Photo:Adrian BraytonSpring Valley is part of the San Diego area. This page covers the whole metro.
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.
Around San Diego
One resident says Ikiru Sushi and Solare Ristorante in Liberty Station are underrated with great food and service
“Totally underrated, great food and service! The best”
Mission Trails and Ramona Grasslands Preserve are favorite hiking spots, with cows visible at the latter in spring.
“One of my favorites is the Ramona Grasslands Preserve.”
One resident says San Diego is great for families due to kid friendly activities like the zoo, aquarium, and accessible beaches.
“so many kid friendly activities! The zoo, aquarium, endless accessible beaches”
One resident recommends Altitude Sky Lounge for its great views, The Shout House for live music, and American Junkie as solid options.
“Altitude Sky Lounge in Gas Lamp has some stellar views”
From 10 resident comments about meeting people and the social scene.
One resident mentions the San Diego fringe festival is starting again this year along with cherry blossom festivals.
“San Diego "fringe festival" starts again this year. cherry blossom festivals. Balboa also has great free concerts in the organ pavilion-...”
Read the full commentOne resident says Balboa Park has great free concerts at the organ pavilion.
“San Diego "fringe festival" starts again this year. cherry blossom festivals. Balboa also has great free concerts in the organ pavilion-...”
Read the full commentOne resident mentioned Meetup groups like board game clubs as a way to meet people in San Diego.
“Reddit Tips for making friends in San Diego Recommendations for free clubs in San Diego. There's a few Meetup groups that have board game...”
Read the full commentOne resident noted there are many female social groups, book clubs, yoga studios, and run clubs in San Diego.
“There are A TON of female social groups, book clubs, yoga studios with events, and run clubs in San Diego. You can find most of them through...”
Read the full commentOne resident described the social scene as cliquey and reluctant to hang out or meet new people, even with planned meet-ups.
“Social Life in San Diego. Very click-ey and reluctant to hang-out/meet new people. Planning meet-ups and everything. Having deep convos. there...”
Read the full commentOne resident said it is notoriously hard to make new friends in San Diego despite it being a transplant city.
“It is notoriously hard to make new friends here which sounds counterintuitive for being a transplant city. to fit into right away.”
Read the full commentOne resident described the local social behavior as passive aggressive, saying people secretly resent transplants.
“It's called passive aggressive. Very typical Southern California behavior. People here will internally hate you for being a transplant, non-...”
Read the full commentOne resident contrasted San Diego with New York City, where it was easier to meet people in crowded public parks with street music.
“For context I came from living most my life in NYC, finding people to connect with and hang out with in super populated public parks full of street music...”
Read the full commentOne resident said San Diego is one of the most social and outgoing places in the country and dating issues are not unique to the city.
“San Diego is one of the most social and outgoing places in all of the United States. Believe me any issues you feel in dating there are...”
Read the full commentOne resident said guys in San Diego are slow burns who date multiple people at once, suggesting meetups and social clubs to find a groove.
“In San Diego, guys are definitely a slow burn and date multiple people at a time. Just find your groove in life here; meetups/social clubs/...”
Read the full commentOne resident suggested Hinge is the best dating app to use alongside meeting people in person around San Diego.
“think Hinge is the new best bet, The apps are great to supplement in between meeting people in person, you go out is San Diego, meeting new...”
Read the full commentOne resident recommends Altitude Sky Lounge for its great views, The Shout House for live music, and American Junkie as solid options.
“Altitude Sky Lounge in Gas Lamp has some stellar views. The Shout! House for some live music. American Junkie is also solid.”
Read the full commentAbout 11,649 business locations in the San Diego area, employing about 221,111 people. That's about the usual U.S. share.
U.S. Census County Business Patterns, 2023. Counts business locations with paid employees, not job openings.
One resident said the San Diego job market is bad for both finding work and pay, though they personally got nearly a 50 percent raise amid unemployment.
“San Diego Job market is pretty ass, both finding a job and pay. I'm getting almost a 50% pay bump (going from $40 to 56 an hour). Unemployment...”
Read the full commentPick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
No resident has talked about October yet.
Mission Trails and Ramona Grasslands Preserve are favorite hiking spots, with cows visible at the latter in spring.
“Mission Trails is great. One of my favorites is the Ramona Grasslands Preserve. Beautiful in the spring, and there are cows :).”
Read the full commentOne resident mentioned Meetup groups like board game clubs as a way to meet people in San Diego.
“Reddit Tips for making friends in San Diego Recommendations for free clubs in San Diego. There's a few Meetup groups that have board game...”
Read the full commentOne resident noted there are many female social groups, book clubs, yoga studios, and run clubs in San Diego.
“There are A TON of female social groups, book clubs, yoga studios with events, and run clubs in San Diego. You can find most of them through...”
Read the full commentOne resident said San Diego is one of the most social and outgoing places in the country and dating issues are not unique to the city.
“San Diego is one of the most social and outgoing places in all of the United States. Believe me any issues you feel in dating there are...”
Read the full comment“Great schools, lots of park, clean, and safe.”
What's nearby
Within 5 miles of the center of the San Diego area.
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 the San Diego area.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.
What rent costs
Of about 514,297 rented homes in the San Diego area, 43% rent for under $2,000 a month and 80% for under $3,000.
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
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.
The middle rented home in the San Diego area rents for $2,000 to $2,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $4,000 to $4,998 before you get the keys.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Your first weeks in California
- 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.
Public schools
42 public school districts in this county, with about 392,139 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
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.
Search licensed childcare in California →25 colleges in the county around San Diego. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.
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.