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Living in Clairemont Mesa San Diego 🏡 | Clairemont San Diego Neighborhood Guide

Last Updated On: 16th April 2024, 06:50 pm

Clairemont Mesa, San Diego, or simply Clairemont, is a neighborhood characterized by its canyons and panoramic views. Clairemont is known for its many parks and recreational areas, including the popular Tecolote Canyon Natural Park. Its central location means that beaches, downtown San Diego, and other attractions in the city are just a short drive away, providing residents with endless options for entertainment, dining, and shopping options.

A paradise for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts but also popular with families, living in Clairemont San Diego has a lot to offer! Here's what you have to look forward to.

Where Is Clairemont San Diego?

Clairemont Mesa, or simply Clairemont, is one of the largest neighborhoods in San Diego. Located in Northern San Diego, Clairemont is bordered by the neighborhoods of University City, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Kearny Mesa, Linda Vista, Morena, and Mission Bay.

Clairemont itself is divided into several smaller neighborhoods:

  • North Clairemont
  • Clairemont Mesa East
  • Clairemont Mesa West
  • Bay Park
  • Bay Ho

Clairemont San Diego is bounded by the San Clemente Canyon and SR 52 (San Clemente Canyon Freeway) to the north, I-805 to the east, and I-5 to the west. The southern boundary follows the Tecolote Canyon Natural Park, separating the neighborhood from Linda Vista and Morena.

Clairemont San Diego Map

Clairemont Mesa History & Overview

The history of Clairemont, San Diego began in 1887 when the 1,200-acre Morena subdivision was mapped. It originally included parts of Clairemont, including Bay Park. The Bay Park Village subdivision was created in 1936 with large single-family home lots.

By 1950, the largest post-war subdivision in San Diego was created. It was originally called the Village Within a City but then named Clairemont after the wife of one of the developers. The design was innovative for its time, with scenic views and winding streets rather than a grid pattern. When it was built, Clairemont was the largest development of the kind in the entire country.

Thousands of homes, duplexes, and apartments were built within just a few years. It incorporated schools, libraries, and shopping to create a suburban environment still unique for the time. Clairemont helped stretch the San Diego city limits by offering amenities and services to an area removed from the rest of the city.

Today, the Clairemont Mesa San Diego population is 80,000 across its five neighborhoods.

Population of Clairemont, San Diego
Neighborhood Population Median Household Income
Clairemont Mesa West 9,800 $79,900
Bay Ho 11,800 $80,800
North Clairemont 14,500 $65,900
Bay Park 16,400 $75,100
Clairemont Mesa East 26,700 $68,700

What’s It Like Living in Clairemont San Diego?

Clairemont San Diego is a largely residential community with a suburban atmosphere. Dozens of subdivisions in the area are known for their family-friendly amenities and strong sense of community. The area is popular with families thanks to its great schools, low crime, and range of housing options, but outdoor enthusiasts also love the area.

After moving to Clairemont Mesa San Diego, you’ll have your pick of many quiet neighborhoods with little traffic that feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are also plenty of areas that are very walkable and close to shopping, dining, and recreation.

You’ll enjoy a painless commute and find it easy to get to downtown San Diego, the beach, or surrounding areas. Clairemont offers convenient access to I-5 and I-805, as well as the San Clemente Canyon Freeway and Cabrillo Freeway. There are many major employers in the area, including San Diego Mission Bay Resort, the University of San Diego, Sharp Memorial Hospital, and Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego.

Things to Do in Clairemont

Moving to Clairemont San Diego is a great idea if you love to spend time outdoors. The area is known for its fantastic parks, outdoor recreation, and recreation centers. Tecolote Canyon Natural Park and Nature Center runs from southern Bay Park north through the entire Clairemont neighborhood to Tecolote Canyon with multiple entrances and hiking trails.

There are smaller neighborhood parks scattered throughout the community with playgrounds, dog runs, and other amenities.

