Quotecall
Living in Lake Murray CA - What to Know Before Moving to Lake Murray San Diego
Bill Lovejoy

Living in Lake Murray CA 🌅 | Your Must-Read Guide Before Moving to Lake Murray San Diego

Last Updated On: 15th December 2025, 04:09 pm

Say yay to living in Lake Murray CA! Lake Murray is a quaint and friendly neighborhood of San Diego best known for the eponymous lake, a top location for fishing. The lake and neighborhood are named after James Andrew Murray, an entrepreneur who owned a dam near the lake. Lake Murray is a nice place to live, especially if you want to maintain an active lifestyle and connect with neighbors.

But you shouldn't start moving to Lake Murray San Diego until you learn a little more about this special neighborhood. Here is what to know about living in Lake Murray CA.

Where Is Lake Murray, San Diego?

Sunset at Lake Murray (Murray Reservoir), a popular recreation site

Lake Murray is in the eastern part of San Diego. The neighborhood is along the San Diego-La Mesa border, and it also borders Santee CA and El Cajon. Within San Diego, the community borders San Carlos. Lake Murray is just outside the community, close to its southwestern tip. It is 15.4 miles from Lake Murray to Downtown San Diego, creating a commute of roughly 20 minutes. The most prominent geographic feature in Lake Murray is Cowles Mountain in the northern part of the neighborhood. What county is Lake Murray in? Lake Murray is in San Diego County.

Lake Murray covers roughly six square miles and has a ZIP code of 92119. The mountains and parks take up roughly two-thirds of the area of Lake Murray. Cul de sacs and business sectors are clustered together in the southern third of the community.

Route 14 of the San Diego Metro Transportation System connects to Lake Murray. The route ends in Lake Murray, runs through Mid-City, and ends in Grantville. State Routes 52 and 125 border the community and provide access to Downtown and cities near San Diego.

Map of Lake Murray, San Diego

You can use this Lake Murray map to find great Lake Murray restaurants, amenities, and homes for sale!

Are you ready to start living in Lake Murray CA? Call 619-591-0079 for a free estimate from Republic Moving today!

Lake Murray History and Overview

The entrance sign at Lake Murray Launching Facility

The Kumeyaay people lived in the area of Lake Murray for thousands of years. Lake Murray was a popular and important spot for shore fishing, as it contained Florida-strain largemouth bass, channel catfish, and other species. In 1894, the San Diego city government constructed a dam and formed a reservoir that expanded Lake Murray. In 1919, the city enlarged the dam, thereby enlarging Lake Murray to its current size. As the 20th century progressed, the neighborhood of Lake Murray formed near the lake.

Lake Murray is now a tight-knit and predominantly residential community near top outside points of interest. Current Lake Murray San Diego demographics include:

  • Lake Murray population: 16,319
  • Household income: $78,500
  • Educational attainment: 95.7% of residents older than 25 have graduated high school, 54.4% have a bachelor's degree
  • Median age: 42.6
  • Foreign-born population: 11.9%
  • Racial and ethnic composition: 84.3% White (69.2% non-Hispanic), 19.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.0% Asian, 2.7% Black or African American, 2.4% two or more races

Lake Murray is one of the least dense San Diego neighborhoods, with a density of just 2,720 people per square mile. Lake Murray has a higher median household income than the city average. However, only 35% of households make over $100,000 a year. The community is popular amongst all demographics, including college students. Over 1,200 undergraduate students and over 300 graduate students live in Lake Murray.

What's It Like Living in Lake Murray CA?

Lake Murray with Cowles Peak and other attractions in the background

Lake Murray is best known for its outdoor destinations. Besides Lake Murray, you can visit Cowles Mountain, Pyles Peak, Kwaay Paay Peak, and Mission Trails Regional Park. Many people visit these locations at least once a week for hiking, fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities. Most people have California state fishing licenses and go fishing regularly. Some parks in Lake Murray are home to special events like live music performances, parties, and festivals. Lake Murray San Diego weather is clear and warm, so you can enjoy outdoor attractions at night and in winter.

Most parks have dog-friendly walking trails you can enjoy during the day. The residential and commercial areas of the community have wide, smooth, and walkable sidewalks. Sidewalks connect to nearby communities like La Mesa, giving you other places to visit. Lake Murray jobs are available throughout the community, so you can work at a business within walking distance of your home.

Many different people live in Lake Murray, including families and students. While other San Diego neighborhoods are more diverse and LGBTQ-friendly than Lake Murray, people of all backgrounds are living in Lake Murray CA. The neighborhood is not hip and does not have prominent nightlife destinations. This makes Lake Murray suitable for people who want a quiet neighborhood to live in.

