$1,539,898Average Value$1,043Average Price per Sq Ft6Homes For Sale
Scenic living where San Diego began
Once the seat of power in emerging San Diego, Old Town is now a walkable tourist capital with some of the best hillside views in the city. Parkland dominates the neighborhood, meaning housing stock is limited. Homeowners treasure not only their central and scenic location, but the properties themselves, many of which have historic status. Those who do find a home in Old Town are in convenient proximity to the beach, downtown San Diego and local highlights such as Balboa Park and Liberty Station.
Thousands of years of Old Town history
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is an open-air, living history museum offering a window into centuries of California history. This cluster of original and reconstructed adobe homes is commonly referred to as the birthplace of California, a reference to its status as the first Spanish settlement in modern California. However, Kumeyaay Native Americans shaped the landscape well before then, and have ever since. “It was not a solely Spanish colonial town,” says Thomas Pugh, a local resident and historian. “Indigenous and other groups not only interacted in this space, but were vital to its growth and prosperity, despite colonial institutions that limited their movement.” Oral histories at the Junipero Serra Museum and the recently implemented Land of the First People outdoor exhibit remind visitors of the continued impact Kumeyaay people have on San Diego.
Old Town parks are for locals, too
Many of the 4 million annual visitors to Old Town State Historic Park are locals themselves. San Diegans not only visit the historic exhibits, but enjoy the park passively, setting up camp chairs on the sprawling green plaza or meeting friends for a walk. “This is a great spot to bring family, dogs included, for a nice visit. You can walk, eat, drink and hopefully take something meaningful away,” Pugh says. Up the hill at Presidio Park, residents set up picnic blankets under the canopy of eucalyptus or go for a jog before the marine layer burns off. The park is one of the best places to see Independence Day fireworks, with views of multiple shows across the coastline. “It is a place where San Diegans may not go every week, but every single one of them has some memorable story of Old Town,” Pugh says.
Never far from a fresh tortilla
“The state park, residential and commercial areas are all intertwined,” Pugh says. Sit-down Mexican restaurants like Café Coyote and Casa de Reyes are always overflowing with tourists and locals alike. On weekdays, residents can walk down to Old Town Mexican Café and pick up packs of their hand-pressed flour and corn tortillas.
Shopping, dining and bayside strolls are only a couple miles away at Liberty Station. The former naval training center has been transformed into a walkable, green oasis with clothing boutiques, popular spots for brunch and dinner and an eclectic food hall.
For grocery staples, Old Town residents can cross Interstate 5 to find Sprouts, Target and Ralphs.
Celebrating Day of the Dead
Old Town is the site of one of the largest Día de los Muertos celebrations in San Diego, with live music, ofrenda tours, an arts and crafts market and a community altar. The event culminates in a candlelit procession starting with a Danza Azteca performance at Immaculate Conception Church and continuing with a walk to El Campo Santo Cemetery.
Limited stock of hillside homes
Here, views are typically the selling point. Hillside homes and condos offer scenic sights of the bay and downtown San Diego. Single-family homes range from 1920s Craftsman builds to dramatic, five-bedroom Spanish Revival villas. Depending on size and position in the hills, homes can range between $950,000 and $3.5 million. Condos, on the other hand, typically sell between $600,000 and $1 million. Most units have two bedrooms, though price is highly dependent on square footage. Monthly fees for a community pool and other amenities can get up to $800.
The neighborhood is predominantly parkland, and housing availability is consequently limited. Buyers can usually find more options in the surrounding Mission Hills area.
A rare public transit hub in San Diego
Locals can hop on a trolley, bus or commuter train up the coast at the Old Town Transit Center. The trolley’s green and blue lines deliver riders downtown for work, nights out and Padres games. Residents can hear how close they are to the airport, accessible via the Route 992 bus or the San Diego Flyer free airport shuttle. Still, San Diego is hard to fully experience without a car. The neighborhood sits at the intersection of Interstates 5 and 8.
Several options within San Diego Unified
Students in Old Town have quite a bit of choice, with several area public schools accepting local children. Grant Elementary in Mission Hills serves transitional kindergarten through eighth grade and earns an A-minus from Niche. Middle schoolers can choose to stay at Grant or transfer to Roosevelt International, a B-plus-rated magnet school next to Balboa Park. Both Point Loma High and San Diego High accept Old Town students and earn an A-minus and A respectively.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Marc Lotzof,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Silver Terrace Park
Old Town Plaza
Trails
Playground
Multi-Purpose Field
Heritage Park
Trails
Presidio Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Trails
Pioneer Park
Trails
Playground
Parking Lot
Presidio Park
Basketball
Picnic Area
Trails
Transit
Airport
San Diego International
5 min drive
Subway
Old Town Transit Center
Train
Old Town Transit Center
Bus
Old Town Transit Center
Bus
Juan St & Harney St
Bus
San Diego (Old Town-Flixbus)
Bus
Taylor St & Sunset St
Bus
San Diego Greyhound
Bus
Taylor St & Juan St
Bus
Juan St & Mason St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Old Town
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
9
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
8
4
Larceny
8
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Old Town, San Diego sell after 48 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Old Town, San Diego over the last 12 months is $1,854,090, up 25% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Totally transformed Ranch-style residence exudes relaxed sophistication. Panoramic bay and sparkling city views provide scenic backdrop for spacious indoor and outdoor living areas. Dramatic living room with box beam ceiling, wood floors and stone fireplace seamlessly transitions to elegantly appointed designer kitchen with adjacent dining areas. Entry level floorplan affords opportunity for
Janna HernholmPacific Sotheby's International Realty
Discover this beautifully updated 2 bed / 2 bath condo nestled hillside in the gated community of Terraces at Mission Hills, perfectly positioned between San Diego’s historic Old Town district and scenic Mission Hills. This home features hardwood floors, in-unit laundry hookups, and a cozy fireplace, with an oversized west-facing private balcony with teak wood decking, ideal for soaking up
Phenomenal opportunity to own 4 fully furnished super sweet homes in Old Town. Short, medium or long term rentals allowed. Live in one and rent the others.Recent upgrades include: new roofs, insulation, mini splits, and electrical. Each of the four units has its own outdoor yard or covered patio.
AMAZING MISSION HILLS OPPORTUNITY! Your Gateway to Heaven on Earth! Experience Exquisite Panoramic views from every level, spanning San Diego Bay, Coronado, the Pacific Ocean, Cabrillo Monument, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla! Situated within walking distance to the Vibrant Festivities of Old Town San Diego, this stunning Mission Hills home offers the perfect blend of Elegance and
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Marc Lotzof,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,168
Median Age
44
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
15.6%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$90,555
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$128,461
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.4%
College Graduates
53.2%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
19.2%
% Population in Labor Force
53.4%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
9''
Average Winter Low Temperature
50°F
Average Summer High Temperature
76°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
73/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
84/ 100
Excellent Transit
Transit Score®
71/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
