particular address.

San Marcos offers a fair amount of shopping and restaurant options. Granted a lot of eateries are chain type establishments, but at least you have a lot of them to choose from.

The area we live in has lots of parks and green areas. They are neighborhood maintained as opposed to city, but the city does maintain a large parks and trails system as well.

A lot of people don't seem to have a lot of nice things to say about San Marcos, but not everyone can afford to live on the coast or want to pay a premium for living in places that have nothing more going for them than better schools. Not that I'm knocking good schools, but they're not the be all end all of picking a neighborhood even if you do have kids. There are always other options for supplementing school work and turning out well educated bright kids even from a school rated a 7 instead of a 10. Despite what some people might feel.

As for weather, summers can be hot in San Marcos, but the intensity varies a lot depending on exact location. I'm in North San Marcos on a hill and this summer routinely had temps several degrees lower than the current temps being reported for the area. We don't have a/c and there were only a few days last summer that were so hot that we were really uncomfortable, but last summer was pretty mild from what I understand and I haven't been here through a more intense summer.

Generally, the closer to the coast you are, the cooler it will be in the summer.

Thank you for your post. Moving is so stressful! Thanks again!

[marcelo141]

Hi! I am moving into SD North area, have a brother who lives in Poway but rentals are quite $$$
I have two sons going to High School and like what I saw last month in SM.
Now...
What areas I should avoid for housing?
Any area to recommend?
Any words in Mission Hills or San Marcos High?
Thx!!

[MADEKUN]

Since 2005 I have leave in Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, Gaslamp and now I live in San Marcos. Its only been a couple of months but I like it this far. It's cheaper than the other areas, but it does seem hotter at our current place due to lack of trees. Good places to eat and has everything you might need close.

[skeke]

I lived in San Marcos for several years in the 80's. It wasn't bad but of all the places I have lived in San Diego County it was my least favorite. Just not too much to it and not near anything really interesting. I preferred Poway, Rancho Bernardo and now, down in the city where I currently live.

[NorthSDLifer]

For better or for worse, it's changed a whole hell of a lot since the '80s. Given I have lived in San Marcos for three years, I'll try to formulate some reasonably cogent thoughts when I'm off work.

[tsuyoi_racing]

Originally Posted by sfw1979

What do you think of San Marcos? Does it get hot in the summer since it's inland a bit more? The schools look decent and the crime is ok, lower than a lot of other citites...overall what do you think of San Marcos?

It does get hot near Escondido or east of 15... the other concern is the gang activity near Palomar college, Twin Oaks, and Woodlank Pkwy. I would say 90% of the population is Hispanic and comes with it are gangs, just last week I saw Sureño latino gangs there, hanging out near Fry's/Edward Cinemas. the only safe place would be Craven Rd/San Elijo Hills area of San Marcos. anywhere else you're taking your chances in SM.

[MADEKUN]

Originally Posted by tsuyoi_racing

It does get hot near Escondido or east of 15... the other concern is the gang activity near Palomar college, Twin Oaks, and Woodlank Pkwy. I would say 90% of the population is Hispanic and comes with it are gangs, just last week I saw Sureño latino gangs there, hanging out near Fry's/Edward Cinemas. the only safe place would be Craven Rd/San Elijo Hills area of San Marcos. anywhere else you're taking your chances in SM.

I guess this is why I never noticed the gangs or crime in the area. But I have been here long.