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Is living in Chula Vista in your future? With a name like “beautiful view,” it’s no surprise that Chula Vista is a great place to live. Halfway between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, and minutes from both, this beautiful South Bay city is known for its great quality of life, family-friendly amenities, top-rated schools, and beautiful outdoors. Chula Vista isn’t just the largest, it’s also one of the best suburbs of San Diego and a wonderful place to raise a family.
In its early history, Chula Vista was known as the Lemon Capital of the World. Today, it’s famous for the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Facility Center, formerly the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
If you’re thinking about moving to Chula Vista, here’s everything you have to look forward to!
Table of Contents
Where Is Chula Vista?
Chula Vista is in San Diego County and part of the South Bay or South County area. It’s bordered by National City and Bonita to the north, Jamul to the northeast, the unincorporated community of Dulzura to the east, and Imperial Beach and South San Diego to the south. The South San Diego enclave separates Chula Vista from the Mexico border.
It’s just 9.7 miles from Chula Vista to San Diego and 12.5 miles from Chula Vista to Tijuana, Mexico.
Chula Vista Information
Chula Vista county: San Diego
Area: 52.09 square feet
Chula Vista zip codes: 91909 to 91915 and 91921
Chula Vista area code: 619
Elevation: 66 feet
Time zone: UTC-8 (PST)
Closest airports: San Diego International Airport (SAN), 11 miles and Tijuana International Airport (TIJ)
Map of Chula Vista
Chula Vista Population & Demographics
The population of Chula Vista CA is 275,487 with 5,550 people per square mile. The 15th largest city in California and the 7th largest city in Southern California, Chula Vista is part of the San Diego metro area which has a metro population of 3.3 million. Chula Vista is the second largest among cities in San Diego County after San Diego.
Chula Vista is a diverse city with a minority-majority population. 48% of Chula Vista residents speak Spanish at home compared to 40.5% who speak English at home and 11.4% who speak another language. That’s the highest rate of Spanish speakers in San Diego County after National City (52.8%).
The racial and ethnic composition is 60.2% Hispanic, 48.6% white (16.3% non-Hispanic), 15.4% Asian, 5.3% Black or African American, and 18.2% two or more races.
Additional Chula Vista demographics:
Median age: 36.7 years
Sex ratio: 50% female to 50% male over 18
Educational attainment: 33% bachelor’s degree or higher (California: 36%)
Median household income: $91,949 (California: $84,907)
Many celebrities have called the city home. Famous people from Chula Vista include actors Charisma Carpenter and Rita Hayworth and comedian Gabriel Iglesias.
Chula Vista Transportation
While living in Chula Vista, you’ll find it easy to get around with several interstates and CA state routes, a trolley system, and extensive bike paths. The city is served by I-5 which runs to North County, Los Angeles, and Northern California; I-805 which links I-5 to Sorrento Valley; I-905; and state routes 54 and 125 which connect to East County San Diego cities.
Chula Vista is very bike-friendly and certified as a bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community. There are about 100 miles of dedicated bike facilities, 8+ miles of multi-purpose Class 1 bike paths along the San Diego Bayshore Bikeway, 78 miles of Class II bike lanes, and 61 miles of Class III bike routes. You can see Bike Chula Vista maps of bike lanes and paths and explore suggested school bike routes.
Chula Vista is also served by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Blue Line of the San Diego Trolley. The Blue Line is a light rail line connecting Chula Vista with National City, La Jolla, and Downtown San Diego where it connects with the Orange, Green, and Silver lines. The H Street Station is the Chula Vista trolley station.
Chula Vista Cost of Living
Southern California living doesn’t come cheap, mostly due to high housing costs. The cost of living in Chula Vista CA is about 49% above the national average and only slightly below the average California cost of living. In general, healthcare is about 10% more affordable than the national average. You’ll find groceries are around 8% higher than the national average while living in Chula Vista and utilities are close to average. Transportation and housing costs are far more expensive.
According to the MIT Living Wage calculator, the living wage in the San Diego-Chula Vista metro area is $22.31 for a single adult, $15.97 each for two adults with no children, or $30.58 for a family of four with two working adults.
