Which are San Diego's good neighborhoods?

Question

I'm going to be working in Imperial Beach.
I'm young, so I'd like to be close to some good beaches and well as some nightlife...

Would living up in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach be too much of a commute?

Thanks

Answer 1

It's cheaper to live in Imperial Beach and the homes are more affordable. The Plank is a decent local bar, mostly the Navy crowd though. When I was living in IB I went downtown a lot more because the bus went right downtown and there was never a problem with the people on the bus, or I'd go to Coronado. I wouldn't do the trolley though.

I liked that IB is quiet at night towards the beach, and there's way less cops then there is in PB.

Living in PB is a parking nightmare. Living in IB I was able to have extra money, I just had to worry about the nights I had a few too many. It's good to have buddies or hook up with someone in PB, but day to day it gets old.

As far as beaches go, I didn't mind IB beaches or Silver Strand, or Coronado.

Answer 2

IB beaches are ok if it hasn't been raining. When it rains the polution from Tijuana sewers gets really bad. The nicer beach would be Silver Strand, but that's more of a family atmosphere as opposed to young adult atmosphere.

I think if you are a young person you'd get tired of IB quickly, so I'd advise you live in PB or Mission Beach or downtown instead, even though it'll be a commute. Downtown has easy access to an exciting nightlife, and the OB/MB/PB areas are not far away.

The earlier poster who suggested La Jolla, Del Mar or Solana (not Solano) Beach is suggesting communities that skew older in age than PB, are more expensive, and are a farther commute, so I'd give up on that idea.

Answer 3

I liked living in Ocean Beach when I was there, and my Sister and her family live there now.

Pacific Beach is nice, and the police mainly stay on the beaches (because they have a TV show call "Beach Patrol", which they all want to be on).

The best neighborhoods are in La Jolla, Solano Beach and Del Mar, but very expensive. There are some great clubs to visit there.

According to the beach pollution reports, it is not safe to go in the water in Imperial Beach, but I see a lot of people there.

I once lived in Chula Vista, and commuted daily to La Jolla, so I wouldn't say it's too bad, especially since you would be going the opposite way of most of the traffic.