In Clairemont Mesa East, Olive Grove Park is a hidden oasis with plenty of shade, picnic tables, and a playground. Lindbergh Park right off Balboa Avenue offers a huge grassy area, soccer field, and full basketball court plus a newer playground. Mt. Acadia Park is a smaller community park popular with young families. It’s wedged between Genesee Avenue and Mt. Acadia Blvd where Clairemont Mesa East and West meet.

While living in Clairemont Mesa, you’ll have two San Diego rec centers and a huge YMCA facility in your own backyard.

Built in 1960, the North Clairemont Rec Center offers year-round tennis lessons and youth sports. The rec center allows families and individuals to reserve several local parks and athletic areas. The South Clairemont Rec Center is home to the South Clairemont Soccer Club. It offers a judo program for kids and adults and regular community events and classes. Several local parks can be reserved through the South Clairemont Rec Center.

In Bay Park, the YMCA Krause Family Skate & Bike Park is a major draw for families, teens, and professional athletes. The 60,000-square-foot skate and bike park has ramps for all skill levels including a beginner course and the country’s only skatercross course. It’s next to the South Clairemont Recreation Center and the Clairemont Swimming Pool, the only public pool in Clairemont Mesa San Diego.

Three local library branches serve Clairemont Mesa residents with community events and children’s activities:

Shopping in Clairemont Mesa is concentrated in four main shopping destinations:

The Clairemont Town Square in North Clairemont is anchored by T.J. Maxx, Michaels, Petco, and Reading Cinemas Town Square, also known simply as the Clairemont movie theater.

The Balboa Mesa Shopping Center in Clairemont Mesa East is home to the popular Balboa International Market and Sprouts Farmers Market for groceries, plus Target, Kohls, and other retailers.

Morena Plaza in Bay Ho is home to the region’s Costco.

Clairemont Village in Bay Park is a small strip mall convenient for several nearby apartments and subdivisions.

Where to Find Everything

Parks:

Amenities & Entertainment:

Shopping & Dining:

Clairemont Mesa San Diego Schools

While living in Clairemont San Diego, you will be served by the San Diego Unified School District. The Clairemont Mesa neighborhood is split into two middle and high school attendance areas:

  • Bay Park, Bay Ho, and Clairemont Mesa West: Marston Middle School and Clairemont High School
  • Clairemont Mesa East and North Clairemont: Innovation Middle School and Madison High School

There are several alternative and magnet schools in Clairemont San Diego. Parents can apply through the School Choice, Magnet, and Voluntary Enrollment Exchange Program (VEEP).

The neighborhood is also served by many elementary schools:

  • North Clairemont – Field Elementary Dual Immersion School
  • North Clairemont – Whitman Elementary
  • North Clairemont – Hawthorne Elementary
  • Clairemont Mesa West – Holmes Elementary
  • Clairemont Mesa East – Sequoia Elementary
  • Clairemont Mesa East – Ross Elementary
  • Clairemont Mesa East – Lafayette Elementary
  • Clairemont Mesa East – Clairemont Canyons Academy
  • Bay Park – Longfellow Elementary
  • Bay Ho – Alcott Elementary

Several San Diego private schools are in the Clairemont neighborhood, including SCY High School, an Orthodox Yeshiva school, Islamic School of San Diego, and School of the Madeleine, a Catholic school in Bay Park.

Pursuing higher education after moving to Clairemont San Diego is easy too, thanks to two local institutions. San Diego Mesa College, a community college, is located in the heart of Clairemont Mesa East. Just south of Clairemont in neighboring Morena is the University of San Diego.

Is Clairemont San Diego Safe?

Clairemont Mesa is a very safe place to live. In fact, it’s one of the safest neighborhoods in San Diego. Clairemont is known for being a quiet residential community with very little violent crime. Most crime is property crime, such as bicycle theft and larceny. The main streets and commercial areas are more likely to have crime with higher population density and traffic.

