The 9 Best Neighborhoods to Live in San Diego

San Diego is a pretty, magical paradise of endless sunshine–perfect for anyone who loves the water. Whether you want to look at it, drink by it, or dive straight into it, San Diego has 70 miles of outstanding coastline calling your name.

This city of over one million residents feels more like a welcoming beach town than a typical city and is full of local love and pride. In San Diego, it’s said that all roads lead to the beach, and what better way to enjoy those beaches than year-round sunshine and 70 degrees?

There are arguably no cities in the world that offer as many water sport options as sunny San Diego. Sailing, surfing, swimming, scuba diving, kayaking, rowing, you name it, if it’s a water activity San Diego’s surfing it up for you.

This city is one of the top LGTBQ+-friendly cities in the country, a welcome place for everyone who makes their way to its shores. Plus, it’s considered one of the best cities in America for foodies. Need more? San Diego has over 52 different museums and galleries bursting with fine art, history, and unforgettable live performances.

So, break out those flip flops, stock up on SPF, and get ready to pay the ‘sun tax’ for all that endless sunshine. Join the countless young people racing over to find their new home in one of the fastest growing cities in the country!

In order to help you find that perfect beachy vibe, we’ve compiled a list of the top nine funky and charming neighborhoods in San Diego.

What's more, we've built a ranking system for each one to help you make this big decision. We’re ranking:

• Atmosphere: nightlife & entertainment, shopping & restaurants, and beauty & parks

• Amenities: schools, public transit, and points of interest

• Experience: safety, affordability, and walkability

The end result is a prioritized list of the best places to move to in SanDiego, California.

Why listen to us? We may not be offering as many farm-to-table restaurants as San Diego, but we have been serving up top rental experiences across the USA for a long time. We’ve picked up a thing or two along the way!

Perfect for young professionals looking for an affordable area in the middle of rich culture, endless tasty food, and modern art.

Culture, history, community, and arguably the best tacos in all of San Diego… yes, we’re talking about Barrio Logan. Located just outside of Downtown, this predominantly Latino neighborhood is drenched in art and local pride.

Barrio Logan has an industrial vibe with former warehouses transformed into art galleries, taco shops, and craft breweries. This funky neighborhood boasts fresh art woven straight into the infrastructure of the area. With murals telling the neighborhood’s history, street art to rival any big city, and places like La Bodega Gallery, Barrio Logan is dedicated to showing up and showing off how important art is in everyday life.

We can’t talk about Barrio Logan without mentioning the incredible food options available. Seriously–the stuff that dreams are made of. Grab some cash and join the long line of people salivating for the handmade tortillas and juicy carnitas at Los Cuatro Milpas. Or treat your tastebuds to an adventure with the culturally inspired drinks at Por Vida like the caffeinated Horchatta or the spicy limonada. You’ll fall asleep dreaming about the culinary wonders and wake up planning when you can get there again.

Looking to enjoy some time outside? Chicano Park is a central location popular with locals and visitors alike. As you walk through the skate park, playgrounds, basketball courts, and stunning murals you’ll see people hanging out celebrating birthdays, each other, and life.

Making your way through Barrio Logan can be a bit difficult without a car as it scores a 3 in Public Transit and a 3 in Walkability. It scores a 3 in Safety because there are some areas to avoid at night and a 2 in Schools because of the limited options offered.

However, it scores an incredible 5 in Affordability, which is a huge bonus for its proximity to San Diego!

Barrio Logan is a tight-knit community full of cultural pride and heritage and could be the perfect fit for those looking for convenience, culture, and kick-ass Mexican food.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Barrio Logan scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest:📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young people looking for an affordable and relaxed life on the water.

Welcome to San Diego’s playground on the South Bay. Imperial beach is the southernmost beach town in California and located just five miles north of the Mexican border.

Plenty of sunshine and four miles of stunning beach allow locals to enjoy great surfing, exciting sport fishing, sunny beach volleyball, and even horseback riding along the coast.

Imperial Beach is home to one of the top birdwatching spots in all of San Diego, at the Tijuana River National Estuary–a place where the fresh water of the Tijuana River meets the salt water from the Pacific Ocean. Here you’ll learn about preservation and get up close to many endangered birds and wildlife—looking for a new hobby? This could be a surprising one.

This neighborhood hosts tons of local annual entertainment including a free, flavorful fish derby, the Sun & Sea Festival showcasing ridiculously impressive sandcastle art, and triathlons along the coast.

