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Ramona, CA

A town of about 22,634 people in San Diego County, part of the San Diego area. Resident comments and photos are about Ramona; job numbers cover the wider area.

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What kind of place it is
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Around Ramona

Where it is, what's close by, trails, buses and trains, and health care.
Where it is
Ramona
Ramona in California
California in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Ramona's center.

2
grocery stores
9
restaurants
6
coffee shops
5
parks
7
playgrounds
2
libraries
2
museums
3
bookstores
4
gyms
4
bars

None found within 5 miles: movie theaters, pharmacies, hospitals.

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Ramona.

Bike lanes and bike paths
5.6 miles
about typical for a U.S. town
Walking and hiking trails
22 miles
about typical for a U.S. town

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Buses and trains

Bus stops within 1 mile
30
Bus stops within 5 miles
43
Nearest train station
Sorrento Valley Station
about 22 miles
Closest rail and ferry stops
  • Escondido Transit Center · Light rail, streetcar or people mover · about 13 miles
  • Santee Town Center Station · Light rail, streetcar or people mover · about 15 miles
  • Nordahl Rd Station · Light rail, streetcar or people mover · about 15 miles
  • Gillespie Field Station · Light rail, streetcar or people mover · about 16 miles
U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transit Map (stops from each transit agency's schedule data, Sept. 2026). Straight-line distance from the town center. Counts stops, not how often buses come; check the local transit agency for schedules.

Health care

Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Palomar Medical Center Poway in Poway, about 11 miles away in a straight line.

Palomar Medical Center Poway
Poway, CA · about 11 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 4 of 5
Palomar Health Downtown Campus
Escondido, CA · about 13 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · about 18 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 4 of 5
Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa, CA · about 20 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 4 of 5
In the county, compared with California and the U.S.
Primary care doctors
0.8
per 1,000 people · California: 0.8 · U.S.: 0.8
Dentists
1.0
per 1,000 people · California: 0.9 · U.S.: 0.7
Mental health providers
5.3
per 1,000 people · California: 4.7 · U.S.: 3.3
People under 65 without health insurance
7.3%
California: 7.5% · U.S.: 9.5%
Hospitals: Medicare Care Compare (CMS Care Compare, July 2026); distances are straight-line miles from the town center (located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder), so drive distance is longer. Doctors, dentists, providers and insurance: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025 release. In an emergency, call 911.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Of about 2,244 rented homes in Ramona, 69% rent for under $2,000 a month and 93% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 11%
$1,000 to $1,499: 11%
$1,500 to $1,999: 47%
$2,000 to $2,499: 11%
$2,500 to $2,999: 12%
$3,000 or more: 7%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Ramona rents for $1,500 to $1,999 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $3,000 to $3,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $4,500 to $5,997 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,500 to $1,999, that's a yearly income of about $54,000 to $71,964.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to California: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the California DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: California voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

