Where should I live in San Diego... Mission Bay or Downtown?

Question

I'm a 23 year old single guy, moving to San Diego this August. I'm torn between living in the Mission Bay area and Downtown San Diego...

Is the Mission Bay area too young for me? Is it all just college kids or are there a lot of post-college people as well?

Is downtown any fun during the day for meeting people and just having a good time, or is Mission Bay better for that?

The two apartments I'm choosing between are: The Pacific at Mission Bay, and 600 Front Apartments (near the gaslamp quarter)...

Does anyone know anything about these apartments? And how far a drive is it between Mission Bay and Downtown?
Thanks so much everyone.

P.S. - I'm moving from New York City to San Diego, and I've always dreamed of moving to California since I was in high school. Is San Diego as chill and laid back as I imagine it to be? Is it easy to meet people there? (I'll be working from home and I don't know ANYONE in California)

Answer 1

I would move to Pacific Beach (92109), which is Mission Bay basically and where The Pacific @ Mission Bay is. There is a wide range of ages in PB, a lot of post college kids, including myself. Most people are 20-30. I just turned 24 and a lot of my friends stayed here after graduation 1.5 years ago so you will meet plenty of people in your age range and in the same situation as you. I've met a lot of people from the east coast, inlcuding NY, that moved out here just to live and work after school. Downtown is the more 25-35 crowd and the more professional type crowd too. The bars and clubs downtown are a lot more expensive and have dress codes. It's more upscale and trendy, but if that's your thing then it would be a good fit. Pacific Beach is a lot more laid back, much cheaper bars and clubs, and more of the younger crowd who don't make tons of money like people downtown. I like PB more, it's chill and less flashy and pretentious than downtown.

Pacific Beach/Mission Bay is about 7 miles from Downtown, only like 10 minutes drive time. It's usually around a $20-25 cab ride with tip. There are several bus lines that go downtown that dont take that long either. I live in PB and go downtown every couple of weeks to party, it's not too far or that much trouble at all. Downtwon is very accesible from PB.

I grew up in the SF Bay Area and came down here six years ago, I think it's pretty chill and laid back, more so than the Bay Area and SF. It's not crowded or congested like LA and SF, it's still a big city but with kind of a small town feel b/c it's laid back. No one is in a rush, people just want to enjoy the scenery and great weather. Most people here are transplants from somwhere else so people are friendly b/c they're down to kick it and meet new people. You'll probably meet someone from near where you're from. As long as your are outgoing it shouldnt be too hard to meet people. Tons of bars and clubs in PB to meet people. If you play basketball the PB Rec Center usually has games going and you can meet people there or join another sports league. Tons of people partying on the beach during summer where you can meet people. We usually set up our beer pong (or you might call it beirut) table on the beach and always meet randoms that want to play. As long as you give a little effort since you'll be working from home, you shouldnt have trouble meeting some cool people. Anyways, good luck on the move.

Answer 2

As a former resident of Ocean beach for several years and frequent visitor several times a year because family lives there, I believe I can help you. You shouldn't have any trouble meeting people, except the men outnumber the women about 5 to 1. Mission Bay is the place for you. There a large number of college grads living in the area. The college students are transitory, but the permanent residents are mostly in your age group.

The gaslamp area is mostly upper level (married) professional people, and there are a lot more homeless in the downtown area.
Between Mission Bay and Downtown is a very short, easy drive, about 20 minutes or less.

Front street has just barely climbed out of it's former slum area, and isn't very clean. There are a lot of warehouses still there.

Answer 3

I'm moving out there too! But I'm moving like in a month. San Diego is a lot of fun. It's pretty chill and laid back. I live in LA and in my opinion people from LA are snobby as hell compared to San Diego. Downtown has the the Gaslamp District with like 5 blocks or bars and clubs. I've seen people of all ages out there. Also Mission Bay I think it's close to Pacific Beach which is close to La JOlla. Surf City. It's sooo nice out there. I can't wait until I'm there.

Good Luck! and california is the best state in the states!

Answer 4

Mission bay has a lot of hippies that live in that area, the rents are cheaper but be careful and look at the place you are renting first, some do not have inside bathrooms! The gas lamp district is higher in rent but you wont have to deal with the hippie kids. Downtown is great and they have a lot of great lofts, and there is a lot of nightlife and they have weekend life during some month where they rope off the area. Unless you are in rush hour traffic. If you can afford it Rancho San Diego is very nice and close to some really nice beaches. The farther south you go the beaches are dirty and the population is more dense. Be careful of some of the property management companies they are crooks and watch out for the door to door scam artists!

Good luck San Diego is an awesome place to live!

Answer 5

The Gaslamp Quarter definitly has more Nightlife and that would probably suit you a bit better from what it sounds like.

If you have a car you can get from Downtown up to Mission Bay in about 15 minutes during most times of the day.

The Gaslamp quarter has a pretty busy nightlife and so it should be pretty easy to meet people.
Also, you will be near Petco Park which is where the Padres (MLB) play.

Answer 6

Downtown is great for it's nightlife, but I suggest living in Mission Bay/ Pacific Beach. You'll find a younger crowd and you will be closer to the beaches and fun water life. It's full of college people and post-graduates/professionals. I'm a young registered nurse and most of my young co-workers live in Pacific Beach. And it's so close to downtown anyways. You will not have a hard time meeting people. You'll love San Diego. It's quite a change from the hectic NYC life. Downtown is good for the dance clubs, restaurants and baseball games (Go Padres!). Mission Bay/Pacific Beach is good for the beaches and bars to kick it at during the day. Welcome to San Diego!!!!

Answer 7

If you're looking for "chill" and the CA lifestyle, then go with Mission Beach or Pacific Beach. If you're coming from NYC and have always dreamed of living in CA, then I wouldn't move downtown. You'd just be going from one city to another...not really a lifestyle change and downtown Sd is pretty busy...not all that laid back (although nothing is as hectic as NYC). Take a look at the Crown Point area of Pacific Beach. There are some really nice streets near the bay and it's easy to get to bars etc on bicycle. Downtown SD is nice, and there is lots to do, but I don't think it fits your "dream".

Answer 8

Downtown is very active for night life. Mission Bay in summertime is full of college kids and the crowd generally is under 25 and sand/surf orientated. The food is more simple sushi and burgers and subs and tacos but lots of coffee houses for after the sun goes down. Downtown you will find any venue you might be interested in from upscale restaurante to funky eclectic folks or blues places. There is live theater and concerts just like The City. The distance between the two is about 5 miles.

Answer 9

Mission bay is better for under 30 crowd. It is a quicky drive downtown. If you were 33 I would say Gaslamp.

Answer 10

i say move to downtown. everything is close by..buses, ball park, seaport village, mall. mission bay is maybe 10-15 minutes from downtown not to far...mission bay youll be close to the beaches tho...if i had to choose id pick downtown...but most residents of mission bay/pb are college students so youll find more of a laid back crowd there.