Communities in North County San Diego

Aviara

Aviara offers beautiful views of the ocean, the Batiquitos Lagoon and the inland hills and panorama, and attracts many first-home and second-home buyers to the rolling hills dotted with gated condo and detached home subdivisions, many of which rim the Aviara golf course or overlook the hills to the ocean.

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Cardiff

Cardiff, also know as Cardiff-by-the-Sea, is a community of approximately 4550 housing units, both owner occupied and rentals, in an area of about 1.9 square miles, around 25 miles north of downtown San Diego. While Cardiff has its own zip code (92007) it is officially part of the Encinitas Town Government.

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Carlsbad Village

Carlsbad Village is the downtown commercial area of Carlsbad located right along the coast. The majority of the hotels and vacation rentals are in, or very close to, the village, with some properties directly on the beach and others within walking distance to the ocean. The well-known Carlsbad Inn, a Bavarian looking hotel at the edge of town with ocean views from some rooms, is a prime example of an ocean front hotel at the edge of town.

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Del Mar

Del Mar is an affluent community of around 4,400 residents (2000 census). The downtown area is centered along Camino Del Mar (Route 101), lined with upscale shops, galleries, real estate offices, trendy and casual restaurants, small business services, and much more.

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Encinitas

The city was incorporated in 1986, covers about 20 square miles, and as of the 2000 census had a population of 58,000. Encinitas has an international reputation as a flower capital (especially poinsettias), and a cruise around town will show you why this is so. You will find a decent number of nurseries although many have disappeared. Encinitas is also the home of the San Diego Botanical Garden, a feast for the eyes if you are a plant lover.

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La Costa

The area began to develop around 1965 when several thousand acres of land were purchased and turned into a golf course, homes were built, and the Rancho La Costa Inn (later called the La Costa Resort and Spa and in 2014 acquired by Omni Hotels and renamed the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa) was created for visitors.
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La Jolla

La Jolla CA is a jewel, both in terms of its scenic coastal beauty and as a rough translation of the Spanish “la joya” meaning jewel. Whether or not one believes this proposed origin of the name, La Jolla is a spectacular coastal town that appeals to residents and visitors alike.

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Leucadia

Reminders of its surfing roots are obvious in Leucadia, yet at the same time this community is realizing a renaissance of sorts, with many new and expensive homes for sale, nurseries that have been there for years but are now disappearing, and more upscale dining and shopping.

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Oceanside

Oceanside is the northern-most residential community in North San Diego County, about 1.5 to 2 hours south of Los Angeles, depending on traffic, and about 45 minutes (around 40 miles) north of downtown San Diego non-rush hour. With somewhere around 170,000 residents, Oceanside is one of the largest San Diego County communities covering an area of about 41 square miles.

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Rancho Santa Fe

Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego’s North County, is a bucolic and affluent residential community on rolling hills filled with Eucalyptus trees and orchards. The Eucalyptus trees were planted year ago to be used for the railroad, but the wood turned out to not be appropriate.

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San Elijo Hills

Located about 34 miles from San Diego, and a short distance from Rancho Santa Fe Road, San Elijo Hills has a population of over 6,500, which continues to grow as the remaining homes are built and occupied (as of 2015 they are still building new homes for sale in San Elijo Hills).

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San Marcos

San Marcos is located about 5 miles inland from the ocean and about 30 miles from downtown San Diego. The community covers about 24 square miles and, as of the 2000 census, had about 55,000 residents and almost 18,700 household units. Census data also indicate a fairly diverse population.

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Solana Beach

A claim to fame, depending on your perspective, is the 2003 enactment of a smoking ban on its beaches, a trend that has been followed by many other California beach towns since. But the town is known as a desirable residential and business center (plenty of small businesses and high-tech companies here), with beautiful beaches, a health economy, pricey housing, and easy access to LA and San Diego via the freeway, the Coaster, and an Amtrak train (with a stop in town).

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