$1,524,279Average Value$912Average Price per Sq Ft5Homes 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
Are you familiar with the Old Town neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Old Town
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
7
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
7
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Old Town Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Old Town, San Diego sell after 62 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Old Town, San Diego over the last 12 months is $1,387,000, down 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Elevated coastal living at 2235 Linwood St, Unit A7, a top-floor end unit flawlessly positioned above the historic charm of Old Town and the coastal beauty of Point Loma. Dual master-suite layout, offering two generously sized bedrooms each with its own full bath and in-unit laundry. Inside, luxury vinyl plank flooring, expansive windows that flood the space with natural light, and a private
Rare Offering! Nestled within a private enclave of only 18 Mediterranean-style residences, this distinguished home enjoys a coveted cul-de-sac setting just minutes from the charm of Old Town. From the secure garage with two dedicated parking spaces, a convenient hillolator whisks you directly to your doorstep. Thoughtfully positioned, the home captures sweeping views of the ocean while
Welcome to 2544 Juan Street, a charming single-family home perfectly located on the edge of Old Town and Mission Hills. This fully fenced 1 bedroom, 1 bath residence blends modern updates with classic character and offers a fantastic opportunity for both homeowners and investors. Inside, you’ll find a bright and efficient floor plan with stylish finishes, an updated kitchen and bath, and
VA APPROVED clean, light-filled 2-bdrm, 2-ba condo with 780 sq. ft. of comfortable living space. Enjoy views stretching to Pt Loma, Fort Rosecrans & the Pacific Ocean! The open floor plan features wood-like laminate flooring throughout, a modern kitchen with SS appliances & a private balcony.Tandem 2-car covered parking located directly under the unit plus a private locked storage space.
Premier Old Town San Diego Location Rare opportunity to own a lot just steps away from historic Old Town San Diego’s most iconic restaurants and hospitality destinations. This 7,377 sq. ft. parcel features approximately 52 feet of frontage along Conde Street with direct driveway access serving multiple long-standing local businesses. Just steps away from San Diego Avenue, one of San Diego's top
Property Id: 2108813Welcome to your new home in the vibrant and historic Old Town neighborhood! This beautifully maintained 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo combines modern comfort with classic San Diego charm. Features You'll Love:•Spacious Layout: Open-concept living and dining area with plenty of natural light.•Updated Kitchen: Stainless steel appliances, granite countertops,
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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.
