$750K lowest median house (National City)
$3.90M highest median house (Del Mar)
16 neighborhoods with a median house under $1M (of 55 in this guide)
Region
Central & Coastal
Median houses run from $1.08M in Linda Vista to $3.44M in La Jolla.
| Neighborhood | ZIP | Median house | Median condo | 2BR rent | 3BR rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown | 92101 | n/a | $690K | $4,090 | $5,420 |
| Hillcrest | 92103 | $1.75M | $770K | $3,210 | $4,260 |
| North Park | 92104 | $1.11M | $560K | $2,910 | $3,860 |
| Normal Heights | 92116 | $1.29M | $592K | $2,860 | $3,790 |
| Point Loma | 92106 | $1.95M | $1.31M | $2,930 | $3,880 |
| Ocean Beach | 92107 | $1.76M | $702K | $3,170 | $4,200 |
| Pacific Beach | 92109 | $2.19M | $1.01M | $3,480 | $4,610 |
| Bay Park | 92110 | $1.60M | $615K | $3,250 | $4,310 |
| Mission Valley | 92108 | n/a | $582K | $4,120 | $5,460 |
| Linda Vista | 92111 | $1.08M | $675K | $2,820* | $3,740* |
| Clairemont | 92117 | $1.24M | $574K | $2,810 | $3,730 |
| La Jolla | 92037 | $3.44M | $1.40M | $3,380 | $4,480 |
Region
Mid-City & East
Median houses run from $870K in Santee to $1.26M in Tierrasanta.
| Neighborhood | ZIP | Median house | Median condo | 2BR rent | 3BR rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Area | 92115 | $970K | $435K | $2,650 | $3,510 |
| San Carlos | 92119 | $1.11M | $475K | $2,940 | $3,900 |
| Allied Gardens | 92120 | $1.15M | $520K | $3,110 | $4,120 |
| Tierrasanta | 92124 | $1.26M | $680K | $4,010 | $5,320 |
| Serra Mesa | 92123 | $1.04M | $602K | $3,590 | $4,760 |
| La Mesa | 91941 | $1.18M | $505K | $2,630 | $3,490 |
| La Mesa Grossmont | 91942 | $901K | $540K | $2,840 | $3,770 |
| El Cajon | 92020 | $880K | $435K | $2,510 | $3,330 |
| Santee | 92071 | $870K | $565K | $2,750 | $3,650 |
Region
North City & I-15
Median houses run from $790K in Ramona to $2.62M in Carmel Valley.
| Neighborhood | ZIP | Median house | Median condo | 2BR rent | 3BR rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University City | 92122 | $1.64M | $659K | $3,700 | $4,910 |
| Mira Mesa | 92126 | $1.09M | $650K | $3,480 | $4,610 |
| Scripps Ranch | 92131 | $1.60M | $760K | $3,950 | $5,240 |
| Rancho Peñasquitos | 92129 | $1.44M | $560K | $3,090 | $4,100 |
| Carmel Valley | 92130 | $2.62M | $960K | $4,230 | $5,610 |
| 4S Ranch | 92127 | $1.93M | $805K | $3,410 | $4,520 |
| Rancho Bernardo | 92128 | $1.25M | $645K | $3,610 | $4,790 |
| Poway | 92064 | $1.22M | $690K | $2,970 | $3,940 |
| Ramona | 92065 | $790K | $532K | $2,510 | $3,330 |
Region
North County Coastal
Median houses run from $878K in Oceanside North to $3.90M in Del Mar.
