Best and Worst Areas in San Diego

Best for Good Schools and Family:

La Jolla is a center for good schools in San Diego. National University is headquartered in La Jolla. Public schools include La Jolla High School, La Jolla Elementary, Torrey Pines Elementary, Bird Rock Elementary, and the Preuss School UCSD. The community’s prep schools are The Bishop’s School, The Children’s School, Delphi Academy, Stella Maris Academy, All Hallows Academy, The Gillispie School, and the Evans School. The University of California, San Diego is the center of higher education in La Jolla. The campus’s original name was UC La Jolla before it was changed to UC San Diego.

Best for Art and Music:

Normal Heights is known for its affordable pubs, restaurants, coffee houses, antique shops, book shops, and burgeoning arts community. Three important neighborhood events take place in Normal Heights: The Adams Avenue Roots Festival, The Adams Avenue Street Fair, and Art Around Adams. The Adams Avenue Roots Festival is typically held the last weekend in April, featuring American, Latin, British, and various other European folk styles played live for free. The Adams Avenue Street Fair, Southern California’s largest free music festival, is typically held the last weekend in September. Art Around Adams is a local community art event where unique and talented artists showcase their work inside and outside interesting little businesses and spaces along Adams Avenue. The stretch of Adams Avenue between Texas Street on the west and Ohio Street on the east is sometimes referred to as Antique Row.

Best for Nightlife:

Pacific Beach is largely populated by young people, surfers, and college students, the population is becoming older, more professional, and more affluent due to rising property and rental costs. “P.B.,” as it is known as by local residents, is home to one of San Diego’s larger nightlife scenes, with dozens of bars, eateries, and clothing stores.

Best for Tourism

The Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego is in the East Village. It lies right between Balboa Park and the San Diego International Airport. This historic district is popular for tourism. There is even a segway tour available! In the business district around this area you will find san diego bankruptcy lawyers and san diego child custody attorney. The Gaslamp Quarter also offers a plethora of shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Worst Areas for Crime:

Mira Mesa, East San Diego, Southeast San Diego, and City Heights (Mid-City area) are all areas to avoid in San Diego. These areas have a lot of crime and are dangerous.

Worst for Partying

South UTC is probably the worst area for partying. University City (UC) or “UTC” has a large population of retired persons, partly due to a retirement community (Town Park Villas). Many of the professors teaching at UCSD live in the UC neighborhood. There is also a demographic divide between UTC (North) and South UC. Residents of South UC tend to be homeowners. North UTC tends to be younger – young professionals, college graduates and university students live in this area.