With a perfect score in both Beauty & Parks and in Affordability, the lucky residents of Imperial Beach enjoy the beauty of mother nature and the luxury of a savings account.

Imperial Beach’s southern location makes it a good place for those looking to enjoy some space from the hustle and bustle of San Diego. This neighborhood scores a 2/5 in our Public Transit category because of the more limited options and the fact that it takes at least 20 minutes to get anywhere outside of the neighborhood.

So, plan in some extra time when you are heading out of the neighborhood. But, on the bright side, remember that this is what gives Imperial Beach its relaxing vibe, because it’s a little more out of the way for the hordes of tourists crowding San Diego.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Imperial Beach scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for people looking to live in the largest LQBTQ+ community in San Diego.

This beloved neighborhood is the center of San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community. Buzzing with quirky shops, gay bars, and delicious brunch spots, Hillcrest is known for its welcoming energy.

Hillcrest is brimming with friendly people and a vibrant style that gives everyone who lives there a chance to express their true selves. This eclectic neighborhood is a hub of culture and diversity– the perfect place to work hard and play harder.

One of San Diego’s oldest neighborhoods, Hillcrest has accumulated a magical array of ways to enjoy your precious free time. Take in front yards like Harper’s Topiary garden that has over 50 life-sized sculptures all trimmed by hand, or experience the 375 feet-long Spruce Street Suspension Bridge that hovers over Sessions Canyon 70-feet below. Living in Hillcrest gives you a chance to explore your neighborhood and discover something new every day.

Just south of Hillcrest you’ll find Balboa Park, the biggest urban cultural park in North America. It’s an epicenter for arts and culture, recreation, and community events and encompasses 1,200 acres of stunning gardens, 16 museums and performing arts venues, and the famous San Diego Zoo.

Don’t get too tired experiencing all Hillcrest has to offer by day, because the real party gets started after dark. With a perfect score in Nightlife & Entertainment, Hillcrest has endless, wild fun waiting for you and your friends.

Check out the country’s only openly gay brewery, find a modern speakeasy that is only accessible through a freezer, or try one of the many cocktail bars sprinkled throughout the neighborhood.

5 stars in Safety and high scores in Walkability, Points of Interest, Shopping & Restaurants, and Beauty & Parks all prove how much fun you’ll have living in Hillcrest. This laid back but vibrant neighborhood is waiting for you to come and celebrate life with all of the locals.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Hillcrest scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for hipsters, students, and young professionals looking for an urban neighborhood in the heart of San Diego.

Don’t be fooled by the name University Heights because, believe it or not, there is no University here. The name comes from the original plans to have a University of Southern California campus; however, those plans fell through and instead we have one of San Diego’s most walkable neighborhoods with no shortage of places to be or things to do.

North Park & University Heights are located just a couple of miles from Downtown and offer a plethora of unique and local interpretations of food, beer, and shopping. The North Park Farmer’s Market is ranked as one of the best farmer’s markets in the U.S. and takes place every Thursday all year long… a staple for foodies looking to experiment with local, fresh ingredients.

With a perfect score in Shopping & Restaurants, you’ll enjoy eating and shopping your way through hundreds of local and eclectic shops housed in the neighborhood. Challenge your spice tolerance levels at Grains, a vegan cafe full of flavors and dazzling food combos like sandwiches made of black pepper edamame, buffalo cauliflower and pulled jackfruit. Or, head out for some Urban Wine tasting at the Clos Wine Shop or hit up the Cave of Wonders, a jewelry and minerals shop run by a geologist.

You won’t ever have to leave your neighborhood on the weekends if you don’t want to because there are so many fun and incomparable experiences to enjoy. Dive into the neighborhood culture at places like Diversionary Theatre which is a performing arts space dedicated to supporting San Diego´s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities or Gilly’s Bar which is a dive bar that holds karaoke and the best themed trivia nights.

Whether you’re having a picnic at the Trolley Barn Park for Summer movie nights or shopping your way through vintage heaven, if you like diverse and unique culture, you’ll be sure to find a home here in North Park & University Heights.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how North Park & University Heights scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals looking for a luxurious and charming beach town in a prime location.

La Jolla, or ‘the jewel’ in Spanish, is the most prestigious community in the city and an important part of San Diego’s dazzling crown. Known for its impressive coastline, this neighborhood is a place where you can take a dip in the ocean, hike in the mountains, and trek through the desert, all in the same day.

La Jolla has unlocked the secret to balancing a high-class lifestyle at a laid-back pace. People in this neighborhood love to enjoy the finer things in life in a relatively casual dress code.

