moving family to san diego (Carlsbad, Encinitas: rent, how much, houses)

[waboa13]

I am moving with my wife and 7 year old son from Michigan. We have been to San Diego a few times and have a good idea of the area. I would appreciate advice on which areas within commute to the city and beaches are reasonably affordable and family friendly. I can already hear everybody laughing. Innitially we will rent so this is also something to consider.

[MsFancyPants]

Hey San Diego is more affordable than it's been in ages! So you're coming at the right time. Are you asking for neighborhoods w/in commuting distance of downtown? That could be anywhere. My husband commuted from Temecula (60 miles each way) for 12 years. So it depends on how long you're willing to drive.

Not sure I'd want to live close to the beaches with a 7-year-old unless you're thinking LaJolla and north coastal (really pricy). Best school district? Probably Poway. About a 30-40 minute commute to downtown, inland, affordable, about 30-40 minute drive to the beach. My sis lives there, is a teacher, and a sun bunny. She goes to the beach from there every weekend.

Do you have a job yet? If so, where?

WELCOME TO SAN DIEGO!!

[waboa13]

Great info, Thanks.

[callpaul]

Moving here from Michigan, huh? Big change and all for the better. I moved here in 1970 from Minnesota, so I know where you're coming from (so to speak).

There are a bunch of things for you to consider, but I will begin with your son (I have two myself, ages 6 and 8). I assume that you are going to want them in a good school district; if you want to be near the beach, then you are most likely looking at Del Mar Unified (probably the best in San Diego) or La Jolla, or even Carlsbad (Encinitas Unified which serves S. Carlsbad). However, you indicated that you want it within a 'reasonable' commute of downtown, so it does depend upon what you mean by 'reasonable'.

Del Mar is about 10-15 minutes from downtown while Carlsbad is an extra 20-30 minutes North of Del Mar.

The problem with Del Mar is that it is very expensive, which is not what you want. Carlsbad is more affordable, but probably a bit too far North for you.

So, that leads me to where I chose to live; within the Poway Unified School District (PUSD). Now, if you're in Poway, where I currently live, it takes about 30 minutes or so to get to the beach (Del Mar). BUT, if you live in the West end of the PUSD in Rancho Penasquitos or Torrey Highlands, then the beach is only about 10 minutes away. AND, the houses are about $100,000 (or more) cheaper!

If you don't really give a hoot about the schools (and, let me warn you, they are nowhere NEAR as good as the schools that I attended in Minnesota-I don't know how Michigan's compare) and you want to be near the beach, then your probably looking at something like Ocean/Mission/Pacific Beach(s) to find something even reasonably "affordable", depending upon your definition of affordable. However, none of them are really considered family-friendly (I just reread your post).

So then you're probably looking at something like Pt. Loma, but I have to warn you, NOTHING on the coast is both affordable and family-friendly, so I would suggest that you would want to look more inland and drive to the beach when you want to go.

I grew up in an area called Del Cerro which is near SDSU; both it and La Mesa are nice areas also, very family-friendly, but the schools are not on a par with Poway's.

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by MsFancyPants

... Probably Poway. About a 30-40 minute commute to downtown, inland, affordable, about 30-40 minute drive to the beach.

More like a 15-minute drive to the beach from Poway, now that SR-56 is completed.

[MsFancyPants]

Really? Goes to show you how much I visit my sister!! LOL!

[loveautumn]

Encinitas is very family friendly...and close to the beach...and you can take the Coaster train downtown, if your work schedule is relatively normal commuter time.

[NorthSDLifer]

You're comparing schools in Minnesota during the 60s(?) to ones in PUSD in 2009? Or OB, Mission Beach, PB? How did you arrive at your conclusion?