Family Neighborhoods in Cardiff / Encinitas area (Vista: apartments, rental, HOA)

[bloom]

From the postings here, Cardiff seems a more affluent area of Encinitas. Does anyone have some demographics? Is Cardiff family friendly or oriented for young children? Are any neighborhoods in the larger Cardiff-Encinitas-Leucadia area less family oriented, etc? We are looking for a long-term rental (~$2500 / month ) for the family.

[mewzikguy]

Both those areas are fine for families. . . pretty affluent, nice schools. Enjoy

[bloom]

How about west of I5 and/or Coastal Highway 101 from Cardiff-Encinitas-Leucadia ? Are these areas family-friendly or are they primarily beach communities ?

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by bloom

How about west of I5 and/or Coastal Highway 101 from Cardiff-Encinitas-Leucadia ? Are these areas family-friendly or are they primarily beach communities ?

Anything west of 5 is beach community. North county coastal is pretty family friendly over all.

[jaynetarzana]

I am reviving this old thread because the OP asked the questions I would like answers to. We are looking in the Encinitas/Leucadia/Cardiff area as well.

[Encinitan]

I would say the most family friendly area of Encinitas is Village Park (basically east of El Camino Real, straddling Encinitas Blvd.) There are green belts, walking paths, schools, shopping, etc. The beach areas tend to be more crammed together, narrow streets, many without sidewalks, not so family friendly.

[jaynetarzana]

How about the Glen Ardor Drive area? We drove through there and really liked the greenbelt divider with the pools and play structures. I wonder what the HOA cost is in that neighborhood. We also liked the gated community on Flair Encinitas.

Can anyone comment on the elementary schools in Encinitas? Thanks in advance!

[bloom]

We thought the Capri was good and diverse in Leucadia, Encinitas. Heard good things enough reg. Eckes. Flora Vista has high scores, but likely very white. Ocean Knoll is more of a red flag. The ones in Cardiff are very good, again less diverse, more affluent.

Though I'm the OP, didn't end up moving there, but happy where we are now , but somethings think about Encinitas, but like to visit there, but again happy where I ended up.

[JSD45]

Encinitas is a great place. I grew up there and wouldn't live anywhere else. I grew up in Leucadia. All areas of Encinitas have families (and as such, it is family focused), but these areas are quite different.

I like Leucadia because it has a lot of trees, it's a little off the radar and it's kinda "old school." Really beautiful trees, gardens and it's close to the beach. It was formerly an avocado farm, so you can even get free avos and your house will likely have an avocado tree! Some negatives are that it is somewhat "downscale", although mainly on vulcan ave/101, but go inland and it's great. Housing ranges from rundown apartments to beautiful, custom homes with great views and everything in between. Someone mentioned that there's no sidewalks and this is true! But I like it this way and unless you have to walk on vulcan, it's not that big of an issue.

Cardiff is great, but the lots are smaller (views are better though!). I really like Olivenhain. It is the most upscale of Encinitas areas and it is semi-rural with horses, large lots and houses that range from huge to small.

In between are more tract homes that are somewhat bland, but there are sidewalks and parks and it appears that somebody thought it out (compared to Leucadia). Village Park is somewhat cheaper and there is a lot of fields, mature trees, community pools and tennis courts!

Encinitas is great. PM me if you have any more questions.

The best way to decide which one is the best for you is to go for a drive through the different communities. If you drive through Leucadia on Vulcan or 101, you'll think it's pretty downscale...so be sure to go where the houses are just inland from Vulcan. You can walk to the beach, bigger lots, cool homes, neat shops and places to eat and it doesn't feel like like it's "tract sprawl." But if "prestige" or an obviously upscale place is what you're looking for...Leucadia probably isn't the place!