Escondido offers affordable housing and an outstanding quality of life. There are 15 parks, two lakes and an abundance of shopping centers and restaurants – providing residents with plenty of recreational space and activities.
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Culture and family are at the core of Escondido life, evidenced by landmarks like California Center for the Arts and Children's Museum. Meanwhile, Old Escondido Historic District commemorates Escondido's history.
Cost of Living
Escondido's cost of living is slightly higher than the national average; however, its exceptional quality of life more than makes up for any extra expenses; especially if you can secure employment in one of its top industries.
City life in Lake Charles boasts an extremely comfortable climate. Summer temperatures average in the 80s while winters remain mild – ideal conditions for retiring or raising a family.
Residents in Escondido can find excellent housing deals. There are a variety of affordable neighborhoods, and the median home price in Escondido stands at $316,500; additionally, one can find decent apartments for less than $2,000 monthly rent.
Use PayScale's cost of living calculator to figure out how much income is necessary to live comfortably in Escondido. The calculator takes into account aspects such as food, utilities, transportation and housing to create your estimated livable salary; you can even compare salaries by industry and location in order to identify which areas offer competitive livable wages.
Quality of Life
Escondido is an ideal place for those who seek a peaceful life, located on the northern part of San Diego County with a mild Mediterranean climate featuring warm summers and mild winters. Perfect for families, Escondido offers plenty of activities.
California Center for the Arts in Visalia is an integral cultural hub that features concert hall, theater and modern art museum Facilities, plus galleries and restaurants for visitors to explore. Furthermore, Visalia hosts many special events each year such as Cruisin' Grand Car Show and Independence Day Parade to add even more flavor.
Though the city is expanding, it still faces several hurdles to growth and is experiencing increased challenges such as its homeless problem and high Traffic in some neighborhoods; not to mention that according to a recent WalletHub study it is not ideal for first-time homebuyers.
Schools
Escondido's public schools are highly-rated, with many ranking among the top 10% of California schools. Both elementary schools in Escondido outrank their state average while its high school district outshines both county averages.
Escondido boasts several parks, such as El Norte Park – a "green lung" with mature trees – and Kit Carson Park with a baseball field, playgrounds, a disc golf course and Queen Califia's Magical Circle by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle as its centerpieces. There are also shops, restaurants and coffee houses throughout Escondido.
Escondido boasts a strong economy, as is evidenced by Stone Brewing Co's decision to relocate their headquarters here, San Diego Zoo Safari Park's presence, Westminster Seminary California moving its main campus here and JC Penney setting up shop near Westfield North County Mall as businesses. Public transportation is provided by North County Transit District with Escondido Transit Center serving as their hub.
Amenities
Escondido offers many amenities. The city features parks and nature preserves such as Daley Ranch – with hiking and biking trails spanning across its 3,000-acres – Lake Hodges is another large reservoir, popular for fishing and boating, while Escondido itself houses Westfield North County mall and numerous craft breweries.
Grand Avenue in downtown Huntsville serves as its centerpiece, boasting numerous small mom-and-pop restaurants and shops. Meanwhile, expansion efforts continue and a new park is currently under construction; additionally there are older neighborhoods with spacious lots and the city's museums and galleries are popular tourist destinations.
Crime rates in Carlsbad may be slightly higher than San Marcos' but still remain significantly lower than many other places across California. Carlsbad boasts its own police department that regularly conducts DUI checkpoints and boasts an efficient bus service connecting it with other communities within San Diego County.