Best place to live in San Diego for young family?

Question

We will be a mid to late 20's family with one kid and one dog relocating from FT. Benning, Ga. to San Diego area after my enlistment is up. Wife is an accountant, I will be empolyed by the Navy as a cop. Looking for a place that is relatively safe, good schools, house prices that match our jobs, big backyard would be nice.

Looking to buy

It will be the base in Coronado

Answer 1

Do you know where you will be stationed in SD? Makes a difference where I'd recommend. Note Carlsbad is great but Camp Pendleton is Marine base, not Navy. I'm guessing you'll be based further south.

For great schools I'd look to Poway area, or Eastlake area of Chula Vista. Houses in those areas start at about $550,000.

Temecula is in Riverside County, not San Diego. Likely drive to work for you of minimum 1 1/2 hours each way, so I don't think you'd like that.

If you give your base location in San Diego I might be able to amend answer to address what areas are within an hour or less drive.

Note Otay Mesa does not have good schools; too many non-English speakers. La Mesa is nice, affordable and has big yards, but some of the elementary schools have poor performance and others much better so you'd have to pay attention to the relevant elementary school for the area you are looking at.

Addendum: Since you're going to be working at Coronado, Coronado would be a nice place to stay but very very expensive. Imperial Beach is nearby and affordable but schools not so good. I'd look first in Eastlake area of Chula Vista. Pt. Loma or south part of Ocean Beach would be great choices if you can afford it. La Mesa is a bit farther away but you can take Hwy 94 to get to work so that might be an area to consider if you get a good elementary school. If you check those options out and they aren't working for you then Poway area might be an option but it will be more of a drive for you.

Answer 2

North of San Diego are some beach and inland towns that seem a little pricey but are worth the extra effort. Vista, Poway, Escondido, San Marcos, Encinitas, Ramona, and El Cajon are all towns outside of San Diego that have all the stores without the complete insanity of the big city. La Jolla (pronounced Lah HOY-ah) Is nice, but a little too cramped for the price. The local beach residents are really nice and the surfers can be loud when they party but decent neighbors. The beach kids are a fun bunch, and most Southern California schools are really good and geared toward education.
Explore a bit before you move - you may find the actual city is too much but the surrounding communities are just right.
Good Luck.

Answer 3

If you are looking to rent I would recommend Chula Vista, good rental rates, close to downtown and the Navy Bases. Nice are with houses. If you are looking to buy I would recommend Rolando Hills, its considered a community of San Diego, good prices for homes in a nice tucked away area in Central San Diego near San Diego State University, still with-in a good driving distance of Downtown and the Navy Bases. You are looking in to buy a home in that area in the mid 500's to the Low 700's for a real big home. In Chula Vista you looking at rental rates for a 2 BD 2 BA Home in the $1200 to $1500.

East County is always an option to buy and rent with good areas all around. Santee and Lakeside are the most affordable both in rent and buying. With homes starting in the high 500's to (I hope you can belive this) 1 million+ homes. Rental rates in these areas for a 2bd 2ba home in the $1150 to $2000. Both of these communities have great schools, the down fall is your looking at a 30 min commute to the Navy Bases during non peak hours and 45 to 1 hour during rush hour.

Hope this info was helpful.

Answer 4

Are you looking to buy or rent a home? Home prices are high in SD no matter where you look - at minimum $400K.

Great family locations are:
Point Loma (coastal), Coronado (EXPENSIVE), Serra Mesa (centrally located), La Mesa (East County), Otay Mesa (South Bay), Tierrasanta (central SD), Scripps Ranch (central SD), Poway (GREAT school system), Rancho Bernardo (northern SD), Temecula (almost Riverside County - SD wine country).

The farther north you go, the lower the home prices for purchase. Good luck!

Answer 5

Rancho Penasquitos is a good area. With all the new developments in that area people are moving out of Rancho Penasquitos and are willing to let go of their properties at a good price. Rancho P. is a very central location in San Diego and the schools are very good.

Answer 6

Go to Ocean Beach.
Why?
It is the least touristy of the beaches
It has great schools nearby, public and private, (I went there so I'd know)
It's awesome
The only problem is the prices though.
On the hill overlooking OB is great, in the ocean beach point loma area

Answer 7

i would recommend Carlsbad California

it is in northern San Diego
near camp penlton
GREAT schools
500,000 to millions on housing prices -2 bedroom cheapest with amount of space
great beach's
has a lot of things to do -good shops and surf town-

Good luck i moved away a year ago and regret it sooo much

Answer 8

My sister and her family live in Ocean Beach, which is where I and my family lived. We found the schools were excellent (magnet schools = very sought after). The shopping is convenient, and the beaches are the cleanest in the area. I am planning to return there when I retire.

Answer 9

i would definitely consider you moving in the chula vista are that's the area code of 619 there is lots of young families so that s something you should consider the housing prices are aroung $300k - 550K i know because i live here in chula vista !:)