San Diego

Shortest commutes to Downtown San Diego

Ranked on distance to Downtown San Diego at 50% and the mean commute time residents report to the Census at 50%. The mean commute includes people who work locally, which is why the two numbers do not always agree.

Updated Sep 2026·30 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California as seen from Cabrillo National Monument
Coronado$2.00M+ median · 18.1 min commute
Commute A−Housing C+Cost of living B−
88
Commute score
overall 63 C+
2
La Jolla Shores CA view. Sea lions in the foreground. Pacific Ocean Dec 2011 California Beach
San Diego$907k median · 23.5 min commute
Commute BHousing D−Cost of living B
88
Commute score
overall 63 C+
3
San Diego Trolley: Amaya Dr Trolley Station, La Mesa, California, USA.
La Mesa$812k median · 23.8 min commute
Commute B−Housing FCost of living B
82
Commute score
overall 58 C
4
Fletcher Cover, Solana Beach California
Solana Beach$2.00M+ median · 21.0 min commute
Commute A−Housing B−Cost of living C+
80
Commute score
overall 70 B−
5
エルカホン
El Cajon$682k median · 24.8 min commute
Commute CHousing FCost of living B+
77
Commute score
overall 50 D+
6
A postcard photograph of the Bostonia Store, probably in the early 20th century. The store was founded in 1886. A rider on his horse and two men are seen in fro
Bostonia$488k median · 24.9 min commute
Commute C+Housing FCost of living B
76
Commute score
overall 50 D+
7
Santee$727k median · 26.7 min commute
Commute CHousing DCost of living B−
75
Commute score
overall 58 C
8
Bonita$963k median · 23.9 min commute
Commute C+Housing C−Cost of living B
74
Commute score
overall 59 C
9
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix$952k median · 26.0 min commute
Commute CHousing D+Cost of living B−
73
Commute score
overall 57 C−
10
Mile of Cars in National City.
National City$612k median · 25.4 min commute
Commute CHousing FCost of living A
73
Commute score
overall 52 D+
This list's weighting
Distance to downtown 50%Mean commute time 50%
Other San Diego lists
Best San Diego suburbs for familiesMost affordable San Diego suburbsBest San Diego suburbs for schoolsMost walkable San Diego suburbsBest San Diego suburbs for young professionalsHow we score San Diego suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Coronado (Djh57 · CC BY 3.0); San Diego (Dirk Hansen · CC BY-SA 3.0); La Mesa (Stickpen · Public domain); Solana Beach (rosalynn carmen · CC BY-SA 3.0); El Cajon (Namiwoo · CC BY-SA 3.0); Bostonia (Unknown author · Public domain); National City (Der-wuppertaler · CC BY-SA 3.0).