Lower Hermosa
Suburban Neighborhood in La Jolla, California
San Diego County 92037
Coveted coastal homes
Lower Hermosa's 260 distinctive single-family homes are set along gently winding roads that stretch four blocks inland from the ocean to La Jolla Boulevard. There's no homeowners association, but lawns are well-maintained, and sidewalks are uniformly lined with skinny, towering palms. Many of the neighborhood's Mediterranean Revival- and Spanish Revival-style villas were designed in the 1920s by the same architects who built the local La Valencia Hotel, Herbert Mann and Thomas Shepherd. Also common here are French Normandy-style homes from the 1930s, minimalist mansions from the 1950s through '80s, and full-scale 21st-century rebuilds. “This neighborhood is coveted, but it’s also growing,” says Paloma Aguilar, real estate agent with Compass. “A lot of these homes are newly constructed. They’ll strip the older ones to their bare bones for the location and rebuild them completely.” In La Jolla, the better the ocean view, the higher the home price. Spanish Revival-style villas and minimalist mansions set directly on the shore range between $16 million and $20 million. Newer homes set further inland, on streets like Avenida Cresta and Vista De La Mesa, were built between 1990 and 2018 and range from $6 million to $8 million.Nearby one of the world’s leading research schools
Students here can start school at Bird Rock Elementary, continue to Muirlands Middle and finish off at the comprehensive La Jolla High; all three are rated A by Niche. La Jolla High has been around since 1922, offering programs such as Achievement via Individual Determination (AVID), Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) and Voluntary Enrollment Exchange Plan (VEEP). University of California San Diego (UCSD) is 5 miles north of Lower Hermosa, offering undergraduate degrees like Molecular Synthesis and Aerospace Engineering.Walkable scenic overlooks and landmark beaches
La Jolla Hermosa Park, situated at the intersection of Camino De La Costa and Chelsea Avenue, is within walking distance for most residents. This small, quarter-acre park features a picnic table and bench, serving as a scenic viewpoint over the Pacific. Camino De La Costa breaks off into a small street along the southwest portion of the neighborhood, West Camino De La Costa; here, residents can take a small flight of stairs to The Vista Point overlook and Bird Rock Cove, offering expansive views of the coastline and rocky tidepools at the edge of the ocean. To the north of the neighborhood, Windansea Beach is perhaps the most popular in La Jolla. Surfers flock to Windansea for swells and shore break waves.La Jolla Boulevard leads to busy Bird Rock
Lower Hermosa is exclusively residential, but La Jolla Boulevard leads a half mile south to a busy commercial corridor in neighboring Bird Rock. Here, Beaumont's serves brunch and lunch with a backdrop of live music, while Don Bravo Mexican Restaurant has a more casual vibe. Known for its craft cocktails and rotating Sunday night menus, the bar-restaurant Paradisaea is listed in the Michelin Guide. Locals stop at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters for lattes made with freshly roasted beans, or Wayfarer Bread and Pastry for oven-warm baked goods. Two miles north of Lower Hermosa, the busy commercial-residential Village of La Jolla is considered La Jolla’s downtown. Upscale restaurants here include George's at the Cove, which offers oceanfront dining, and independently owned, high-end shops include Sigi's Boutique and Julyette Paris. On Sundays, the La Jolla Open Aire Farmers Market sets up at La Jolla Elementary School campus, offering more than 120 vendors. Area grocery stores within a couple of miles of Lower Hermosa include a Gelson's and the gourmet Valley Farm Market.Getting around town
Interstate 5 is about 5 miles northeast via winding coastal roads; the 5 leads roughly 10 miles to Downtown San Diego. La Jolla Boulevard is the area's main thoroughfare, connecting Lower Hermosa with The Village, Bird Rock and Pacific Beach. The neighborhood is connected by a network of trails and sidewalks, allowing neighbors to walk or bike to the nearby by beaches and commercial corridors. The closest bus stop is within the neighborhood on La Jolla Boulevard & Via Del Norte, where the #30 San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Blue Line leads to the Old Town Transit Center downtown. Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla is about 8 miles north via North Torrey Pines Road, and the San Diego International Airport in about 10 miles via the 5.Important to know
San Diego County has the second-highest wildfire risk among California counties, according to a FEMA assessment in spring 2023 – with an expected annual loss of $382 million.


Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Marc Lotzof
Responds QuicklyCompass
(858) 289-0387
104 Total Sales
1 in Lower Hermosa
$12,795,000 Price
-
Julissa Martinez
Responds QuicklyCompass
(831) 265-5357
11 Total Sales
1 in Lower Hermosa
$2,775,000 Price
-
Craig Lotzof
Responds QuicklyCompass
(858) 943-0497
114 Total Sales
1 in Lower Hermosa
$12,795,000 Price
-
Patrick Cairncross
Responds QuicklyBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
(858) 203-2248
103 Total Sales
1 in Lower Hermosa
$6,000,000 Price
-
Greg Noonan
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
(858) 221-9740
210 Total Sales
8 in Lower Hermosa
$5.1M - $13.4M Price Range
-
Susana Corrigan
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
(858) 465-5104
139 Total Sales
6 in Lower Hermosa
$1.7M - $5.6M Price Range
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Lower Hermosa | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 1 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
Robbery | 1 | 4 |
Burglary | 2 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
Larceny | 2 | 4 |
Crime Score | 1 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Lower Hermosa Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Lower Hermosa, La Jolla sell after 71 days on the market compared to the national average of 48 days. The median sale price for homes in Lower Hermosa, La Jolla over the last 12 months is $7,260,609, up 82% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
Some Transit
Transit 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods

Natural and manmade beauty collide in colorful seaside enclave north of San Diego

Charming seaside community with walkable restaurants north of Downtown San Diego

A quiet La Jolla neighborhood with elegant hilltop homes and ocean views

Upscale La Jolla suburb just uphill from oceanfront Lower Hermosa

Custom-built homes with views of downtown, San Diego Bay and the Pacific

Planned communities with panoramic coastal views north of San Diego