young, single, and moving to El Cajon (San Diego, Riverside: apartment, neighborhood)

[mariamover]

Hello everybody, I am 24, just graduated from college, and am looking for a teaching job in either San Diego County, Riverside County, or Orange County. I have been offered a position in the Cajon Valley school district and therefore am looking for an apartment there. I have been reading and hear that it isn't all that nice, but it is still in San Diego county and I figure it can't be that bad! I used to live in Temecula as a child before it became so populated, but I loved that area. What I am worried about is the fact that I am a young, single woman moving to a new state (from Florida) and am worried about living somewhere alone if it isn't in a great neighborhood. I will be living on a teacher's salary so won't be able to afford much more than 1200 a month, but also don't want to worry about bad neighbors, walking at night alone, and just being miserable for my first year teaching. If anyone can help me out and let me know if it is as bad as everybody is saying or if you think I would be ok. Mind you, I have been in school for 6 years alone, but have always lived in the nicer parts of town because Tallahassee is a very safe place to live. AHHH I am so nervous, help!!!

[ajnsd]

Don't be nervous. El Cajon isn't that bad. The thing is that it looks bad when compared to other areas in San Diego. $1200 actually is pretty good and you can work with that in other parts of San Diego. I live at Mission Beach and only pay $100 more in rent. Keep in mind my apartment is no bigger than a shoebox. The point I'm trying to make is you have more options than El Cajon, if that's what you want.

El Cajon gets a bad wrap. It's a mostly working class town, but does have some very nice areas.

As a single person myself, I know the position you are in. My thoughts are that you will be doing lots of driving into San Diego for a variety of reasons. If I were in your position, I'd look for an apartment in the city.

Good luck whatever you decide and welcome to San Diego. This is the most beautiful city in the country.

AJ

[leighland]

Live in La Mesa, parts are better than EC and drive from there. I'll pm you a good apt building...

[jksouthbay88]

There is nothing wrong with El Cajon.Don't let some of these people scare you.

[NYSD1995]

Commuting into El Cajon is a reverse commute from most of the city. Depending on the lifestyle you are looking for it would be easy to live on the west side of the city where the action is and commute to the Cajon Zone.

Young and single puts you in the beaches, downtown, or in the inner-city hip urban areas. It's only a 15 minute commute and you get to watch everyone else sitting in a traffic jam on the other side of the freeway.

For bang-for-the-buck I would second La Mesa, it is inbetween San Diego and El Cajon and a nice place to live. The Lake Murray area is safe and clean and a good option for an apartment rental.

[mariamover]

good to hear that traffic would be going into the city because I am now considering paying a few hundred more to live in a smaller san diego apartment because I want to meet other young people and be near all the action, so I was worried that even though it was only 15 miles to el cajon, that I would be sitting in traffic, but I am going to trust that you would not lie to me!!! lol, I can't wait to get back to California!!

[JennyLo]

Hi! I recently moved to San Diego from NYC where I was in grad school for teaching. Right now I live in Pacific Beach and have been interviewing in El Cajon. I have gone there early in the morning a few times and it has only taken 15 min. It is a great commute and there is a whole lot of traffic going the opposite direction. If you see this I would love to talk to you about your job and compare experiences, etc. Email me!