Best and Worst of San Diego (Corona, Compton: rentals, high crime, homes)

[ExilefromCa]

Hi everyone,

Quick question....

In your opinion, what are the best and worst areas to live in San Diego? I'm trying to get a clear picture of where I should be looking for rentals. I would like to live in a clean, safe, newer area - but more importantly, I want to know what parts of San Diego to avoid. Here are some of the areas I see rentals listed in, but which I am not too familiar with:

Lemon Grove
Santee
Mira Mesa
Spring Valley

Any thoughts?

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by ExilefromCa

Hi everyone,

Quick question....

In your opinion, what are the best and worst areas to live in San Diego? I'm trying to get a clear picture of where I should be looking for rentals. I would like to live in a clean, safe, newer area - but more importantly, I want to know what parts of San Diego to avoid. Here are some of the areas I see rentals listed in, but which I am not too familiar with:

Lemon Grove
Santee
Mira Mesa
Spring Valley

Any thoughts?

All of them have good and bad areas. Clean, safe, newer... pick any 2.

Mira Mesa is the newest, safest, and cleanest of the group. It's also the most dense, with the most traffic, and the highest volume of crime.
Santee is older than MM but all late 50's-mid 60's+, but safe and clean, least amount of crime of the areas you mentioned.
Lemon grove is even older, mostly 40's and 50's era construction, some safe and clean areas, some sketchy areas
Spring Valley is almost uniformly sketchy and unkept aside from it's fringes... Dictionary Hill and Casa De Oro are nice areas.

All the areas are not "high crime" areas aside from certain very specific places (i.e. MM Blvd, Broadway in LG, etc..)

[ExilefromCa]

Thanks, Sassberto; you mentioned Mira Mesa in your other post, so it sounds like that might be the way to go. I'm looking at a property in Scripps Ranch right now; know anything about that particular area?

BTW, sorry about the "moving to Compton" post... I just couldn't resist

[shannon94]

Originally Posted by ExilefromCa

Thanks, Sassberto; you mentioned Mira Mesa in your other post, so it sounds like that might be the way to go. I'm looking at a property in Scripps Ranch right now; know anything about that particular area?

BTW, sorry about the "moving to Compton" post... I just couldn't resist

Scripps Ranch is your best bet...stay east of the 15 for sure. In my opinion Mira Mesa is a little "rough" .Santee has some newer than 50's and 60's homes......70's, 80's and brand new.

[Jax]

If you're going to be working downtown, Coronado isn't bad for renting...forget buying there unless you're a millionaire, however.

[orionid]

Scripps Ranch is better than Mira Mesa, but still central to lots of stuff.

My second vote would be Santee on your list. It's true that the main areas are older, but there's lots of new construction since highway 52 went through and lots of families too.

Rancho Bernardo may be a good choice too. Again, started out older, but lots of new construction in 4S Ranch that looks nice and has a good community feel to it.

Personally, I'd stay away from Mira Mesa; just never liked it. Crowded, and crime is an issue.

Tierrasanta is another area to consider; but Scripps Ranch is better.

Good luck!

[SoCalZone]

I agree with ORIONID's comment about staying away from Mira Mesa. I grew up in the neighborhood in the mid. '70's to late '80's and worked there for the last 6years. Mira Mesa was once a nice community, but now I wouldn't even feel safe leaving my car out on the street overnight. Mira Mesa is plagued with auto thefts, car prowls and residential burglaries. Meth is a real problem in the area which is partially responsible for the increase in property related crimes.

Rancho Bernardo is definitely better, but you will have to contend with traffic if you're commuting from the downtown area. Scripps Ranch is nice and is separated from Mira Mesa by I-15. Del Cerro is a nice area, but already established. Actually, the three communities I just mentioned are all established neighborhoods.

Tierrasanta is an established neighorhood and close to just about everything. The area is not immune from property crime, but you would be better off than living in Mira Mesa. Try staying north of Highway 94, except for Coronado. Although Mid-City is north of 94, I still wouldn't rent there.

The newer communities are springing up off of Highway 56, Ted Williams Parkway just west of I-15. You will probably find the rent to be much higher than the older communites in San Diego.

[Imperial1904]

I agree with the above posters on Tierrasanta. It's a great community. I visited there last year and I couldn't believe how green and well kept the area is since I moved out in 2002.

Mira Mesa isn't that bad, although it did have the highest gang crimes in San Diego. I've been there at night and it wasn't that bad, but that was a few years back.

[RasCal7126]

I would aviod SouthEast San Diego, City Heights, & National City.

[jksouthbay88]

Originally Posted by RasCal7126

I would aviod SouthEast San Diego, City Heights, & National City.

There are 2 parts of NC that are really nice.