According to Doxo, people living in Chula Vista pay an average of $2,714 per month in bills. That’s 35.5% above the national average and around 43% of the average household’s income. Here’s how it breaks down:
Average mortgage: $2,410 (US: $1,368)
Average car loan: $504 (US: $433)
Average car insurance: $119 (US: $196)
Utilities: $278 (US: $328)
Chula Vista Real Estate Market | Average Home Prices & Rent
Planning to buy a house after moving to Chula Vista? Be prepared for a very competitive real estate market with homes selling in just 12 median days on market and receiving four offers on average. The Chula Vista average home price is $804,000 -- $890,000 for single-family homes, $600,000 for condos, and $685,000 for townhouses. Chula Vista home prices have gone up 2.7% year-over-year.
The average rent in Chula Vista is $2,448 according to RentCafe. You’ll find the average rent in Chula Vista CA varies by neighborhood: the most expensive neighborhoods for renters are Otay Ranch ($3,076) and Eastlake ($3,055), both master planned communities in East Chula Vista. More affordable neighborhoods include North Chula Vista, Terra Nova, Bayfront, and Hilltop, all with average rent of around $2,200.
Chula Vista Neighborhoods
Ready to explore the best places to live in Chula Vista? While living in Chula Vista, California, you’ll hear the city divided into two main areas: West Chula Vista and East Chula Vista. The western portion includes the original Chula Vista and the historic Downtown Chula Vista. It’s the most affordable area to live because it does not have Mello-Roos taxes. East Chula Vista, which is east of I-805, is home to several master planned communities like Otay Ranch, Eastlake, Rancho Del Ray, San Miguel Ranch, and Rolling Hills Ranch.
Here are some of the best Chula Vista neighborhoods in both areas of the city for all types of budgets and lifestyles.
Eastlake is often used to refer to the entire East Chula Vista area, but it’s actually a separate master planned community. It’s one of the oldest master planned communities in Chula Vista with home construction starting in the late 1980s. This established community boasts great schools and a family-friendly atmosphere with homes surrounding a large pond popular with joggers and dog walkers. It’s been named one of the best new home communities in San Diego!
Otay Ranch – Family-Friendly Chula Vista Community
Otay Ranch is one of the best neighborhoods in Chula Vista for families with family-friendly amenities, an ideal location, and a wide range of housing options. A Top 50 Master Planned Community, the community began construction in 1999 on over 23,000 acres and features townhomes starting in the high $500s, luxury apartments with 1 to 3 bedrooms starting at $2,200, and single-family homes. Otay Ranch is pedestrian-friendly with a network of promenade streets, trails, and parks plus three swim clubs, nearby transit stops, and the Otay Ranch Town Center within walking distance.
Downtown Chula Vista – One of the Best Chula Vista neighborhoods for Young Professionals
The historic Chula Vista downtown area encompasses 30 blocks of entertainment, shopping, restaurants, and luxury apartments. This hip, walkable neighborhood offers many apartments to choose from like Urbana Apartments, a new community on H Street’s rapid transit corridor with upscale amenities like a dog wash station and sky deck.
The San Diego area is known for its wonderfully pleasant year-round weather, and Chula Vista is no exception. The Chula Vista climate is semi-arid (steppe) climate with short, warm, and dry summers and cool winters. The average high is 75°F in the summer while the winter low is 50°F. Chula Vista gets very little rain with just 11” of annual rainfall. While living in Chula Vista, California, you’ll get about 261 sunny days per year on average!
With low humidity and mild weather year-round, it’s always a good time to visit Chula Vista! Eight months have high temperatures ranging from 70 to 85°F.
Chula Vista Restaurants
With everything from fine dining and fresh seafood to authentic ethnic cuisine, you’ll definitely have trouble choosing your favorite restaurant in Chula Vista! Here are some of the best places to eat in Chula Vista.
This hip bar and restaurant is always busy on the weekends with live music, dancing, and happy hour! Enjoy fresh seafood and fish ‘n’ chips on the bayside patio at the marina.
This hidden gem is a great place to stop for lunch with a wide selection of sushi, ramen, sashimi, tempura, and saki. Be sure to try the Kanpai special!
Ready to explore the many fun things to do in Chula Vista? This beautiful city is packed with family-friendly amenities plus you’ll have the Tijuana and San Diego nightlife and attractions just minutes away!
Living in Chula Vista is paradise for outdoor lovers. There are more than 65 parks in Chula Vista ranging from small neighborhood parks to bayside parks and a bustling marina. Chula Vista Parks & Recreation also maintains nine community centers and two aquatic centers with camps, sports, and programs for the community.
That’s not all you’ll find to keep you busy. Here’s a look at the top things to do in Chula Vista for families, couples, and singles!