42 public school districts in this county, with about 392,139 students in all. The county also has 120 public charter schools and 179 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Valley Center MiddleValley Center ElementaryRiver Valley CharterVista Springs CharterCommunity MontessoriClassical Academy VistaThe Heights CharterClassical AcademyHigh Tech Middle North CountyInnovations AcademyMotivated Youth AcademyHeritage K-8 CharterJcs - Cedar CovePivot Charter School - San Diego IIGuajome Park Academy CharterClassical Academy HighBarona Indian CharterHigh Tech High North CountyAltus Schools Charter School of San DiegoDual Language Immersion North CountyPacific Coast AcademyDimensions CollaborativeJulian CharterShadow Hills ElementaryCreekside Early Learning CenterPreuss School UcsdNorth County Trade Tech HighGuajome Learning CentersAudeo Charter School IIICabrillo Point AcademySan Diego Mission AcademyBaypoint Preparatory Academy - San DiegoLearning Choice AcademyHigh Tech Elementary North CountyEscondido Charter HighBrookfield Engineering Science Technology AcademyRios ElementaryBlossom Valley ElementaryLos Coches Creek MiddlePoinsettia ElementaryCarmel Del Mar ElementaryDel Mar Heights ElementaryDel Mar Hills ElementaryAshley Falls ElementarySage CanyonTorrey HillsSycamore RidgeOcean AirPacific SkyFlora Vista ElementaryPark Dale Lane ElementaryOlivenhain Pioneer ElementaryEl Camino Creek ElementaryLa Costa Heights ElementaryMission Estancia ElementaryPioneer ElementaryCentral ElementaryConway ElementaryDel Dios Academy of Arts and SciencesFelicita ElementaryGlen View ElementaryMission MiddleHidden Valley MiddleJuniper ElementaryLincoln ElementaryMiller ElementaryOak Hill ElementaryOrange Glen ElementaryRose ElementaryRock Springs ElementaryNorth Broadway ElementaryRincon MiddleL. R. Green ElementaryBear Valley MiddleFarr Avenue ElementaryReidy Creek ElementaryBernardo ElementaryQuantum AcademyEscondido HighOrange Glen HighSan Pasqual HighDel Lago Academy - Campus of Applied ScienceEl Capitan HighSantana HighWest Hills HighJulian HighJulian ElementaryJulian Junior HighLakeside Farms ElementaryLakeside MiddleLakeview ElementaryLindo Park ElementaryRiverview ElementaryTierra Del Sol MiddleWinter Gardens ElementaryLemon Crest ElementaryLakeside Early Advantage PreschoolDescanso ElementaryAdobe Bluffs ElementaryHighland Ranch ElementaryMesa Verde MiddlePark Village ElementaryBlack Mountain MiddleChaparral ElementaryGarden Road ElementaryLos Penasquitos ElementaryMeadowbrook MiddleMidland ElementaryMt. Carmel HighPainted Rock ElementaryPomerado ElementaryPoway HighRolling Hills ElementarySundance ElementarySunset Hills ElementaryTierra Bonita ElementaryTwin Peaks MiddleValley ElementaryWestwood ElementaryShoal Creek ElementaryCreekside ElementaryCanyon View ElementaryBernardo Heights MiddleRancho Bernardo HighDeer Canyon ElementaryMorning Creek ElementaryTurtleback ElementaryWestview HighStone Ranch ElementaryOak Valley MiddleMonterey Ridge ElementaryDel Sur ElementaryDel Norte HighWillow Grove ElementaryDesign 39 CampusPoway To Palomar Middle College HighBarnett ElementaryHanson ElementaryRamona ElementaryRamona HighJames Dukes ElementaryOlive Peirce MiddleMt. Woodson ElementaryR. Roger Rowe ElementaryR. Roger Rowe MiddleScripps Ranch HighKumeyaay ElementaryDingeman ElementaryAlcott ElementaryCurie ElementaryDoyle ElementaryEricson ElementaryField ElementaryHawthorne ElementaryHickman ElementaryJerabek ElementaryLafayette ElementaryMadison HighMason ElementaryMira Mesa HighMiramar Ranch ElementaryMuirlands MiddleSandburg ElementarySequoia ElementaryCanyon Hills HighSpreckels ElementaryStandley MiddleTierrasanta ElementaryTorrey Pines ElementaryVista Grande ElementaryWalker ElementaryWangenheim MiddleWhitman ElementaryMarshall MiddleUniversity City HighDe Portola MiddleChallenger MiddleHage ElementaryScripps ElementaryCreative Performing and Media ArtsInnovation MiddleJonas Salk ElementaryEarl Warren MiddleOak Crest MiddleTorrey Pines HighLa Costa Canyon HighDiegueno MiddleCarmel Valley MiddleCanyon Crest AcademyPacific Trails MiddleLa Mirada AcademyRichland ElementarySan Marcos ElementarySan Marcos HighSan Marcos MiddleWoodland Park MiddleDiscovery ElementaryTwin Oaks ElementaryCarrillo ElementaryLa Costa Meadows ElementaryKnob Hill ElementaryPaloma ElementarySan Elijo MiddleMission Hills HighSan Elijo ElementaryJoli Ann Leichtag ElementaryDouble PeakSan Pasqual Union ElementaryCajon Park ElementaryCarlton Hills ElementaryCarlton Oaks ElementaryChet F. Harritt ElementaryHill Creek ElementaryPepper Drive ElementaryPride Academy at Prospect AvenueRio Seco ElementarySycamore Canyon ElementarySolana Santa Fe ElementaryCarmel Creek ElementarySkyline ElementarySolana Vista ElementarySolana Highlands ElementarySolana Pacific ElementarySolana Ranch ElementarySpencer Valley ElementaryBreeze Hill ElementaryMadison MiddleBeaumont ElementaryBobier ElementaryRancho Minerva MiddleMonte Vista ElementaryVista Academy of Visual and Performing ArtsVista HighVista Innovation and Design AcademyRancho Buena Vista HighLake ElementaryHannalei ElementaryFoothill Oak ElementaryMaryland ElementaryVista Magnet Middle School of Technology Science and MathSt Mary School (private)All Hallows Academy (private)St Michael'S School (private)St Francis of Assisi Catholic School (private)Grace Christian School (Changed the Name 6/15) (private)La Jolla Country Day School (private)Mission Bay Montessori Academy (private)Reformation Lutheran School (private)Vista Christian School (private)Escondido Adventist Academy (private)Del Mar Pines School (private)Santa Fe Christian Schools (private)Good Shepherd Catholic School (private)Montessori Child Development Center (private)Montessori Children'S Elementary (private)Diegueno Country School (private)Torah High School of San Diego (private)Kinderhouse Montessori School (private)Horizon Prep (private)Notre Dame Academy (private)Montessori School of Encinitas (private)The Cambridge School (private)Cathedral Catholic High School (private)Learning Academy (private)Pacific Ridge School (private)Village Gate Children'S Academy (private)Beth Montessori (private)Fusion San Diego Scripps Ranch (private)High Bluff Academy (private)Renaissance Village Academy (private)St Gregory the Great Catholic School (private)Big Tree Little Preschool Kindergarten (private)The Koonings Center (private)Balboa School (private)Leport Montessori (private)National University Virtual High School (private)Aspirations School of Learning (private)Dot To Dot (private)Kids Town Montessori School (private)Skills Learning Center (private)Stars Montessori Academy (private)Fusion Academy Slb: Solana Beach (private)Childrens Workshop (private)Coastal Christian Academy (private)Encinitas Country Day School (private)Valley Christian School (private)West Coast Baptist School (private)Grauer School the (private)The Rhoades School (private)Fusion San Diego (private)San Diego French American School (private)Ramona Lutheran Church and School (private)Scripps Montessori School (private)Winston School (private)Maranatha Christian Schools (private)St Joseph Academy (private)The Nativity School (private)New Haven Yfs (private)Kings Academy (private)Newbridge School (private)Discovery Isle Child Development Center (private)The Growing Place Montessori (private)Cal Coast Academy (private)The Childrens School (private)Childrens Preschool Learning Center (private)La Costa Valley Preschool & Kindergarten (private)SAN DIEGO COUNTYRamona
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Ramona: Ramona City Unified School District
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Ramona

