San Diego, California
America's Finest City
U.S. News (2025)
#26 Best Places to Live
WalletHub (2024)
#5 Best Weather Cities
WhereAtHome Score
65.3
Dout of 100
Overview
San Diego offers one of the best climates in America, with year-round mild temperatures and beaches. The city has a strong military and biotech presence, while maintaining a more relaxed vibe than LA or SF. High costs remain a challenge, but quality of life draws residents from across the country.
Key Highlights
- Perfect weather year-round
- Miles of beaches and coastline
- Major military and defense hub
- Growing biotech sector
- World-famous San Diego Zoo
- More relaxed than LA or SF
Key Metrics
2024 Presidential Election
San Diego County (county-level results)
Source: County-level results from MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Learn more
Climate
Summer High
76°F
Winter Low
49°F
Annual Rainfall
10"
Sunny Days
266
Amenities & Infrastructure
400+ Parks
Green spaces and recreation
12 Major Hospitals
Healthcare access
6 Universities
Higher education institutions
Public Transit Available
Bus, rail, or metro service
Major Employers
Score Breakdown
6 of 6 score factors available. Missing factors are excluded and available weights are rescaled.
Median home value relative to national average (Weight: 20%)
How affordable housing is relative to local incomes (Weight: 20%)
Average commute time compared to national average (Weight: 15%)
Overall crime levels based on FBI crime statistics (Weight: 20%)
Walk Score — ease of daily errands on foot (Weight: 15%)
Median income relative to national average, adjusted for cost of living (Weight: 10%)
Location
Compare with another city
Start ComparisonLast Updated: 2026-07-01
Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, FBI Crime Data Explorer, Walk Score, and Niche.
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