Planned living with lots of freeway access east of San Diego
Santee is a city that can feel like one large, planned community, with its residential neighborhoods, schools and open spaces all concentrated around shopping and restaurants in Santee Town Center. On top of all this, the three freeways running through the city make it particularly popular with San Diego commuters. "There's a lot of easy access on and off the freeway. You can go west on the 52, south on the 125, downtown on the 8, wherever you need to be," says Realtor Rayna Mack, leader of the Rayna Mack Team with SD Homes, who's been selling in the area since the 2000s. "There's even a trolley station in the town center that can get you to downtown and back easily," Mack adds. These outlets allow commuters to reach military, biotech and medical employers all over San Diego County. Santee also has the benefit of being surrounded by natural space. It sits in the Peninsular Ranges with the grassy hills of Mission Trails Regional Park to the west and the wooded mountains of the Cleveland National Forest to the east.
An elevated view of East Elliott reveals Santee Lakes nestled nearby.
Just near East Elliott, Santee Lakes offers a peaceful spot to enjoy wildlife and nature.
Explore the connecting trails from East Elliott, offering scenic routes for adventure.
Phil's BBQ, located near East Elliott, serves up delicious, award-winning barbecue dishes.
1/4
Natural space and hiking trails in and around the city
Santee is surrounded by seemingly endless open space. Mission Trails Regional Park is technically a San Diego park but borders Santee's west side. At over 8,000 acres, it's the largest city park in California. It has over 60 miles of trails covering various peaks and canyons. Many trailheads and popular climbing spots like the Santee Boulders are within walking distance of west-side homes. Cowles Mountain — the highest point in San Diego — stands prominently southwest of the city. Recreation spaces within the city, like Mast Park, offer walking trails along the San Diego River, which runs east to west through Santee. Just east of the town center's commercial activity, Rattlesnake Mountain Preserve maintains almost 400 acres of green hills. Residents of East Elliot and Carlton Hills can walk to the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, a string of human-made lakes with fishing piers, campgrounds and paved walking paths. Like most of the San Diego area, Santee's climate is ideal for year-round outdoor activity, with almost 300 sunny days a year and temperatures averaging around the mid-60s.
Mission Trails Regional Park is just a short distance from East Elliott.
East Elliott is conveniently located near Cowles Mountain, perfect for a challenging hike.
Explore trails along the San Diego River near East Elliott, perfect for a scenic bike ride.
East Elliott residents prepare for paddle boating fun at Santee Lakes.
1/4
A selection of planned communities
Santee's median home price is around $800,000. "It's a little more expensive here than east San Diego, but things get snagged up quickly because people want to live here," says Mack. The city's planned developments offer a suburban lifestyle without being too far from downtown San Diego. In neighborhoods like East Elliot and Carlton Hills — northeast of Santee Town Center — homes are within walking distance of schools, hiking trails in the hills and fishing at Santee Lakes. Ranch-style homes are prevalent in these large developments and the communities directly north of Santee Town Center. Most homes were built in the 1970s and 1980s, but growing popularity is bringing newer, higher-priced options. Sky Ranch — just east of the town center — is one of the latest developments, offering large Spanish-style homes with a hilly backdrop of Rattlesnake Mountain Preserve that can cost over $1.5 million.
Enjoy panoramic views from Sky Ranch’s Spanish-style homes.
Enjoy large homes in Santee’s Walker Trails, complete with a central playground for kids.
New development in 2019 brought larger contemporary homes to East Elliott, starting at $1M.
New development homes overlook charming older homes near Santee Lakes in East Elliott.
1/4
Shopping and dining in Santee Town Center
Almost all the city's shopping and dining is in Santee Town Center. The town center's multiple large retail plazas reside around the intersection of Mission Gorge Road and Cuyamaca Street. Trolley Square — built around Santee Town Center Station — has retailers like Target, T.J. Maxx and Sephora, along with recognizable chain restaurants. Across the road, there's a Costco, Home Depot and Trader Joe's in Missions Gorge Square. The surrounding strip malls have additional eateries and essential stores like Vons, Walmart and Lowe's. Locally owned restaurants, such as Janet's Café on Carlton Hills Boulevard and Pho Mai Cali on Magnolia Avenue, can be found in the communities just outside of Santee Town Center.
Target, conveniently located near East Elliott, offers a wide selection for everyday needs.
Discover beauty essentials at Sephora in Trolley Square at Santee Town Center.
Costco is just a short drive from East Elliott, offering bulk goods and great deals.
Home Depot is conveniently located near East Elliott for home improvements.
1/4
Commute on multiple freeways
Santee has a bit of industrial activity, but multiple freeways running through the city allow residents to commute all over San Diego County. State Route 52 goes through the center of the city. Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center and Miramar Marine Corps Air Station are about 10 miles west on the 52. Sorento Valley — North County San Diego's biotech hub — is about 20 miles northwest by taking the 52 to Interstate 805. Downtown San Diego and San Diego International Airport are under 20 miles southwest. Car commuters can get downtown by driving south on state Route 125 or state Route 67. However, driving isn't necessary with the MTS Light Rail Train stopping at Santee Town Center Station. The ride to downtown is about an hour each way.
Grossmont Union High School District earns an A
Two different school districts serve the city. The Santee School District covers kindergarten through eighth grade students and receives a B-plus grade from Niche. The city's high schools are part of the Grossmont Union High School District, which gets an A rating. Grossmont Union encompasses the greater Santee-Grossmont area. A-rated West Hills High — located in the East Elliot neighborhood — is Santee's highest-ranking high school. It has a sprawling open-air campus and comprehensive athletic facilities, including a blue football field. Most of Santee's schools, like West Hills High, are located within subdivisions, making them walkable from surrounding homes.
Carlton Oaks Elementary in Santee is dedicated to fostering student success and growth.
Santee’s Canyon Hills High provides students with the tools for college and career readiness
Grossmont High School in Santee emphasizes leadership, growth, and achievement.
West Hills High in Santee prepares students for success with strong academics and programs.
1/4
Risk of brush fires but not crime
Even though a large wildfire hasn't affected Santee, it's still a high-risk area. Smaller brush fires are common in the grassy and wooded mountains around the city. However, if these small fires aren't contained, they can rapidly spread into a full-fledged wildfire. Brush fires are still dangerous enough to seriously damage any nearby homes. Homeowners bordering the hills and open spaces should maintain a defensible space around their property by removing any overgrown brush. Most of all, it's vital for all residents to have a prepared evacuation plan for the event of a fire.
On the other hand, crime is not much of a concern for Santee residents. The city's violent crime rates are consistently lower than state and national averages. According to FBI data, based on reports from the Santee Police Department, the city had an average monthly violent crime rate of just over 40 offenses per 100,000 people in 2023, compared to California's average monthly rate of just over 100 offenses per 100,000 people.
I'm an expert real estate agent with AARE in San Diego, CA and the nearby area, providing home-buyers and sellers with professional, responsive and attentive real estate services. Want an agent who'll really listen to what you want in a home? Need an agent who knows how to effectively market your home so it sells? Give me a call! I'm eager to help and would love to talk to you.
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.
