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Living in Encinitas.

What it's like to live here.

Encinitas is a coastal city in North County known for its surf culture, beach bluffs and laid-back downtown along Coast Highway 101. It's made up of five communities: Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff and Olivenhain.

Close to the coast, life tends to center on the beach, local shops and restaurants. Farther inland, you'll find more shopping, canyon trails and the more rural feel of Olivenhain. Most people choose Encinitas for the beach-town lifestyle and the outdoors.

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Median sale price$2,059,019
Median days on market29 days

Source: Redfin

Encinitas at a glance.

LocationNorth County coast, along I-5
ZIP codes92007 and 92024
PopulationAbout 62,000
Main roadsI-5 and Coast Highway 101
CommunitiesFive
Train serviceCoaster at Encinitas station

Population from the 2020 U.S. Census.

Things to do around town.

Beaches

  • Moonlight Beach: a wide, sandy beach with volleyball, playgrounds and a snack bar
  • Swami's: a famous surf break with a small park above it for watching the waves
  • Cardiff State Beach: tide pools, lifeguards and showers
  • Beacons and Grandview: local favorites below the Leucadia bluffs

Amenities

  • Downtown Encinitas: shops, dining and public art along Coast Highway 101
  • La Paloma Theatre: a historic landmark in the heart of downtown
  • San Diego Botanic Garden: themed gardens, a children's garden and about 4 miles of trails
  • Self-Realization Fellowship: a coastal temple and gardens near Swami's

Parks and hiking

  • City trails: about 40 miles in total, across Encinitas Ranch, Manchester and Olivenhain
  • San Elijo Lagoon: about 5 miles of trails through a coastal wetland
  • Manchester Preserve: a 123-acre preserve with canyon views
  • Annie's Canyon: a short, steep loop with ocean and lagoon views

Schools

  • Encinitas Union: nine schools serving kindergarten through 6th grade
  • Cardiff School District: serves elementary students in the Cardiff area
  • San Dieguito Union High: includes San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas, with a school choice policy

School assignments vary by address, so confirm them with the district.

Getting around.

You can drive or take the train. I-5 runs through the city, and the Coaster stops right by downtown at Encinitas station.

Carlsbad VillageAbout 15 minutes
Del MarAbout 15 minutes
Downtown San DiegoAbout 30 minutes
San Diego airportAbout 30 minutes
Coaster to downtownUnder 1 hour
Coast Highway 101Runs through town

Drive times are estimates and change with traffic.

Who Encinitas is right for.

Encinitas is a strong fit if you want surf culture to be part of everyday life. You can catch the morning waves at Swami's, spend the afternoon at Moonlight Beach and watch the sunset from the bluffs. People here tend to live outside, and it shows.

It's also a great match if you like a town with its own personality. Coast Highway 101 runs through the historic downtown, with local shops, restaurants, public art and the landmark La Paloma Theatre. Each of the five communities has its own feel, from the beach-town energy of Leucadia and Cardiff to the open, rural setting of Olivenhain.

If you love the outdoors, Encinitas gives you plenty of space to explore. The city has about 40 miles of trails, plus Manchester Preserve, San Elijo Lagoon and Annie's Canyon nearby. You can walk the beach one day, climb a ridgeline trail the next and wander through the San Diego Botanic Garden on the weekend.

Encinitas also works well if you need to get around. I-5 runs through the city, and the Coaster stops at Encinitas station for a train ride to downtown San Diego. You're also close to Carlsbad and Solana Beach, and Coast Highway 101 makes for an easy drive up and down the coast.

Before you decide, keep in mind that the five communities can feel very different from each other. Life near the beach in Leucadia isn't the same as life on a larger lot in Olivenhain, and prices can change quite a bit from one area to the next. If you're not sure where you'd fit best, I'm happy to walk you through the options and show you around.

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