Median household income: $63,900
Median home value: $620,700
Typical 2-bedroom rental: $2,100
Pros: Pacific Beach has a rep as a nightlife-packed post-collegiate party spot. Lately, however, the area has started to grow up.
Young professionals are flocking for the quality of life and relatively affordable homes (in nearby La Jolla, a typical home costs about $1million). The schools are another draw; Sessions Elementary and Pacific Beach Middle School are among the best in the city.
Courtney Ludwin, 36, moved to Pacific Beach 10 years ago and “fell in love with the laid-back beach community,” he says. Last year he and his wife and twin 3-year-old boys bought a house where they can walk to restaurants and the beach. “I’m fortunate to live in a place where most people come to vacation,” he says.
