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Don’t sleep on South San Diego! South San Diego is a vibrant hub for beautiful outdoor attractions, delicious yet affordable restaurants, and incredible homes for sale. It’s a nice place to live, especially if you’re looking to start a family or find prosperous jobs in South San Diego, and it’s one of the best San Diego neighborhoods.
Moving to South San Diego is a terrific idea, but before you pack your boxes, you must learn about living in South San Diego. Here’s what you should know about this wonderful region of San Diego.
Table of Contents
Where Is South San Diego?
As the name suggests, South San Diego is the southernmost district in San Diego. It is not a neighborhood in San Diego, but a region of the city that includes five San Diego neighborhoods: Nestor (also known as Otay Mesa-Nestor), Otay Mesa, Otay Mesa West, San Ysidro, and Tijuana River Valley. Where is Nestor in San Diego? Nestor is just north of the American-Mexican border and just south of San Diego Bay, and it borders Interstate 5. Where is Otay Mesa? Otay Mesa is in southeastern San Diego, bordering Mexico to the north and San Ysidro to the east.
San Diego South borders Mexico. Areas close to the Mexican-American border are undeveloped, while areas away from the border are developed and contain residential and commercial areas. Tijuana River Valley contains the Tijuana River.
The zip codes for South San Diego are 92154 and 92173. San Diego South borders Palm City, Eggers Highlands, and Ocean View Hills, as well as Imperial City, which is a separate city from San Diego. The community includes Interstates 5 and 805, which provide access to downtown San Diego and other cities in San Diego County. It is 13 miles from South San Diego to Downtown, creating a commute of 15 to 20 minutes.
South San Diego residents have access to San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS San Diego) and other parts of the San Diego public transportation system. Over one dozen MTS San Diego bus routes run through the neighborhood and connect it to other neighborhoods in San Diego; you can use this route map to see where the stops and routes are. The UC San Diego Blue Line, which is a trolley line, stops in San Ysidro California, and Otay Mesa. You can also take Greyhound buses from the San Ysidro Transit Center to various locations in the Southeast.
South San Diego Map
You can use this South San Diego map to find delicious restaurants, fun points of interest, and convenient bus stops.
South San Diego History and Overview
The Kumeyaay people inhabited the area of San Diego South for thousands of years before the Mexican government took control of the area and gave it to ranchers in the 1820s and 1830s. In 1848, Mexico ceded the area to the United States. Southern San Diego developed rapidly thanks to its railroads. San Ysidro was initially its own city, and San Diego annexed it in 1957.
South San Diego demographics vary depending on which San Diego neighborhoods you look at. Here are the demographics for the neighborhoods in South San Diego:
Neighborhood
Nestor San Diego
Otay Mesa
Otay Mesa West
San Ysidro
Tijuana River Valley
Population
16,325
2,134
30,363
27,869
329
Median household income
$55,700
$89,100
$54,900
$44,300
$82,400
Educational attainment for residents over 25
70.7% have graduated high school, 21.3% have a bachelor’s degree
78.8% have graduated high school, 31.3% have a bachelor’s degree
69.3% have graduated high school, 22.1% have a bachelor’s degree
55.9% have graduated high school, 15.3% have a bachelor’s degree
72.5% have graduated high school, 19.0% have a bachelor’s degree
Median age
35
34.3
35
33.1
35
Foreign-born population
39.4%
38.4%
39.9%
45.3%
38.2%
Racial and ethnic composition
75.3% White (8.6% non-Hispanic or Latino White), 74.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 2.6% two or more races, 2.0% Black or African American, 0.5% other
84.8% Hispanic or Latino, 74.9% White (4.8% non-Hispanic or Latino White), 5.7% Black or African American, 3.1% Asian, 1.6% two or more races
72.3% White (10.4% non-Hispanic or Latino White), 72.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 2.9% Black or African American, 2.1% two or more races, 1.2% other
93.8% Hispanic or Latino, 84.8% White (3.0% non-Hispanic or Latino White), 1.7% Asian, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.6% two or more races
71.4% White (12.4% non-Hispanic or Latino White), 66.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 5.4% two or more races, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.5% other
South San Diego California is one of the best neighborhoods in San Diego for the Hispanic and Latino communities. People of Mexican descent make up the overwhelming majority of Hispanic-identifying people in South San Diego, but you can also find people of Puerto Rican, Colombian, and South American descent throughout the area. Nestor San Diego, Otay Mesa West, and Tijuana River Valley are hubs for Filipinos; more than 10% of the population in each neighborhood identifies as being of Filipino descent.
