Republic Moving and Storage is proud to serve you as an agent for North American Van Lines and STI. Our unparalleled reputation in the moving and storage industry has been in our steadfast commitment to provide every customer an: economical, safe, professional move by requiring some of the most stringent standards and safety training for our moving and storage professionals.
The small community of Otay Mesa, CA is located 19.5 miles southeast of downtown San Diego. Otay Mesa is bordered by the Otay River Valley, Chula Vista, Ocean View Hills, and San Ysidro. The area of Otay Mesa rests along the California-Mexico border right across from Tijuana.
Otay Mesa has a unique history that includes the first controlled flights in the western hemisphere by aviation pioneer John J. Montgomery in 1883. Annexed from San Diego in 1957, Otay Mesa was originally part of an area that covered nearly 4,000 acres. It has remained a fairly small community over the years.
The name Otay Mesa comes from the Native language of Kumeyaay and means “brushy mountain”.
Otay Mesa is known for being the most commonly used Port of Entry for crossing the border between San Diego and Mexico.
Table of Contents
1. People Living in Otay Mesa, CA - Population & Demographics
How many people live in Otay Mesa? The community has seen minimal growth over the years with few people consistently relocating to Otay Mesa. The Otay Mesa population is 2,134 with a median age of 35 years old.
Since it is so close to the Mexican border, Otay Mesa has a strong presence of Hispanic culture. Otay Mesa demographics are made up of about 85% Hispanic or Latino, 6% Black or African American, 5% Caucasian, and 3% Asian. The gender ratio in Otay Mesa is an even 50-50 split of male and female. The median household income in Otay Mesa is $66,498.
Otay Mesa covers about 11.61 square miles at the southern edge of San Diego County. The local Otay Mesa zip codes are 92154 and 92173. The main area code in Otay Mesa is 619 for phone numbers in the area.
Is Otay Mesa a safe place to live? The violent crime rate in Otay Mesa is 42 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average. The property crime rate in Otay Mesa is 458 per 100,000 people, which is also slightly lower than the US average. Compared to national numbers, Otay Mesa is a safe place to live.
2. Cost of Living in Otay Mesa, CA
How much does it cost to live in Otay Mesa, CA? The average cost of living in Otay Mesa is higher than the California average as well as the national average. Expenses such as the Otay Mesa real estate market, local transportation, and others are more expensive than living in other states.
The homeownership rate in Otay Mesa is 68%. The average price of a home in Otay Mesa is $642,000, which equals out to a median sale price of $327 per square foot. Local Otay Mesa, CA homes for sale tend to spend about 18 days on the market and require an average down payment of 74.7%.
The Otay Mesa property tax rate is around the same as Chula Vista, which is around 1.14%.
About 32% of people living in Otay Mesa rent, giving newcomers a handful of leasing opportunities around the community. The average price of rent in Otay Mesa is between $1,900 and $3,400 per month, depending on the nearby amenities and size of the location.
Are you considering moving to Otay Mesa? Don't hesitate to contact the best San Diego moving company to get more information & prices
3. Otay Mesa Neighborhoods - Best Places to Live in Otay Mesa
Where should you live in Otay Mesa? While there aren’t many named communities in the area, a couple of the best Otay Mesa neighborhoods are:
Central Beaverton
Northwest Heights
People living in the neighborhood enjoy plenty of convenient shopping options in Otay Mesa such as Walgreens, Target, Walmart, San Ysidro Village, 99 Cents Store, Rite Aid, Vons, and the Border Village Shopping Center.
4. Otay Mesa, CA Weather
The Mediterranean climate in Otay Mesa is warm and dry during the summer and cool during the winter. Otay Mesa weather gets an average of 10.31 inches of rain per year.
The average temperature in Otay Mesa is between the low 60s and the mid-80s in the summertime. The temps lower to comfortable averages between the mid-40s and mid-60s, giving people living in Otay Mesa a pleasant climate all year round.
5. Things to Do in Otay Mesa
There are so many fun outdoor activities, popular points of interest, neat places to visit, and other great things to do in Otay Mesa.
Formerly known as Aquatica San Diego, Sesame Place San Diego is now one of the top family-friendly attractions in the area. This vibrant theme park combines water rides with beloved Sesame Street characters, interactive shows, and playful experiences perfect for kids of all ages.
Among the best places to visit in Otay Mesa, the Jump Around Now Trampoline & Adventure Park has fun activities for people of all ages. Visitors can jump on their many trampolines, take the zipline, go through the obstacle course, go up the rock climbing wall, hop into the foam pits, and much more.
Among the top restaurants in Otay Mesa, Bronco’s Mexican Food boasts a fantastic selection of mouthwatering plates. Take your pick from their options such as tacos, Chile Rellenos, burritos, empanadas, carne asada, and so much more.
Over at Erik’s Fresh Grill, visitors will experience meals from one of the top-rated places to eat in Otay Mesa. This hot spot features a blend of Greek deli food and American fare such as burgers, salmon, sandwiches, gyros, kebabs, Philly cheesesteaks, and other great dishes.
Otay Mesa stands as one of the ports of entry (POE) from San Diego to Tijuana, Mexico. It was established in 1983 to shift commercial traffic away from the already busy San Ysidro Port of Entry nearby. While much of the traffic is commercial, the amount of passenger traffic is growing as Otay Mesa continues to grow as well.
You can always check the current border wait times to see how long it will take to get across the Otay Mesa - Mexico border.
8. Jobs in Otay Mesa
The average salary in Otay Mesa is $35,588 per year, which is just over half of the national average in the US. Otay Mesa has a 9.3% state income tax rate. There is a 6.4% unemployment rate in Otay Mesa.
People living in the area have Otay Mesa jobs in town while others work in nearby cities. Many residents commute from Otay Mesa to Chula Vista about 12 miles away, which generally takes around 20 minutes in either direction. Traveling from Otay Mesa to San Diego takes about 25 minutes and is about 20 miles away.
A few of the best places to work in Otay Mesa include:
A great way to find reliable jobs in Otay Mesa is by using tools like Indeed as part of your search.
9. Otay Mesa Schools
There are only a few hundred kids between the ages of 0 and 18 years old living in Otay Mesa but the area is still an excellent place for families to live.
Although you won’t find any colleges within the borders of Otay Mesa, the nearby United States University is a few miles away in Chula Vista.
Living in Otay Mesa Pros & Cons
Pro: There are plenty of fun things to do and other activities in the community.
Pro: The weather in Otay Mesa is highly desirable and one of the best reasons to live there.
Con: Otay Mesa does have a pretty high cost of living compared to some other areas close by.
Moving to Otay Mesa, CA
Once you’ve found enough reasons to move to Otay Mesa, the team at Republic Moving would love to assist with your relocation. Our reputable Otay Mesa movers are the best in the business! Contact us today at (619) 591-0079 or complete the Request a Quote form on this page for 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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
