NEW to North County San Diego? (Here’s Your Guide)
If you’ve recently moved – or are thinking of relocating – to North County, us seasoned locals would love to share a few must-knows with you.
Think of these info nuggets as tips to store in your brain as you navigate your way across the county. And? Welcome!
What’s North County?
North County lies about 25 miles north of downtown San Diego.
Some people say that San Diego is like a square. The four corners hit Escondido, the La Mesa area, San Diego, and Oceanside, with North County representing the top half of the square.
Here at this site, we think of North County as encompassing those neighborhoods north of the 805 and 5 freeway merge. Given this definition, both coastal and inland communities comprise North County, making the region an excellent place to hike, lounge beachside, sail, and participate in nearly every outdoor activity because the topography of the area is both hilly and sea-facing, depending on where you live.
Neighborhoods we consider “North County” are:
Del Mar
Solana Beach
Encinitas
Cardiff
Leucadia
Carlsbad
Oceanside
Scripps Ranch
West Poway (Sabre Springs/some areas of Poway)
Rancho Penasquitos
Rancho Bernardo
Carmel Mountain
Carmel Valley
Escondido
San Marcos
Vista
La Costa
Unincorporated North County Includes:
Fallbrook
Ramona
Valley Center
Fairbanks Ranch
Rancho Santa Fe
Lake San Marcos
Bonsall
San Diego Country Estates
Camp Pendleton South
Camp Pendleton North
Rainbow
Hidden Meadows
San Luis Rey
In general, North County is considered to be family friendly and a good alternative to the hustle and bustle of downtown. Arguably, North County is regarded as fairly upper middle class when compared to San Diego regions east and south of the county.
