National City

Surrounded by National City within San Diego County, the unincorporated community of Lincoln Acres is as close-knit as a community can get. Lincoln Acres is gradually rising from its humble origins as a Great Depression farming community, and its strong connection to Chicano culture reflects itself in its local businesses and institutions. Single-story homes built from the 1930s to 1970s add a vintage charm to this San Diego enclave, but change is in motion. Local Realtor Ricardo Cervantes with Finest City Homes and Loans, says “Everything is changing here in Lincoln Acres little by little, and many parts of San Diego are totally turning around. Lincoln Acres is truly a community on the rise; renovating and upgrading for the better.” With the average home selling after just 21 days on the market, half that of the national average, it is clear that Lincoln Acres is one of San Diego County’s most up-and-coming communities. While Lincoln Acres originated as a farming community during the 1930s, it was not long before California’s mass urbanization produced a densely populated residential community where farms once stood. The average year of construction of a Lincoln Acres house is 1959, reflecting the predominance of postwar residences along this community’s grid-patterned residential streets. Most of Lincoln Acres’ streets sit on an incline due to San Diego’s hilly landscape, and single-story residences tend to feature pastel colors, while hedges and white picket fences meet each street’s sidewalks. The classic appearance of these postwar homes helps shape Lincoln Acres’ appeal. Remodeled 1930s homes, with old-school charm and updated infrastructure, fill out the upper tier of this neighborhood’s housing market. Select homes even offer distant views of the bay and Coronado Bridge. This community’s ranch-style homes tend to sell for between $595,000 and $900,000. Cervantes adds, “I always tell people this is a great place to find a starter home. If it’s remodeled, we’re talking $750,000; but if you choose one that needs cosmetic updating you can often get them for closer to $650,000.” Lincoln Acres’ restaurant scene explores the cultural and culinary diversity that San Diego has to offer. Teriyaki Sun is popular for its sushi, teriyaki platters and noodle bowls, while Giant New York Pizza brings New York-style pizza out to the West Coast. Tita’s Kitchenette serves up Filipino classics like pancit and lumpia, while the family-owned La Lomita Mexican Grill has an extensive menu of Mexican street food staples. International supermarkets like the Latino-themed Vallarta Supermarket and the Filipino Manila Seafood Oriental Market bring flavors from across the sea to the heart of San Diego County, while National City’s Walmart offers a broader array of conveniences. While unincorporated, Lincoln Acres has several schools of its own; Lincoln Acres Elementary School, given a C rating by Niche, sits at the heart of the neighborhood, as does the B-minus-rated Granger Junior High School. Students can go on to attend the B-plus-rated Sweetwater High School in neighboring National City and study in an institution ranked among the top 250 standout schools in the state by Niche. Sweetwater High, founded in 1920, is one of the oldest high schools in the county, and the school has partnered with the local campus of the University of California and San Diego State University to provide students with post-secondary educational pathways. Its “Red Devils” athletics programs also bring the neighborhood together with strong school spirit. “You do have a community feel here,” says Cervantes, “where neighbors go to Friday night football games at Sweetwater High.” While Lincoln Acres is a heavily urbanized area with few green spaces of its own, residents are never too far from opportunities to take in the California sun. At the northern edge of the community, locals can play tennis or shoot hoops at El Toyon Park. The park is bordered by mature palm trees, and curved walkways sprinkled with benches lead to the playground and a dog park. In 2021, Lincoln Acres Country Park opened near the local library, featuring three separate playgrounds, wide-open fields and a large basketball court. Created in alignment with the Live Well San Diego vision for healthy and thriving communities, this oasis of athletics includes retractable goal posts to transition from a basketball court into a multi-sport court for futsal or other activities. At the neighboring Lincoln Acres Library and Community Room, community events and programs from kids’ crafts to a series of Spanish-language parenting classes bring the community together. Lincoln Acres’ location alongside Interstate 805 facilitates travel into downtown San Diego, which lays just 8 miles up the highway. The Mexican city of Tijuana is also right around the corner, with 805 taking international travelers into the “Gateway to Mexico” within a 10-mile drive. Paradise Valley Hospital, the nearest healthcare center and a local employment hub, is 1.5 miles northwest of central Lincoln Acres.