| Neighborhood | ZIP | Median house | Median condo | 2BR rent | 3BR rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Del Mar | 92014 | $3.90M | $1.45M | $4,170 | $5,530 |
| Solana Beach | 92075 | $2.83M | $1.66M | $3,940 | $5,220 |
| Encinitas | 92024 | $2.19M | $1.15M | $3,680 | $4,880 |
| Carlsbad Village | 92008 | $1.93M | $1.13M | $3,250 | $4,310 |
| Carlsbad La Costa | 92009 | $1.92M | $770K | $3,670 | $4,870 |
| Carlsbad Calavera | 92010 | $1.46M | $845K | $3,650 | $4,840 |
| Carlsbad Aviara | 92011 | $2.08M | $980K | $4,050 | $5,370 |
| Oceanside Coastal | 92054 | $1.30M | $935K | $2,640 | $3,500 |
| Oceanside East | 92056 | $953K | $668K | $3,310 | $4,390 |
| Oceanside North | 92057 | $878K | $575K | $3,020 | $4,000 |
| Oceanside Mission | 92058 | $879K | $538K | $2,880 | $3,840 |
Region
North County Inland
Median houses run from $850K in Vista Central to $1.40M in San Marcos.
| Neighborhood | ZIP | Median house | Median condo | 2BR rent | 3BR rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos | 92078 | $1.40M | $725K | $3,190 | $4,230 |
| Vista South | 92081 | $980K | $561K | $3,120 | $4,140 |
| Vista Central | 92083 | $850K | $528K | $2,790 | $3,700 |
| Escondido South | 92025 | $960K | $600K | $2,590 | $3,430 |
| Escondido West | 92029 | $1.32M | n/a | $3,030 | $4,020 |
| Fallbrook | 92028 | $950K | n/a | $2,300 | $3,050 |
Region
South Bay & Coronado
Median houses run from $750K in National City to $3.56M in Coronado.
| Neighborhood | ZIP | Median house | Median condo | 2BR rent | 3BR rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coronado | 92118 | $3.56M | $2.20M | $4,230 | $5,610 |
| National City | 91950 | $750K | $439K | $2,220 | $2,940 |
| Paradise Hills | 92139 | $799K | $590K | $2,730 | $3,620 |
| Chula Vista West | 91910 | $932K | $642K | $2,590 | $3,430 |
| Chula Vista Otay Ranch | 91913 | $1.04M | $660K | $3,740 | $4,960 |
| Chula Vista Eastlake | 91914 | $1.32M | $640K | $4,120 | $5,460 |
| Chula Vista Millenia | 91915 | $1.05M | $665K | $3,810 | $5,050 |
| Otay Mesa West | 92154 | $805K | $635K | $2,770 | $3,670 |
How it works here
Buying in San Diego, step by step
Sign a buyer agreement
Since August 2024 a written agreement with your agent comes before touring. It spells out how your agent is paid.
Offer on the C.A.R. contract
California’s standard purchase agreement. Your offer sets price, terms and contingency windows.
17 days to investigate
The standard contract gives buyers 17 days for inspections, with set windows for appraisal and loan: all negotiable.
Close in about 30 days
Escrow commonly runs ~30 days. Prop 13 sets tax at 1% of price plus local assessments; ask about Mello-Roos.
Renting first?
What landlords expect
Deposit capped
Most California landlords can charge no more than one month’s rent as a deposit (AB 12, July 2024).
Be ready to apply
Proof of income (often 2.5–3× rent) and a credit check. Good listings move in days.
Lease first, buy later
A 6–12 month lease while you learn the area is common. I’ll help you compare by commute.
Landing checklist
Your first 20 days
CA driver’s license within 10 days of residency
Register your vehicle within 20 days (CA DMV)
Power & gas: SDG&E · water/trash: your city
Update USPS, HR, banks, IRS (Form 8822)
Register to vote at sos.ca.gov
Can’t fly in to look?
I’ll walk you through homes on a live video tour.
Shortlist two or three neighborhoods from this guide and send them over: I’ll line up tours of homes or rentals that fit your budget and commute.
About this data
Data as of October 2026. Home prices: median of homes sold in each ZIP in the last 180 days (Redfin sold-home data); fewer than 5 sales shows “n/a”. Rents: HUD FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (40th-percentile rent including utilities; * = HUD’s county-wide figure). Drive times: OpenStreetMap routing from the center of each ZIP, no traffic: check your commute hour on a map app. Not an appraisal; prices change.
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