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San Diego County

#6 in Best Counties to Live in California
  • A-
    Overall Grade
  • County in California
  • 919 reviews
    A-
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      D-
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      A-
    6. Diversity
      A+
    7. Jobs
      C+
    8. Weather
      A+
    9. Cost of Living
      D-
    10. Health & Fitness
      A+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A+
    12. Commute
      B
    View Full Report Card
    San Diego County is located in California with a population of 3,283,665. San Diego County is one of the best places to live in California. In San Diego County, most residents own their homes. In San Diego County there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in San Diego County and residents tend to lean liberal. The public schools in San Diego County are highly rated.
    Population
    3,283,665

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $484,900
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,467
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    —
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      47%
    • Own
      53%
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    San Diego County Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C+
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      207.5
      282.7
    • Murder
      2.2
      6.1
    • Rape
      34
      40.7
    • Robbery
      97.1
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      278
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,188.8
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      309.8
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      13%
    • 10-17 years
      10%
    • 18-24 years
      11%
    • 25-34 years
      16%
    • 35-44 years
      13%
    • 45-54 years
      13%
    • 55-64 years
      12%
    • 65+ years
      13%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      14%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      23%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      31%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      19%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      13%
      13%

    Working in San Diego County

    Jobs
    C+
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $70,588
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in San Diego County
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

      San Diego County Reviews

      919 reviews
      All Categories
      If you are an active person, then San Diego is the place for you. In San Diego, the food is pretty diverse. If you want some Asian food, go to Clairemont. If you want some good street tacos, go try Tacos El Gordo at Chula Vista. If your a downtown party person, go to the Gaslamp Quarter (there's a lot of eateries and bars there). If your a beach person, go visit the La Jolla area (maybe get some seafood there). In San Diego, don't be scared of traveling around San Diego! It's not like L.A where traffic is a big problem.
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      I love San Diego! I am from the bay area and never thought that I would like to live anywhere else, but after moving down here for college, I have decided to live here for the foreseeable future. I love the diversity of food and culture that San Diego County offers its citizens. Not only is it an easily accessible city, it is an affordable one which is hard to find in times like today. I also believe that in the area of politics, the representatives have the needs of the people in mind rather than their own, which is why I see so many people happy to be here.
      I've lived here my whole entire life, never moved once. I grew up and know nothing else. All of my friends live here and we go to our certain spots where we always met up. There are a couple twists and turns on the road that is a bit unsafe because you can't quite see if there are any cars coming, but other than that we are pretty safe. There are a good amount of gated communities as well. We keep building more homes and other buildings so more people are able to move in. I like it here!