For outdoor adventure, head to La Jolla Cove and rent a kayak to explore the vibrant sea caves. Check out Torrey Pines State Reserve and enjoy the coastline or head to the Seven Sea Caves for some of the best snorkeling in San Diego. Beaches with amazing waves for every level of surfing… the list goes on and on. If you are looking for adventure on, at, or in the water, look no further.

Need a chance to recover from that sunburn? Check out La Jolla Playhouse on the UC San Diego campus for some of the best live theater in the entire country. Many of the productions from here have made their way all the way to Broadway!

Whether you’re checking out the world-class outdoor contemporary art at the UC San Diego campus, paying your respects at the Mount Soledad Veterans Institute overlooking Mission’s Bay, or eating your way through the delicious menu at the world-famous restaurant George’s on the Cove, you can be sure you’ll enjoy life in La Jolla.

With a perfect score in nearly every category on our list, it’s no wonder that Affordability comes in at a 2/5. Be prepared to pay for all of the fantastic amenities, unbeatable views, and modern convenience wrapped up in that extra beach towel you’ll need.

La Jolla is the ideal place to enjoy laid-back luxury surrounded by the ocean.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how La Jolla scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for free spirits who love to party in and out of the water.

Pacific Beach, or ‘P.B.’ to the locals, is a relaxed beach front neighborhood popular with young adults, college students, and anyone looking for a good party. Hip hotel bars and trendy cafes surround the three-mile boardwalk just steps away from the beach.

Although this neighborhood is well known for the party scene it provides, you’ll find free spirits of all ages and families mixing into the community as easily as the mixed drinks at your new favorite beachside bar.

The spring break vibe that lights up the area on the weekends and holidays calms down during the week and you’ll find a local community that really knows how to take advantage of the calmer waters that provide a perfect place to learn how to surf, pull out that paddleboard, or even rent a boat with a jacuzzi on it!

Fish your way into the sunset at Crystal Pier or take your nieces and nephews to Sea World San Diego. Rent a bike and cruise the boardwalk or take your new crush whale watching. Go sailing with your new work-mates or explore the sunken shipwrecks a half-mile off the coast. This area has a perfect score in not only Beauty & Parks, but Nightlife & Entertainment, Shopping & Restaurants, and Points of Interest!

Visit this neighborhood’s iconic Kono´s Surf Club Café situated right across the boardwalk from the ocean. Famous for their low prices and all-day breakfast menu, it’s definitely worth the wait to enjoy the ‘best breakfast in San Diego.’

Whether you are playing in the water, riding the 73-foot-tall Giant Dipper Rollercoaster, or partying all night long with the love of your life, Pacific Beach & Mission Bay lives up to all of the hype.

This oasis is ideal for the young at heart who are looking to maximize their time and to enjoy their life to the fullest.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Pacific Beach & Mission Bay scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals looking for a tight-knit community close to downtown with a unique vibe.

Normal Heights is anything but normal and is actually often referred to as ‘abnormal heights’ by its residents. The locals like to claim that it’s the only real neighborhood in San Diego–a place where you actually know your neighbors by name and recognize their pets on your morning jog. Not an easy thing to do in a city that has over one million residents.

Kensington & Normal Heights give a small-town vibe with big city perks. At ‘Adam’s Avenue’ also known as Antiques Row, you can wander through the quaint coffee shops, peruse the vintage record stores, and support the few, surviving used book stores.

Discover new bands before they become too mainstream at the local festivals like the Adam’s Avenue Street Fair–the largest free music festival in all of Southern California—or at Lestat’s Coffee House where you can hear live music every night of the week.

Located about eight miles northeast of Downtown San Diego, this area scores a perfect 5 in Public Transit and Safety making getting around a breeze, just like that refreshing ocean air you’ll enjoy on the daily.

Normal Heights comes in at one of the top neighborhoods in San Diego due to the diverse, funky, and eclectic wonders that you will find here. Affordable housing, highly rated schools, locally owned restaurants packed full of personality, friendly neighbors who invite you over for a barbecue, plenty of space for your canine companions… the list goes on.

If you like living, shopping, and enjoying all things local, Normal Heights & Kensington may be the perfect place for you to settle down for a while.

Here's how Kensington & Normal Heights scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young people who want to live close to everything and enjoy the best views of San Diego.

