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What's It Like Living in Colina Del Sol

Colina del Sol San Diego, CA ☀️ | Ultimate Guide to Living in the Colina Del Sol Neighborhood!

Last Updated On: 15th December 2025, 08:45 am

Searching for a walkable neighborhood with year-round sunshine? Then you'll love living in Colina Del Sol, San Diego. Colina Del Sol is a neighborhood in northwest San Diego offering affordable homes and a welcoming community. 

Known for its authentic restaurants and proximity to other San Diego attractions, Colina Del Sol is a great place to live for families and young people who want diversity and amenities. So, if you're searching for sunshine and a tight knight community, here is everything you'll need to know before moving to Colina Del Sol.

Where Is Colina Del Sol, San Diego?

Colina Del Sol is in northeastern San Diego, within the larger City Heights neighborhood. It's situated between El Cajon Blvd to the north, University Ave to the south, 54th Ave to the east, and Euclid Ave to the west.

Colina Del Sol Park anchors the community and occupies the neighborhood's southeastern corner. Surrounding neighborhoods include Talmadge, Teralta East, Fox Canyon, Cholas Creek, and El Cerrito. The Colina Del Sol zip codes are 92105 and 92115, and the area code is 619.

The San Diego MTS Bus System serves the neighborhood, and routes 1, 7, 10, 15, and 955 make stops at the Colina Del Sol Park Recreation Center. It's also about 8 miles or a 15-minute drive from Colina Del Sol to Downtown San Diego.

Map of Colina Del Sol, San Diego

Colina Del Sol History and Overview
The history of San Diego's Colina Del Sol neighborhood dates back to the 1880s when two property developers named Abraham Klauber and Samuel Steiner purchased over 240 acres of land northeast of Balboa Park, which became City Heights.

Over the next few decades, it was subdivided into smaller neighborhoods, one of which was Colina Park. In 1912, the area was formally incorporated into a city of East San Diego, and the population increased 10x over the next ten years. However, in 1923, San Diego residents voted to annex East San Diego and convert it back into the City Heights neighborhood.

Throughout the early 20th century, it was primarily a middle-class, residential neighborhood. Following the Vietnam War, City Heights became a major hub for Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Thai refugees, and today, there are still many Southeast Asian communities living in Colina Del Sol. Although it went through a period of decline in the late 1900s, today, Colina Del Sol, San Diego is a vibrant, up-and-coming neighborhood full of diversity.

Other Colina Del Sol Demographics

  • There are 11,058 residents living in Colina Del Sol.
  • The median household income is $27,400
  • 42.5% of residents living in Colina Del Sol have a high school diploma, but only 13.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • The median age is 31 years old.
  • The foreign-born population is 17.58%

The racial and ethnic breakdown is 58.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 16.6% Black, 3.5% White (non-Hispanic) and 1.4% two or more races.

NBA player and sports broadcaster Bill Walton once lived in Colina Del Sol and perfected his craft playing at the Colina Del Sol Recreation Center.

What's It Like Living in Colina Del Sol?

Living in Colina Del Sol offers something for everyone, with walkable streets, access to parks and amenities, and a community-oriented atmosphere. You'll find a variety of delicious restaurants serving Mexican and Asian cuisine, along with local watering holes, markets, service businesses, and other essentials. Colina Del Sol Park is the primary hub of the community and home to the Colina Recreation Center and Golf Course.

You'll find communities from all over the globe living in Colina Del Sol, making it a melting pot that takes influence from Asian, Hispanic, and East African cultures. It's in a very central part of San Diego with easy access to downtown, shopping malls, beaches, and top attractions. Plus, you'll find plenty of shopping and local businesses along El Cajon Blvd and University Ave.

It's a popular area among young people and growing families because it offers cheaper housing prices than other parts of San Diego.

But it still offers access to amenities and a close commute to everything in the city. It isn't the trendiest or most exciting neighborhood for nightlife. So, those looking for craft breweries, art galleries, or hip nightclubs may want to look elsewhere. But if you want an affordable area with diversity and friendly neighbors, you'll love living in Colina Del Sol.