Top Chula Vista Attractions
Safe Harbor South Bay (Chula Vista Marina) – One of the best things to do in Chula Vista for free is a visit to the marina for the spectacular views. The harbor also boasts whale watching, sport fishing, and sightseeing charters along with a 552-slip marina surrounded by beautiful parks.
Sesame Place San Diego – Looking for what to do in Chula Vista with kids? Spend the day at this Sesame Street-themed water park with family-friendly shows, rides, waterslides, and a lazy river.
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center – Formerly the US Olympic Training Center, this 155-acre training facility for Paralympic and Olympic athletes features everything from an archery center and BMX track to hockey and a strength and conditioning pavilion.
Seven Mile Casino – One of the top things to do in Chula Vista at night, this 24-hour casino features table games plus a restaurant and bar.
Living Coast Discovery Center – This education center and aquarium (formerly the Chula Vista Nature Center) in the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge features bird and marine wildlife exhibits to inspire care for the coast.
Chula Vista Parks & Outdoors
Bayside Park – The Chula Vista Bayside Park is one of the city’s most iconic public spaces with city and bay views, a fishing pier, and walking paths.
Chula Vista Marina View Park – This Chula Vista park is a great destination for picnics and a popular spot for families and dog owners.
Enagic Golf Club at Eastlake – This Ted Robinson-designed 18-hole golf course in Chula Vista has four tee settings and Mt. Miguel views.
Chula Vista Center – The main shopping destination in the city, this large mall is home to AMC Chula Vista 10, anchors like Macy’s, and dozens of retailers and restaurants.
Otay Ranch Town Center – This anchor of the Otay Ranch community features a weekly farmer’s market, AMC theater, dog park, and plenty of food and shopping options.
Map of Chula Vista Things to Do
Chula Vista Crime Rate
Before moving to Chula Vista, you probably want to know about crime in the city. The good news is Chula Vista is a very safe place to live! The Chula Vista crime rate is 1,524 total crimes per 100,000 people with 1,208 property crimes and 316 violent crimes per 100,000. Crime in Chula Vista is 35% below the national average crime rate of 2,346 crimes per 100,000.
Like any city, there are hotspots for crime, usually around downtown nightlife spots and shopping centers, and a rise in car thefts. Otay Ranch Town Center has become a hotspot for theft and fights, usually involving young adults and kids.
Looking for a safe place to live? You can use this Chula Vista crime map to explore crime by neighborhood.
Check out our guide to theChula Vista crime rate to learn more and find the safest neighborhoods in the city!
Economy & Jobs in Chula Vista
With an economy dominated by small businesses, Chula Vista boasts a diverse and stable economy. The city’s large population of immigrants and diverse ethnic groups have also contributed to its economy and small business environment. Chula Vista is one of the highest ranking cities on the NAE Cities Index which evaluates immigrant integration based on socioeconomic status, economic prosperity, and policies.
Tourism is a major driver of the city’s economy with several major attractions, golf courses, shopping centers, a bustling downtown, and a major development of the 535-acre Chula Vista Bayfront which will feature a luxury RV resort, convention center, and recreational activities. Other major sectors include education and healthcare.
Major employers in Chula Vista:
Sweetwater Union High School District
Chula Vista Elementary School District
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Southwestern College
Rohr Inc/Goodrich Aerospace
City of Chula Vista
Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista
The average salary in Chula Vista is $77,000 per year or $20.45 per hour according to Payscale.
You can explore Chula Vista jobs on Indeed to find career opportunities before relocating. You may also want to check City of Chula Vista jobs if you’re interested in working for the city.
There are more than 50 elementary schools in Chula Vista serving nearly 30,000 students. Some of the highest rated Chula Vista elementary schools are Parkview Elementary, Enrique Camarena Elementary, and Salt Creek Elementary. The city also has several highly rated high schools like Chula Vista High School, known for its excellent music program, Eastlake High School with an award-winning Pre-Engineering Program and concurrent enrollment through Southwestern College.
Interested in enrolling your children in private school? There are several top private schools in Chula Vista like Calvary Christian Academy (PK-8), Pacific Coast Christian Prep (K-12), St. Rose of Lima School (PK-8), and South Bay Christian Academy (K-12).
Pursuing higher education after moving to Chula Vista is easy with Southwestern College located in East Chula Vista. This public community college has nearly 19,000 enrolled students with degrees and certificates in over 75 programs.
Does living in Chula Vista sound perfect? Republic Moving & Storage is here to make your relocation as easy as possible. Give us a call today for a free, personalized moving quote from our 5-star Chula Vista movers!
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.
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