College West
Neighborhood in San Diego, California
San Diego County 92115, 92182
Single-family homes, condos and apartments for sale or rent
Residential properties in College West are either found in the Alvarado Estates subdivision or south of Montezuma Road. Most are accompanied by grassy front lawns and driveways and are surrounded by tall trees and shrubbery. Mid-century ranch-style homes are common and come in a variety of architectural designs – some have traditional brick or vinyl exteriors, while others have Spanish Revival influences and adobe exteriors with red tiled roofs. Prices range between $750,000 and $1.8 million, depending on property size. There are also contemporary single-story homes with a similar cost. Split-level homes and bi-levels built between the 1950s and 1980s are another popular housing type and go for $1.2 million to $1.6 million.Condominiums with a Spanish influence are also in the neighborhood and have units going for $375,000 to $525,000. Renters can expect to pay $3,000 to $6,000 per month, depending on the type of housing. SDSU students living off-campus tend to rent from residents who have investment properties. As such, there is a mix of both students and community members in College West. “I used to live over there, and there is a bit of a problem with parking and noise, but you know that when you decide to live there,” Carta says.
In addition to the houses, there are multiple apartment complexes in the area, including Twenty-Five Apartments, College View and Aztec Apartments.
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Campus fields and nearby open spaces with outdoor recreation
Most green spaces in College West are found on SDSU’s campus, from athletic fields to open lawns and gardens. About 2 miles south of the neighborhood is Colina Park Golf Course, a public 18-hole course that also has disc golf. The Navajo Canyon Open Space Park is about 3 miles north with a hiking trail that cuts through natural vegetation and clusters of cacti.Mission Trails Regional Park is an 8,000-acre open space roughly 5 miles from College West with over 60 miles of hiking and biking trails. The Grasslands Loop Trail heads to the Oak Canyon Waterfall, while the Cowles Mountain Trail travels to its namesake’s summit. Other trails circle Lake Murray, which allows fishing and non-motorized boating. Lake Murray Community Park has a playground, ball fields and picnic tables. Farther north is the Kumeyaay Lake Campground, with 46 individual campsites.
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A-rated San Diego public schools
Families living in College West can send their kids to schools in the San Diego Unified School District, which allows choice enrollment through a lottery system. Hardy Elementary School and Lewis Middle School both earn A-minus grades from Niche. From there, students can attend Henry High School, which receives an A. Henry High offers Advanced Placement courses and career pathways programs such as a Teaching Academy and an Engineering Academy.
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SDSU’s impact on the surrounding community
San Diego State University is the city’s oldest higher education institution. Roughly 39,000 students are enrolled at the college, with over 3,500 living on campus. “The university is one of the main reasons why people like living here. It’s a big part of the economy, bringing millions of dollars to the area,” Carta says. “They have a lot of functions going on. There’s a beautiful gym, and if you’re a resident, you can get a membership there.”The Viejas Arena is a well-known public venue for concerts and sports events, where students and fans gather to cheer on the Aztecs. The Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater is another popular location for entertainment and various events.
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Navigating College West by foot, trolley, train or car
Multiple modes of transportation exist in College West. “There are a lot of public transportation options to feed the university, so you don’t have to have a car if you don’t want to,” Carta says. The SDSU Transit Center is a trolley and light rail station, connecting to the Green Line. Additionally, San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System has bus stops along Collwood Boulevard, Montezuma Road, College Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard. SDSU’s campus has walkways, crosswalks and bike lanes that promote a pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly community.Commuters who drive can access Interstate 8, known as Mission Valley Freeway, and use it to travel into Downtown San Diego. “It’s really convenient. You can get on I-8 and go in every direction,” Carta says. The UC San Diego Health East Campus Medical Center is over 2 miles away and provides healthcare to the community. The San Diego International Airport is roughly 12 miles west.
Shopping centers on College Ave and El Cajon Blvd
South Campus Plaza is a shopping center along College Avenue, directly south of SDSU’s campus. There’s a Trader Joe’s, 7-Eleven and multiple fast-food chains such as Starbucks, Domino’s and Epic Wings. Trujillo’s Taco Shop is a casual taqueria serving traditional Mexican cuisine and late-night bites.El Cajon Boulevard travels south of the neighborhood and functions as a commercial corridor, with used car dealerships, private medical practices and various other small businesses along it. Campus Plaza Shopping Center sits at the College Avenue intersection and has a Vons. Tandoori Vibes specializes in authentic Indian dishes and Woodstock’s Pizza serves customized and specialty pies. Counter-serve restaurants include Chipotle and Jersey Mike’s Subs.
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Written By
Brittany Bell
Photography Contributed By
Stephen Cammell
Video By
Aiyshanti Green
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas
California Lending & Realty
(858) 302-4363
80 Total Sales
2 in College West
$325K - $795K Price Range
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Sandra Hardcastle-Taylor
Sandra Hardcastle-Taylor
Coldwell Banker West
(858) 289-6784
17 Total Sales
1 in College West
$4,480,000 Price
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James Desio
James Desio
Desio Realty Group
(702) 996-3031
120 Total Sales
1 in College West
$1,100,000 Price
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Alice Greliak
Alice Greliak
Compass
(844) 577-5519
127 Total Sales
1 in College West
$1,189,900 Price
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Jesse Salas
Jesse Salas
Harcourts Prime Properties
(858) 239-2533
99 Total Sales
1 in College West
$440,000 Price
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Ryan Dick
Ryan Dick
Compass
(858) 633-5638
30 Total Sales
1 in College West
$870,000 Price
Schools
Source:
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 , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Transit
Airport
San Diego International
17 min drive
Subway
Sdsu Transit Center
Bus
Montezuma Rd & College Av
Bus
El Cajon Bl & Dayton St
Bus
El Cajon Bl & 56th St
Bus
Montezuma Rd & 54th St
Bus
Collwood Bl & Monroe Av
Bus
54th St & El Cajon Bl
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | College West | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
College West Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in College West, San Diego sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in College West, San Diego over the last 12 months is $955,500, down 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$1,099,950
Median Sale Price
$955,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,225,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$508,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
84
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-10%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$650
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
2,154
Number of Homes for Sale
27
Median Year Built
1957
Months of Supply
3.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,894
On par with the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,766
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
971
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
691
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
650
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
8,276
Open Houses
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Saturday, Jun 143 - 5pm
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Saturday, Jun 1411am - 2pm
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Saturday, Jun 1412 - 3pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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$3,895 - $3,925 per month
- Hardy Avenue Apartments
- 3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 895 Sq Ft
- 5584 Hardy Ave
- San Diego, CA
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Condo Buildings
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
Total Population
12,842
Median Age
28
Population under 18
19.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
8.7%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$73,020
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$101,019
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.3%
College Graduates
46.2%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
21%
% Population in Labor Force
53.7%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
10''
Average Winter Low Temperature
46°F
Average Summer High Temperature
81°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
21
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
31
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
47
/ 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
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