Neighborhood Suggestions, Please Help (San Diego: apartment, rental, safe area)

[MovingtoSD]

I'm moving to San Diego and I need some help. I'm a 30 year old single female. I'd like a safe neighborhood that still has a couple of bars within walking distance. I'm wanting to spend between 1000-1500 for a 1 bedroom with at least 1 parking spot.

So, the 2 neighborhoods I've seen so far that may fit with my requirements are Hillcrest and Little Italy. Hillcrest seems perfect really, but I'm a little concerned that as a single female, I may have a hard time meeting single straight men in the area. As for Little Italy, even though it is near downtown, it actually seems to have fewer bars/coffee shops within walking distance compared to the Hillcrest area. Am I right? Also, where does downtown and the Hillcrest area start to get sketchy? Safety is pretty important to me.

I'm also unsure of traffic. My job is about 15 min north on downtown on the 5 or 8. Will it be tough for me to go north on these freeways in the mornings, or is traffic not much of an issue in San Diego?

I'd appreciate any information or suggestions. Thank you!

[cruitr]

As a young single female, Hillcrest and Little Italy are good choices. Take a look at Pacific Beach (PB) too. PB has tons of bars & restaurants. Most are on Garnet Ave and Mission Blvd. If I were young and single, I'd be living in PB.

Here's a rental in a nice area of PB: New Carpet, Pool, BBQ, Corner Unit!!!
This area is called Crown Point. Great access to Mission Bay and the beaches on the Pacific.

Here's a map to that rental: 1621 La Playa Ave, San Diego, California 92109 - Google Maps

[cruitr]

Here's another nice rental in North PB: Beach studio-Granite stainless PB
There's a map on the link.

Turquoise Ave is small walkable business district.

[MovingtoSD]

Thanks for the rental suggestions. I did consider Pacific Beach, but have heard that it's a younger crowd in that area, and that it can get rather loud and rowdy. Is this true?

[sav858]

Originally Posted by MovingtoSD

Thanks for the rental suggestions. I did consider Pacific Beach, but have heard that it's a younger crowd in that area, and that it can get rather loud and rowdy. Is this true?

For the most part yes, the closer you get to Garnett Ave the more it is like that. North PB is older and less young/college aged crowd though. Crown Point is nice but it's younger than North PB imo and there are not really any commercial/retail areas in the area.

I'd also consider North Park as well.

[cruitr]

As always, sav858 is correct. However:
1. At 30, your right near the median female age for PB which is 31.
2. It's a little hard to walk to the beach from North Park or Hillcrest or Little Italy.

I'll give it one more try...
Bird Rock (just north of North PB) is very walkable with a few nice bars and restaurants.

Here's the Bird Rock website: Bird Rock
In general, Bird Rock is a little more upscale than PB.

Here's the map: bird rock ave, 92037 - Google Maps

Here's a sample rental: Private upstairs apartment with peak ocean view
1 bds & studios are cheaper but I didn't find anything available on my quick check.

[MovingtoSD]

Originally Posted by sav858

I'd also consider North Park as well.

So I'm a little confused. Is University Heights considered a part of North Park? If not, how does North Park compare to University Heights, Hillcrest and Normal Heights? I was looking at Normal Heights earlier, but I was reading that it becomes a bit sketchy south of Adams. If so, how far west does this sketchy part extend to?

[sav858]

Originally Posted by MovingtoSD

So I'm a little confused. Is University Heights considered a part of North Park? If not, how does North Park compare to University Heights, Hillcrest and Normal Heights? I was looking at Normal Heights earlier, but I was reading that it becomes a bit sketchy south of Adams. If so, how far west does this sketchy part extend to?

They are all separate neighborhoods that are next to and run into each other. They are some sketchy parts but I am not that familiar with the neighborhoods as I have never lived in that area. There are other posters in here that know the area better than me and could tell you exactly what blocks to avoid.

I think Hillcrest is the nicest out of all of them, the other three don't seem too different although I think University Heights is pretty nice in areas.

Bird Rock was also another good suggestion by Cruitr, it's quiet, next to really nice beaches but has some shops and restaurants/bars and is halfway between Downtown La Jolla, which has more upscale nightlife and restaurants, and Pacific Beach.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by MovingtoSD

So I'm a little confused. Is University Heights considered a part of North Park? If not, how does North Park compare to University Heights, Hillcrest and Normal Heights? I was looking at Normal Heights earlier, but I was reading that it becomes a bit sketchy south of Adams. If so, how far west does this sketchy part extend to?

The sketchy area of the city is the central section, but San Diego is a spotty city with good areas areas and bad sometimes interspersed. Once you go west of 805 it can be slightly sketchy, west of Park, not sketchy at all.

[chrisInSD]

Hi! I just relocated to San Diego about 3 years ago....there is VERY informative information about safe areas in North County on the website listed below. I know you're talking about the downtown area, but North County is an easy drive and my husband and I love it here! (we pay about $1275 for a two bed two bath and we're less than a mile from the ocean with a 25 minute drive to downtown).