What It’s Like Living in South San Diego?
San Diego South is predominantly residential, though you can find attractions, small stores, and churches in all five neighborhoods in San Diego. Nestor, Otay Mesa, and Otay Mesa West have well organized blocks with paved streets, while parts of Tijuana River Valley and San Ysidro are undeveloped and lack walkable streets. South San Diego is very popular amongst people in their 20s; at least 15% of the population in all five neighborhoods are in their 20s. Tijuana River Valley is the most popular neighborhood in South San Diego amongst older people, with more than 20% of the population being over 60 years old.
Roughly half of households in San Ysidro and Otay Mesa are families with children. The other three San Diego neighborhoods are more popular with singles and couples without children, though all areas of South San Diego are family-friendly. All neighborhoods have family-friendly attractions and points of interest, as well as access to great schools.
You can find South San Diego jobs in all communities. Otay Mesa and San Ysidro are home to many businesses, so it’s easiest to find Otay Mesa jobs and San Ysidro jobs than in other neighborhoods in San Diego South. Employers in Otay Mesa and San Ysidro include FedEx, Barnes and Noble, and Marshalls.
San Diego South contains a few bars and restaurants open at night. It’s also within driving distance of Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, and other hip locations. South San Diego is one of the best neighborhoods in San Diego for people looking for peace and quiet. Tijuana River Valley is especially quiet, as it’s the most rural and green neighborhood in South San Diego.
Things to Do in South San Diego
South San Diego is packed full of unique and must do restaurants, shopping centers, and fun attractions. Here are just a few of the incredible things to do in South San Diego.
Restaurants in South San Diego
El Rincon Mexican Restaurant in San Ysidro California serves authentic Mexican food in a fun, kid-friendly setting. El Rincon offers burritos, chimichangas, quesadillas, and other classic dishes for less than $15, making it a great place to get food at affordable costs.
If you want a more formal place to eat, you can visit Cocina 35 in Otay Mesa. Cocina 35 Otay also offers Mexican food in a classy industrial setting perfect for client meetings and romantic dates. You can order tacos and burritos as well as tortas and traditional Mexican entrees like carnitas and carne asada.
Shopping
Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Ysidro is the main shopping mall in South San Diego. Outlets San Diego contains dozens of stores, including major retailers like Abercrombie and American Eagle.
You can also find other stores and smaller malls in San Ysidro. La Bodega San Ysidro is a popular Mexican grocery store, while The Plaza at the Border contains Ross Dress for Less and TJ Maxx. If you want to go shopping outside San Ysidro, you can visit various small and locally-run stores, including duty-free shops along the Mexican border.
Attractions
South Bay Drive-In Theatre and Swap Meet in Nestor CA is a family-friendly drive-in theatre that screens movies all throughout the year. Tickets cost $10 and let you view two movies, making South Bay one of the most affordable movie theaters in San Diego.
Surfside Ranch in Tijuana River Valley is one of the best places for horseback riding San Diego. You and your kids can go on hour-long rides through backtrails, letting you learn how to ride a horse and giving you breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Surfside also offers unique beach rides for three hours.
Tijuana River Valley contains or is near some of the best parks in San Diego. Tijuana River Valley Regional Park contains over 1,800 acres, including a bird and butterfly garden, a sports complex with five ball fields, and 22.5 miles of trails. The park is home to Tijuana River Valley Campground, which covers 79 acres and has more than 50 campsites.
