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If moving to Harbison Canyon has sparked your interest, below is a comprehensive guide covering everything you need to know about living here!
Harbison Canyon is a San Diego County CDP that’s best known for the notable Old Ironsides County Park and its unfortunate wildfire encounters. The Laguna Fire (1970) and Cedar Fire (2003) both devastated the CDP; 320 homes and 420 communities were lost in 2003. Even years later (in 2007), homes were still being rebuilt. Despite the turbulence Harbison Canyon has faced, the community remains tight-knit, working together to build back stronger!
Alongside proximity to San Diego and plenty of things to do, the CDP boasts an interesting history. John Stewart Harbison settled in the east San Diego area in 1874, where he began his honey-production business. Within seven years, Harbison became the largest honey producer in the world and managed thousands of hives. Thanks to his efforts, San Diego was soon named the greatest honey-producing county in San Diego.
Harbison Canyon is a great place to live for numerous reasons. It has a unique history, boasts proximity to San Diego, and provides proximity to many notable attractions! Keep reading to learn more about this California CDP! Due to its small size, most places in Harbison Canyon, San Diego, will have an El Cajon, CA address.
Table of Contents
Where Is Harbison Canyon?
Harbison Canyon is located by the intersection of Harbison Canyon Road and Frances Drive between Crest and Alpine. It’s a San Diego County CDP and is 24.6 miles from San Diego. Harbison Canyon, San Diego, is surrounded by El Cajon Mountain, so expect foothills almost anywhere you look!
Harbison Canyon Population & Demographics
Harbison Canyon has a population of 4,355 and a non-diverse racial and ethnic makeup: White (Non-Hispanic) (81.3%), White (Hispanic) (6.2%), Two+ races (Hispanic) (6.11%), Two+ races (Non-Hispanic) (3.08%), and American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) (1.52%). People living in Harbison Canyon are homeowners; 94% of 1,460 housing units are owner-occupied, whereas 6% are renter-occupied. While 76% of the structures in Harbison Canyon are single-family homes, 23% are mobile homes, and 1% are multi-family (apartments).
Harbison Canyon has a notable veteran population (9.6%) and a low foreign-born population (3.2%). 92.7% of people living in Harbison Canyon have a high school diploma or higher, and 27.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher. Of the 1,454 households, 62% are owned by married couples, 23% are female-owned, 8% are non-family-owned, and 6% are male-owned.
This CDP has the 16th highest median household income in San Diego County ($81,103), which is much higher than the US average of $69,021. It also has the 34 highest median age, which is 43.4; 51% of residents are over the age of 40.
Harbison Canyon Crime Rate Statistics
Although the FBI does not provide crime rate information for Harbison Canyon, we will use San Diego as a reference. San Diego is 24 miles from Harbison Canyon and likely has similar crime rate statistics.
San Diego’s crime rate is 20.1% lower than the state and 12.1% lower than the country.
San Diego violent crime rate per 100k people: 369
California violent crime rate per 100k people: 442
US violent crime rate per 100k people: 388
San Diego’s violent crime rate is 16.5% lower than the state and 4.8% lower than the country.
San Diego property crime rate per 100k people: 1,692
California property crime rate per 100k people: 2,139
US property crime rate per 100k people: 1,958
San Diego’s property crime rate is 20.9% lower than the state and 13.6% lower than the country.
Overall, Harbison Canyon, San Diego is located near safe cities and likely boasts a low crime rate as well. You can take comfort in knowing that if anything does happen, select trusted officers of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department to protect the citizens of Harbison Canyon. The Sheriff's Department is composed of award-winning officers!
Cost of Living in Harbison Canyon
Harbison Canyon has a cost of living index of 148.4, which is 48.4% above the US average. The most significant cost here is housing, which has a cost index of 227.7, which is 127.7% higher than the US average. Healthcare is 11% more affordable here, utilities are 7% more expensive, and transportation is 37.7% more expensive.
Here’s a better idea of what you will spend while living in Harbison Canyon:
The Economic Policy Institute recommends a household income of $110,158 for a family of four to live comfortably in San Diego County.
Typical Harbison Canyon* living expenses:
Inexpensive restaurant meal: $25.00
Gallon of milk: $4.36
Loaf of white bread: $3.62
Dozen eggs: $4.82
Pound of chicken filets: $7.18
Pound of tomatoes: $2.24
Average Harbison Canyon utilities per month: $226 (per Doxo)
Source: Numbeo. *These figures are for San Diego, which has a slightly lower cost of living index (144) than Harbison Canyon, so prices may be higher in Harbison Canyon.