Things to Do in Colina Del Sol | Best Restaurants, Attractions & Shopping

Living in Colina Del Sol offers everything you need right at your fingertips, from excellent restaurants to parks and recreation centers. The main attraction in the community is the Colina Del Sol Park and Recreation Center.

The park features a playground, ball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, and soccer fields. The Colina del Sol pool is located inside the recreation center, along with basketball and pickleball courts. Colina Park in San Diego also features an 18-hole pro golf course with a pro shop and disc golf.

Another major benefit of living in Colina Del Sol is all the fantastic restaurants. Eli's Peruvian Kitchen is an excellent Colina Del Sol Restaurant serving authentic Peruvian cuisine with fresh ingredients. Phở Ca Dao is a Vietnamese restaurant on El Cajon Blvd serving rice noodle beef soup, rice dishes, and other classic entrees. Fatuma Restaurant is a popular Somali restaurant that serves traditional lamb, tilapia, and steak plates, as well as pizza.

 

Residents living in Colina Del Sol will find plenty of shopping along El Cajon Blvd and University Ave. The Min Huong Supermarket is a popular Asian supermarket that serves fresh produce, fish, meat, and other essentials. Northgate Market is a Mexican grocery store selling pre-made meals and Hispanic groceries. The New Safari Mall also features a few local businesses and vendors. So, regardless of your tastes, living in Colina Del Sol offers something for everyone.

Here's where to find the best shopping, restaurants, and attractions in Colina Del Sol:

Schools in Colina Del Sol

If you're considering moving to Colina Del Sol with children, you'll likely want to know about the quality of the schools. The San Diego Unified School District serves students living in Colina Del Sol. Ibarra Elementary is the primary grade school, and Horace Mann Middle School serves grades 6 through 8.

Most students will also attend Crawford High School, which ranks within California's top 1000 high schools. Alternatively, students in grades 6 through 12 can also elect to attend City Heights Prep Charter School, which features a 14:1 student-teacher ratio and 80% minority enrollment.

San Diego State University is also very close to the College Area district. Residents living in Colina Del Sol can also check out the City Heights/Weingart Branch of the San Diego public library system for books and community events.

Is Colina Del Sol Safe?

Colina Del Sol is relatively safe, although it has a higher crime rate than the rest of San Diego. It isn't particularly dangerous, but it is a lower-income area that suffers from issues like homelessness.

The total crime rate in City Heights East is 2,836 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 22% higher than the national average but 0.2% lower than the rest of California. The violent crime rate is 773 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 101% higher than the national average and 56.81% higher than the violent crime rate in San Diego, CA.

 

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However, there were no murders in Colina Del Sol in 2022. Murders in San Diego, CA, are very rare in general. The property crime rate in Colina Del Sol is 2,063 per 100,000 residents, which is 6% higher than the national average but 12% lower than the rest of the state. So, as long as you take the proper precautions while living in Colina Del Sol, you should be fine.

The San Diego Police Department handles crime in the neighborhood with the assistance of 2424 officers, including 1846 officers and 578 civilians.

Colina Del Sol Real Estate

Living in Colina Del Sol is relatively affordable for all the area offers. Residents will find various housing options, from pueblo architecture to large multi-family apartment complexes. Buyers looking for single-family homes will find stucco-ranch-style buildings and modest Cape Cods on quiet, well-maintained blocks. Some of the most popular apartment buildings in Colina Del Sol include:

According to Redfin, the median listing price of homes for sale in Colina Del Sol is $410,000, 78% lower than the citywide median. The median price per square foot is $571. According to RentCafe, the average rent in the neighborhood is $2,445 per month. Prices start around $1200 for a studio and go up to $3,000 for a two-bedroom.

Now that you know everything you need to know about moving to Colina Del Sol, you’re ready to make a decision about whether or not it’s the right place for you. If you decide it is, trust Republic Moving and Storage to make your relocation smooth and simple. Our expert San Diego movers are at your service with affordable prices and a reliable crew. Call (619) 591-0079 for a free, custom moving quote.

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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