The Parks and Recreation Department of the City of San Diego manages parks and public spaces in South San Diego and plans various public events throughout the year. You can use this event calendar to see when events will be in Southern San Diego.
Here’s where you can find these top South San Diego things to do:
Three school districts in San Diego serve students living in South San Diego. The South Bay Union School District (SBUSD) serves elementary school students living in Nestor, Otay Mesa West, and Tijuana River Valley. Seven elementary schools in this school district are in South San Diego, including Emory Elementary. All teachers who work at Emory are certified, and almost all of them have at least three years of experience.
The San Ysidro School District serves students in San Ysidro and Otay Mesa CA. The school district has five elementary schools, all within South San Diego. 52% of students at Ocean View Hills School test at or above the proficiency level in mathematics, 13 percentage points higher than the state average.
You can send your children to a few private schools in South San Diego, most of which are Catholic or Christian-affiliated schools. St Charles School in Nestor is a small Catholic school that has served the community for over 70 years, and it offers pre-kindergarten through eighth grade classes. Our Lady of Mt Carmel School in San Ysidro is another Catholic school well known for its robotics and cheer programs.
The San Diego Police Department reports crime statistics for each neighborhood in San Diego, including all five South San Diego neighborhoods. Here are the crime rates per 1,000 people in 2022:
Nestor and Otay Mesa West are among the safest neighborhoods in San Diego. Is Otay Mesa safe? While Otay Mesa San Diego, San Ysidro, and Tijuana River Valley have high crime rates, you can find safe places to live in these communities.
The San Diego Police Department recommends visiting CrimeMapping.com and making maps of San Diego to find safe places to live. Crime maps of South San Diego reveal that many blocks in South San Diego experience no crime at all. Most crimes tend to be non-violent property offenses like car break-ins. The San Diego Police Department has 1,846 police officers, many of whom patrol South San Diego.
South San Diego Real Estate
Searching for South San Diego real estate can be a little tricky because the area is very big. You can try breaking your real estate options down by neighborhood. Here are some statistics for South San Diego real estate:
Tijuana River Valley has a very small real estate market because it is primarily undeveloped land and protected nature preserves. This can make it hard to find averages and statistics for its real estate market. You can find homes for sale occasionally, so visit Redfin and other websites for your options.
In general, South San Diego real estate consists of single-family homes. Nestor and Otay Mesa West real estate is predominantly single-family homes, while San Ysidro California contains more condos than single family homes, and Otay Mesa, CA has a somewhat even mixture of properties. Most homes were built in the mid-20th century, but they contain features like covered patios, spacious master bedrooms, and open floor plans. You can find homes for sale with three or more bedrooms covering over 1,300 square feet.
Condos in South San Diego are more modest, containing one or two bedrooms and less than 1,000 square feet, though a few condos are bigger. However, they contain luxurious features like quartz countertops and modern cabinets. Some condos were built in the last ten years, so they have eco-friendly materials and require few renovations after you move in. Prices vary, but you can buy several two-bedroom condos for less than $600,000 upfront.
The average price for rental apartments nationwide is $1,726, so it’s more expensive to rent in South San Diego than in other parts of the country. South San Diego has very few apartment complexes or homes for rent, though you can find some San Ysidro apartments for rent. Most apartments for rent in San Ysidro contain one bedroom and cover less than 800 square feet, but they cost less than $2,000 a month to acquire. Notable complexes include Pacific Village in Nestor, which offers two and three bedroom apartments with amenities like an on-site basketball court and a swimming pool.
Living in South San Diego is wonderful! You can buy an affordable yet luxurious home or condo, enjoy family-friendly attractions, and shop at locally run grocery stores.
However, you should get some help with moving to South San Diego. Republic Moving & Storage is the best moving company in South San Diego, with over 50 years of experience in the moving industry. Call 619-591-0079 for a free moving estimate 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.
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