Elementary
Ramona Elementary0.8 mi
Public
grades K to 6 · 400 students · 22.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 28%, math about 17% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
Hanson Elementary2.1 mi
Public
grades K to 6 · 533 students · 25.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 38%, math about 26% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
Barnett Elementary4.3 mi
Public
grades K to 6 · 478 students · 25.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 42%, math about 34% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
Middle
Ramona Elementary0.8 mi
Public
grades K to 6 · 400 students · 22.2 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 28%, math about 17% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
Olive Peirce Middle1.4 mi
Public
grades 7 to 8 · 716 students · 19.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 55%, math about 29% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
Hanson Elementary2.1 mi
Public
grades K to 6 · 533 students · 25.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 38%, math about 26% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
High school
Ramona High1.4 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,482 students · 22.8 per teacher
Poway High9.2 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 2,161 students · 22.7 per teacher
San Pasqual High10.6 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,853 students · 20.6 per teacher
Private
Ramona Lutheran Church and School0.8 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 6 · 52 students · 12.7 per teacher
Montessori Children'S Elementary0.9 mi
Private
grades K to 6 · 46 students · 9 per teacher
Montessori Child Development Center9.4 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to K · 6 students · 1.1 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Ramona, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on California's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

San Diego Unified · San Diego
93,893 students · 21.9 students per teacher · 175 schools · grades K to 12
Sweetwater Union High · Chula Vista
36,109 students · 23.1 students per teacher · 29 schools · grades K to 12
Poway Unified · San Diego
34,900 students · 23.8 students per teacher · 39 schools · grades K to 12
Chula Vista Elementary · Chula Vista
22,226 students · 21.5 students per teacher · 43 schools · grades K to 12
San Marcos Unified · San Marcos
19,532 students · 24.1 students per teacher · 19 schools · grades K to 12

School choice and pre-K in California

Going to school in another district
Some districts must accept students from other districts (for example, from struggling schools), and others choose whether to. Ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
State law says families can ask for a different school in the same district, and the district must allow it when there's room.
Free state pre-K
46% of 4-year-olds and 11% of 3-year-olds in California attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

Special education in California

Federal rating for the state: Needs assistance (two or more years in a row)
Each year the U.S. Department of Education rates every state on how well it follows the special education law (IDEA) and on results for students with disabilities. This rates California as a whole, not your district or school. Each state also publishes yearly special education results for every district on its education department's website. Read California's 2026 rating letter.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

California keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$379/week
about $19,700 a year
$251/week
about $13,100 a year
Toddler (2)$269/week
about $14,000 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$243/week
about $12,600 a year
$238/week
about $12,400 a year
School-age$219/week
about $11,400 a year

For an infant at a center: $379/week here, $371 across CA, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 18% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in California →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

25 colleges in the county around Ramona. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

University of California-San Diego · La Jolla
Public, 4-year · 42,376 students · $15,265 in-state, $46,042 out-of-state
San Diego State University · San Diego
Public, 4-year · 39,241 students · $8,290 in-state, $20,170 out-of-state
National University · San Diego
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 19,924 students · $13,320 a year
San Diego Mesa College · San Diego
Public, 4-year · 19,243 students · $1,150 in-state, $9,094 out-of-state
Palomar College · San Marcos
Public, 2-year (community college) · 18,815 students · $1,354 in-state, $10,650 out-of-state

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$926,961
What a typical home sells for across the San Diego area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Average commute
26 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,616 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in CA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Very High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
None within 5 miles
No hospital is mapped within 5 miles of the center. Check the drive to the nearest one before you move.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
19.9 per 100,000 people a year
655 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. CA average: 21.9 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 30 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 9,905 people without housing in the San Diego City and County area: 4,191 in shelters and 5,714 outside, down from 10,605 in 2024. CA: 46.1 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$102,285
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.7% of home value a year
About $700 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 13.30%
CA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: Tax Foundation and the state's tax agency, 2026

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