Beaches
- La Jolla Cove: known for snorkeling, swimming and seals
- La Jolla Shores: a long, popular beach near Kellogg Park
- Windansea: a well-known surfing beach
- Children's Pool: a small beach where seals often gather
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Living in La Jolla.
What it's like to live here.
La Jolla is a coastal community in the City of San Diego, about 12 miles north of downtown. It has about 7 miles of curving shoreline, a walkable Village, and neighborhoods that climb the hills above the ocean.
It's also home to UC San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Salk Institute. Most people choose La Jolla for the coastline, the Village and being close to the area's research and medical centers.
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Where The Ultra Wealthy Live In San Diego
Median sale price$2,273,363
Median days on market34 days
Source: Redfin
La Jolla at a glance.
LocationSan Diego coast, 12 miles north of downtown
Main ZIP code92037
PopulationAbout 32,000
CityPart of the City of San Diego
ShorelineAbout 7 miles
School districtSan Diego Unified
Population from the City of San Diego.
Things to do around town.
Amenities
- The Village: boutiques, restaurants and hotels around Prospect Street and Girard Avenue
- Birch Aquarium: the public aquarium at Scripps
- La Jolla Playhouse: a professional theater on the UC San Diego campus
- Museum of Contemporary Art: a coastal museum founded in 1941
Parks and hiking
- Ellen Browning Scripps Park: a grassy oceanfront park above the Cove
- Torrey Pines Gliderport: a clifftop spot for watching paragliders
- Torrey Pines Golf Course: home of the Farmers Insurance Open
- City parks: about 20 parks across the community
Schools
- San Diego Unified: La Jolla High, Muirlands Middle and three elementary schools
- Preuss School: a public charter school at UC San Diego
- Private schools: including The Bishop's School and La Jolla Country Day
School assignments vary by address, so confirm them with the district.
Getting around.
I-5 runs along the east side of La Jolla, and the Blue Line trolley reaches UC San Diego. The Village itself is a few minutes off the freeway, and streets can get busy on summer weekends.
UC San DiegoAbout 10 minutes
Del MarAbout 15 minutes
Carmel ValleyAbout 15 minutes
Downtown San DiegoAbout 20 minutes
San Diego airportAbout 20 minutes
TrolleyBlue Line at UC San Diego
Drive times are estimates and change with traffic.
Who La Jolla is right for.
La Jolla is a strong fit if you want one of the most scenic coastlines in Southern California close to home. With about 7 miles of shoreline, you can snorkel at the Cove, walk La Jolla Shores or simply watch the sunset from Ellen Browning Scripps Park.
It's also a great match if you want walkability and culture. The Village has boutiques, restaurants and galleries, while the La Jolla Playhouse, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Birch Aquarium give you plenty to do on a free afternoon.
If you work in research, medicine or at the university, the location is hard to beat. UC San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Salk Institute are all here, and Sorrento Valley and UTC are close by.
La Jolla also keeps you connected to the rest of San Diego. Downtown and the airport are each about 20 minutes away, and the Blue Line trolley reaches UC San Diego. You can also be in Del Mar or Carmel Valley in about 15 minutes.
Before you decide, keep in mind that La Jolla's neighborhoods are quite different from each other. Life in the Village, La Jolla Shores, Bird Rock and the hills above town all feel unique. Summer traffic and parking can also be a challenge near the coast. 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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