Interested in moving to Lake Murray San Diego? Contact Republic Moving and start your stress-free relocation today!

Things to Do in Lake Murray CA

You can enjoy fun and unique things to do in Lake Murray, both in good Lake Murray weather and bad. Here are the best restaurants and attractions in Lake Murray.

Lake Murray Restaurants

Pioneer BBQ is the best kid-friendly and casual Lake Murray restaurant. Pioneer BBQ offers Texas-style barbeque, including spare ribs, brisket, and chicken wings, for less than $25. Pioneer is one of the most popular spots for catering. You can buy meat in bulk as well as platters for parties of 12 or more people.

Sei Sushi is a cool Japanese restaurant that serves sushi, rice bowls, and salads. Sei Sushi serves unique rolls you can't find elsewhere, including ones with marinated beef, spicy scallops, and onion aioli.

Trinitea Tea is a teahouse that serves loose-leaf tea, boba, smoothies, and milk tea. You can also order acai bowls and pastries, making Trinitea perfect for breakfast, dessert, and quick meals.

Shopping

Albertsons, a grocery store at Navajo Shopping Center

San Carlos Village is one of the most popular shopping centers in Lake Murray. The center contains an ALDI supermarket, a Walgreens, and a 24 Hour Fitness. Navajo Shopping Center is a short drive away on Lake Murray Boulevard. It also contains several top stores with great amenities, including an Albertsons grocery store.

Things to Do

Lake Murray is the best neighborhood in San Diego for outdoor attractions. Lake Murray is actually located outside of the Lake Murray neighborhood, though it's only a short walk away. When full, the lake covers over 170 acres and has a maximum water depth of 95 feet. If you have a California state fishing license, you can go fishing in the lake. You can also order private boats or boat rentals once you acquire a private boat use permit. Private boats and float tubes are available from various businesses in and around Lake Murray.

Lake Murray Community Park borders the neighborhood and runs along the lake's perimeter. The park contains a kid-friendly playground, picnic areas, a walking and hiking trail, and ball fields.

Cowles Mountain is San Diego's highest mountain. It is 1,593 feet tall and has 4.3-mile dog-friendly hiking trails to the summit. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy scenic views of San Diego County, which are perfect for photographs.

Sunset at Mission Trails Golf Course, a popular site for golfing

Mission Trails Golf Course is one of the top golf courses in San Diego. Mission Trails Golf Course is 6,000 yards long and has 18 holes with scenic views of the lake and mountains.

Here's where you can find these Lake Murray things to do:

The San Diego Parks and Recreation Department maintains and protects Lake Murray, Cowles Mountain, and other outdoor locations. The department plans local events throughout the year; you can view these events on the San Diego Parks and Recreation calendar.

Want to enjoy top Lake Murray attractions? Call 619-591-0079 to schedule an appointment with Republic Moving now!

Schools in Lake Murray

Teachers at San Diego Unified School District

The San Diego Unified School District serves all students living in Lake Murray CA. The neighborhood contains two elementary schools, Benchley Weinberger Elementary and Gage Elementary. Students living north of Navajo Road attend Gage, while students living south attend Benchley Weinberger. 76% of students at Benchley Weinberger test at or above the proficiency level in mathematics, nearly twice the state average.

Students at Gage Elementary and Benchley Weinberger go on to attend Pershing Middle School. 63% of Pershing Middle School students test at or above the proficiency level in reading. This is 16 points higher than the state average.

Students living in Lake Murray CA then attend Patrick Henry High School, which is in San Carlos. Patrick Henry High School has a 57-acre campus that includes a child development center and a performing arts theater. It's well known for its Teaching Academy that teaches students about early child development.

The Sierra School of San Diego is based in Lake Murray. It's a private school for students with learning differences, teaching students academic, organizational, and emotional skills.

Grossmont College is in El Cajon just to the north of Lake Murray. Many of Grossmont College are living in Lake Murray CA. The community college offers over 150 degree and certificate programs. Many students graduate and then transfer to San Diego State University (SDSU) to get their bachelor's degrees.

The San Carlos Branch Library is the closest public library to Lake Murray. The library covers 8,200 square feet and is a hub for educational programs for children and seniors, including yoga classes.

Is Lake Murray Safe?

