Best places to live in the San Diego metro area
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the San Diego metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
#25. Vista
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 98,646
#24. Jamul
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 6,617
#23. Alpine
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 15,470
#22. Valley Center
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 10,303
#21. Hidden Meadows
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 3,899
#20. Harbison Canyon
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 4,245
#19. Spring Valley
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 32,215
#18. Lake San Marcos
- Niche grade: B-
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 4,996
#17. Oceanside
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 172,542
#16. Santee
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 59,485
#15. Bonsall
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 4,308
#14. Rancho San Diego
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 22,264
#13. Chula Vista
- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 275,030
#12. La Mesa
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 60,835
#11. Bonita
- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 13,336
#10. San Marcos
- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 94,078
#9. Poway
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 48,515
#8. San Diego
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 1,385,061
#7. Rancho Santa Fe
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 2,574
#6. Fairbanks Ranch
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 2,794
#5. Carlsbad
- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 114,500
#4. Del Mar
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 3,921
#3. Coronado
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 18,558
#2. Encinitas
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 61,585
#1. Solana Beach
- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 12,841