San Diego is one of the finest cities in the country to raise a family. Many of its communities have access to good schools, the great outdoors or the vibrant and festive city culture. Thanks to all these positive attributes, anyone buying a home in San Diego could have a hard time deciding where to live. To help, we’ve categorized the best neighborhoods in San Diego according to what people look for most in a community:
- Best Walking Distance to Downtown – Kensington. Known for its traditional buildings, its family-friendly atmosphere and its famous neon sign, Kensington would be one of the best places to live in San Diego even if it wasn’t a five-minute walk from downtown. Since it is, though, the neighborhood wins our vote – hands-down – as the best neighborhood if your wish is to be close to the heart of the city.
- Best Schools – Poway. San Diego isn’t known for having excellent schools, but Poway is a shining exception. “The City in The Country” is home to a National Spelling Bee champion, biotechnology pioneers and some legendary high school wrestlers. The commute into the business district will take about half an hour, but we think it’s worth it.
- Best Outdoors – Rancho Peñasquitos. Not many urban communities can claim to share a border with a 40-acre nature preserve. Rancho Peñasquitos can. In addition to the excellent hiking and climbing, there are several neighborhood parks, an open space park and even a skate park. What’s more, 34% of this mountainous area is protected from development. Wherever you happen to be standing, the view is gorgeous.
- Best Beaches – La Jolla. With an average asking price of $2.5 million, La Jolla certainly isn’t the cheapest place to buy a house in San Diego. However, all that money will grant you access to the nicest beaches and the most breathtaking scenery in the city. Yes, there’s even a nude beach.
- Best Neighbors – Ocean Beach. Its lovely beachfront property wins accolades, but Ocean Beach is also the first community in San Diego to organize against corporate takeover. After winning that battle, the community went ahead and organized one of the best street fairs in the city. Almost all of the businesses in the neighborhood are locally owned and operated, and you’re guaranteed to get the time of day from just about anyone.
While all of these communities are excellent places to live, they certainly aren’t the only places you should focus on when buying a home in San Diego. There are plenty of neighborhoods that didn’t make the list but which are excellent places to raise a family all the same. When picking out a location for your dream home, look for the neighborhood that’s best for you, your spouse and your children. In San Diego, you’ve got plenty of choices, and you can’t go wrong.