Clairemont San Diego Real Estate

Like most of San Diego, Clairemont has a competitive real estate market. In popular subdivisions, homes usually sell in just a few days with dozens of competing offers.

Looking for affordable homes for sale in Clairemont San Diego? Clairemont Mesa East is the best bet. The median home price is $640,000 – that’s 31.5% below the San Diego median. In the rest of Clairemont, the median home price is over $1 million.

Condos in Clairemont San Diego

You’ll also find tons of great condos for sale in Clairemont San Diego. Most Clairemont condos are in Clairemont Mesa East. Village Woods Condos is close to Mesa College and Sharp Hospital, with prices in the high $300s for studios and the low $400s for one-bedroom units. Other condos in Clairemont Mesa East include Blossom Walk and Village Square Condos.

The desirable Balboa Ridge complex is a gated community of 200+ luxury condos built in 1995. It’s one of the newer developments with swimming pools and other amenities and walking distance to shopping. Studio condos are in the high $300s with three-bedroom condos in the high $600s.

In Clairemont Mesa West, you’ll find the Forest Park condo community usually priced in the mid-$600s for two-bed condos.

Looking for fantastic views and upscale amenities? The Sunset Cove condo community in Bay Park boasts gorgeous condos for sale in Clairemont with three-bedroom condos priced in the high $300s. Bay Park is also home to the gated Costa Viva condo community with one-bedroom units in the high $400s.

Clairemont San Diego: Average Rent & Median Home Prices
Median home price Price per square foot Average rent
Clairemont Mesa East $640,000 $669 $2,492
Bay Ho $1.04 million $739 $2,624
North Clairemont $1.05 million $778 $2,466
Clairemont Mesa West $1.09 million $633 $2,492
Bay Park $1.42 million $828 $2,616
San Diego $935,000 $691 $2,997

 

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Apartments in Clairemont San Diego

Clairemont San Diego apartments are all below average for the city, with the most affordable rent in Clairemont Mesa East and West.

North Clairemont has a large concentration of Clairemont apartments, most of them along Clairemont Mesa Blvd near the schools. In Clairemont Mesa East, you’ll find apartments clustered around the Sharp Hospital/Cabrillo Freeway area and the Balboa Mesa Shopping Center on Balboa Avenue. Bay Park has a large number of luxury apartments, mostly along Clairemont Drive.

Here are just a few of the highest-rated apartments in Clairemont San Diego:

  • Coral Bay Apartments (Bay Park) – gorgeous views and close to local schools
  • Canyon Ridge Apartments (Bay Park) – smaller pet-friendly apartments starting at $2,460
  • Arrive Clairemont (Clairemont Mesa East) – walking distance to shopping and restaurants and close to I-805.
  • Aspen Apartments (North Clairemont) – near Madison High, CPMA, and Innovation Middle schools and I-805.

Ready to enjoy everything the San Diego Clairemont neighborhood has to offer? Call the 5-star Clairemont Mesa movers at Republic Moving & Storage at (619) 591-0079 to get started with a free moving quote today.

Bill Lovejoy
Bill Lovejoy is the president of Republic Moving and Storage. Purchasing the assets of Republic Relocations in May 2008. In 2008, Republic did $700K of business and today is over $15 Million. Republic was named AMSA’s 2010 Agent of the Year for Service Excellence after only two years in business. Bill is proud that he grew up doing every facet of the business from a local mover, over the road driver, salesperson, operations manager, and general manager. (and just about everything else in between) Before purchasing Republic, Bill was with Bekins Moving and Storage where he served as a Senior Vice President and was a partner. He was responsible for three HHG companies as well as two logistics companies. A proud Father of six children, and a lovely wife, Carol, Bill constantly works to keep a balance between work and family Life. Bills “stress relieving” hobbies include racket ball, basketball, tennis, and golf.
Read more by Bill Lovejoy

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