Expect to spend the most on housing while living here. Harbison Canyon has a median home price of $688,000 and a median price per square foot of $465. The median home price has increased by 2.7% since 2022, and the price per square foot has increased by 8.5%. There are rarely Harbison Canyon homes for sale, making the Harbison Canyon real estate market very competitive. If you do see a home you like, we suggest acting fast!
The rental market here is equally as competitive. There are rarely homes for rent, and if there are any available, the average Harbison Canyon rent per month is $2,236 for an 830-square-foot apartment. While this may seem high, it’s more affordable than San Diego’s $3,016—this is for an average apartment size of 870 square feet.
Harbison Canyon Weather & Climate
Harbison Canyon has a Koppen classification of Mediterranean climate (Csa)---this is best described as somewhat hot and dry summers with relatively cold, wet winters. While the weather in Harbison Canyon is enjoyable most of the year, the area is at a high risk of wildfires. Areas are at risk of wildfires due to its high heat and dry climate; California is among the states at a growing risk of wildfires occurring.
You can expect the temperatures to vary from 39 degrees Fahrenheit to 87 degrees Fahrenheit; the hottest month of the year is August, with an average high of 87 degrees. The coldest month of the year is December, with an average low of 40 degrees. Harbison Canyon sees an average annual rainfall of 15 inches and an average annual snowfall of 0 inches.
The best time to visit Harbison Canyon is mid-June to late September. The summer months provide the optimal weather for warm-weather activities like hiking and golfing!
Things to Do in and Near Harbison Canyon
Alongside the numerous fun attractions in and near the CDP, Harbison Canyon boasts a few good shopping centers like Ranch Market & Feed and the Alpine Creek Shopping Center.
Hilton Head County Park is located a few miles from Harbison Canyon and is a great place to visit during the hotter months. It’s pet-friendly, and there’s a splash pad for your children.
El Capitan Reservoir Recreation Area is another fun outdoor activity in Harbison Canyon. There are miles of terrain and a picturesque natural water source to explore.
The beautiful parks of Harbison Canyon are maintained by San Diego County, which often hosts events in Harbison Canyon and nearby cities. You can keep up with these events by watching the special events calendar.
Bongiovanno’s is located a few miles from the town's center and is known for having delectable Italian cuisine. Their antipasto salad and garlic bread are raved about in their reviews section.
Harbison Canyon has seen a 1.4% job market increase since 2022 and has a projected future job growth of 34.2% by 2033 (0.7% above the US average.) The CDP’s economy employs 2,000 people; the average commute time is 31.9 minutes, meaning people commuting likely work in San Diego. The largest industries are health care and social assistance, public administration, and construction. People working in public administration ($94,779) and wholesale trade ($69,821) earn the highest yearly incomes. The main employers for San Diego County are 32nd St Naval Station, Caesar Entertainment, and General Dynamics NASSCO, which are all prestigious companies offering competitive salaries. The average hourly rate for General Dynamics NASSCO employees is $23. The average base salary in Harbison Canyon is $52,000, and the Harbison Canyon average hourly wage is $25.00.
If you’re moving to Harbison Canyon, job hunting is likely on your to-do list. Harbison Canyon Jobs in varying industries are hiring by the dozen. And if you can’t find one to fit your needs in the city, the City of San Diego is only a short driveway. San Diego County jobs are a good option, too—public administrators are the highest-paid individuals in Harbison Canyon!
Harbison Canyon Schools
Harbison Canyon is part of the Alpine Union School District. While there are only two schools in the CDP limits (Shadow Hills Elementary School and Creekside Early Learning Center), there are plenty of high-quality schools nearby. The other schools within the Alpine Union School District are Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Joan MacQueen Elementary School, and Mountain View Learning Center; high schools near Harbison Canyon are Granite Hills High School, Liberty Charter High School, and Valhalla High School.
Alpine Union School District is all-inclusive and boasts interesting programs like its American Indian Education Program. This program is meant to help meet the unique educational, cultural, and financial needs of the district's American Indian students. The district serves 1,539 students, 47% of whom are minorities.
Before moving to Harbison Canyon, take comfort in knowing your (or your child's) education needs will be catered to. The CDP and surrounding areas value education and supply plenty of resources to foster academic advancements. The San Diego County Library – Crest Branch serves Harbison Canyon residents.
Explore more things to do with this Harbison Canyon map!
If moving to Harbison Canyon has sparked your interest, we hope our guide helps you make an informed decision on whether living in Harbison Canyon is the right choice! If you do decide to take on the adventure of relocation, our Harbison Canyon movers are here to make your transition feel stress-free and easy! Call Republic Moving at 619-591-0079 to receive a free moving estimate.
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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