South Park & Golden Hill is a charming residential area, as full of delicious adventure as that craft beer you’re trying not to spill. Innovative eateries, spectacular views in every direction, and a prime location give residents and visitors alike a perfect place to bask in all that sunshine.

Residents enjoy convenient access to the freeways and to Balboa Park as well as a perfect score in both Public Transit and Walkability. The most difficult thing about getting around this area is deciding what shoes to put on in the morning.

Amidst some of the most scenic landscapes in San Diego, you can find historical sites like the original home of the Women’s History Museum, enjoy access to happy hiking trails that start at Balboa Park, and let loose at the many hot spots on 25th Street.

Your social calendar will fill up before you even realize with events like Tacotopia—the biggest taco festival in San Diego, the Golden Hill Block Party—a free outdoor concert right before Halloween, and Friday night food trucks at Balboa park during the summer.

Relax in the vast natural surroundings, dance your way through the buzzing nightlife scene, or unwind with your friends after a long day at work. Whatever you’re looking for, this neighborhood is ready and waiting to fulfill all of your weekly needs.

South Park & Golden Hill believe strongly in supporting local and are a haven for progressive art, organic everything, and one-of-a-kind experiences. The impressive high scores in almost every category on our list­–including affordability–make this area a clear contender for our top neighborhoods in San Diego!

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how South Park & Golden Hill scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Perfect for young professionals looking for a safe, affordable, and hip neighborhood close to downtown and with unbeatable ocean views.

We’ve made it to our top neighborhood in San Diego! This area is known as the place where California began. If you enjoy being close to, overlooking, or in the water, then this neighborhood is the place for you.

Located about 5 miles west of Downtown San Diego, this area offers a well-established community situated right inside one of San Diego’s tourist hotspots. Everyone is welcome in this funky, vintage beach town that attracts surfers, skaters and anyone who loves staring off into the sunset.

There are countless reasons why this neighborhood draws visitors from all over the world; including a blossoming arts district, an extensive culture and history, and insane views from gorgeous beaches.

Point Loma & Ocean Beach are great for those looking to get in touch with Mother Nature. Check out the unique caves and catch a sunset at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. Get up close and personal with brilliant wildlife in the Point Loma Tide Pools. Or, hike the winding trails overlooking the ocean and maybe even spot a gray whale in the distance. You’ll waste no time in understanding why this neighborhood scores a perfect 5 in our Beauty & Parks category.

Indulge your creative side at Friday Night Liberty­–a free evening of open art galleries and studios on the first Friday of every month. Hit up Kobe’s Swap meet on the weekend for the largest outdoor market in the area filled with everything from fresh produce to vintage treasures. Point Loma has you covered for a buzzing life outside of that 9-5 grind with a perfect score in Shopping & Restaurants, Nightlife & Entertainment, Safety, and Points of Interest!

With a perfect score in Walkability and in Public Transportation, it’s hard to beat the quality of life, the convenience, and the spectacular connection to the ocean that Point Loma has to offer.

This family-friendly, bustling neighborhood is one of the best arts and culture districts in the area and is perfect for those looking for world class dining, stunning views of the San Diego skyline, and the classic SoCal beach vibe.

Rankings: Weighted rankings were determined by scoring neighborhoods on a scale of 1-5 in the following categories, with 5 being the best.

Here's how Ocean Beach & Point Loma scored:

• Affordability: 💸 💸 💸 💸

• Beauty & Parks: 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

• Nightlife & Entertainment: 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

• Points of Interest: 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍

• Public Transit: 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃 🚃

• Safety: ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

• Schools: 🍎 🍎 🍎

• Shopping & Restaurants: 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍 🛍

• Walkability: 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️ 🚶🏽‍♀️

Time to splash into the numbers for our top neighborhoods in San Diego, California.

First thing’s first, Affordability and Schools come in at the lowest with a 3.7 and a 3.6 respectively. It’s no wonder they score a bit lower with everyone itching to get outside and experience the real classroom that Mother Nature has to offer.

With an impressive 4.3 in Beauty & Parks, San Diego offers endless outdoor education and activities for learners of every age.

With a 4.1 in both Walkability and Public Transit and a 4.2 in Points of Interest, you will have no shortage of fun as you explore this sunny city by foot, bicycle, boat, or bus.

Finally, San Diego has got you covered for every wild night out or relaxing day in with its highest scores overall in Safety (4.4), Nightlife & Entertainment (4.4), and Shopping & Restaurants (4.8).

If you’re looking for free vitamin D all-year-long and a city that loves nature and living local, then check out all that San Diego has to offer.