Lake Murray has low crime rates, making it one of the safest neighborhoods in San Diego. Here are its latest crime statistics:

  • Total crime rate: 1,183 offenses per 100,000 residents (47.4% lower than the San Diego crime rate, 49.1% lower than the national average)
  • Violent crime rate: 241 crimes per 100,000 people (44.1% lower than the city rate, 34.9% lower than the national average)
  • Property crime rate: 942 offenses per 100,000 people (48.2% lower than the city rate, 51.8% lower than the national rate)

Residents experience very few crimes while living in Lake Murray CA. The most common offenses are non-violent and minor property crimes, like car break-ins. If you perform basic measures like parking your car in a garage, you can avoid these offenses from occurring.

The San Diego Police Department employs 1,846 police officers who respond to all emergencies in Lake Murray California.

Want to start living in Lake Murray CA and enjoying a safe life? Schedule an appointment with Republic Moving now!

Lake Murray Real Estate

The Lake Murray real estate market is active and competitive. According to Redfin, Lake Murray homes for sale have a median cost of $985,000. The median price has risen by 18.9% since 2023. The average price per square foot is $645.

Lake Murray real estate consists predominantly of single family homes. 378 single family homes were sold in Lake Murray in 2023 alone. The median sale price of Lake Murray single-family homes is $1,086,981, and properties stay on the market for a median of 19 days. Single-family Lake Murray homes for sale tend to be small, covering 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. They contain two, three, or four bedrooms, making them suitable for small families with one or two children.

Nearly all properties were built in the 1950s and 1960s, and many have a courtyard. You can grow a garden, lounge in the sun, and build an ADU for a tenant or family member. You can buy a split-level home with two floors connected by short stairs. You can also purchase a single-level home with an open floor plan.

99 condos were also sold in Lake Murray in 2023. The median price of Lake Murray condos is $500,000, and condos stay on the market for a median of 20 days. Condos are similar to homes for sale in Lake Murray in terms of their architectural features and amenities. They are small, containing two bedrooms and 1,000 square feet of space, big enough for a couple or small enough. Most condos come fully stocked with furnished kitchens and furniture.

According to RentCafe, the average cost of Lake Murray apartments is $2,353 a month, higher than the national average of $1,713 a month. However, San Diego apartments cost an average of $2,934 a month, so Lake Murray is an affordable San Diego neighborhood.

You can choose from several different complexes for Lake Murray apartments. Summit Park Village Apartments offers one and two bedroom apartments covering 700 to 900 square feet. Apartments start at $2,065 a month and contain smart home technology and spacious closets. Mission Trails Apartments is suitable for people who want to live near Mission Trails Regional Park. It's right down the street from the park, and it's near Mission Golf and Cowles Mountain.

Mission Trails Apartments is full of top amenities, including a business center and a billiard room. One-bedroom apartments at 670 square feet are available for $2,451 monthly. Two-bedroom apartments at 897 square feet are available for $3,047 monthly.

The outdoor swimming pool and lounging areas at Mission Trails Apartments located in Mission Trails

You are going to love living in Lake Murray CA! Lake Murray is a great neighborhood for any outdoor enthusiast or someone looking for a quiet, safe place to live. Your kids can enjoy great attractions and restaurants at low prices.

Moving to Lake Murray San Diego is super easy. Republic Moving and Storage has the best Lake Murray movers, with over 50 years of experience. Call 619-591-0079 for a free 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

REQUEST A QUOTE

  • All Fields Are Required

Search by Category

Search For more helpful Resources

Check Out Our Related posts

Living in Spring Valley CA 🏡 | Your Guide to Moving to Spring Valley

Living in Spring Valley CA is wonderful! Spring Valley, CA is a census-designated place in San Diego County in Southern California. Originally home to the Kumeyaay people, Spring Valley is known […]
Read More >

What’s It Like Living in Bonsall CA? 🌴 Why Moving to Bonsall Is a Great Idea!

Set your sails for Bonsall! If you've ever wondered what living in Bonsall CA is like, welcome to your ultimate guide. Indigenous communities began inhabiting Bonsall 12,000 years ago. Spanish […]
Read More >

Guide to Living in El Cajon CA 🌞 Is El Cajon a Good Place to Live?

Searching for an affordable area with great weather and access to the beach? Maybe you should consider living in El Cajon CA.  Just east of San Diego lies the thriving […]
Read More >

Republic Moving Reviews

Honest Reviews from Customers Just Like You

Ready To Get Moving?

Click Below For The DOT Moving Guides
Our Reviews
Republic Moving & Storage
REQUEST A QUOTE
Copyright © 2026 Republic Moving & Storage – San Diego Movers. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy
PUC MTR 0190491 DOT 070851
cross-circle