BestCityFor

Best city for retirement? San Diego, CA

F
Score
34/100
Rank #185 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

San Diego can still work for retirement if you’re leaning into median household income, plus age 65+ share. Overall, it’s better for a specific set of priorities (#185 of 200). The main watch-out is typical rent (2br).

Methodology · Sources · CA rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. Popular retirement destinations can look very different at the metro level.

Why San Diego ranks here

  • Median household income: $104,321 (38% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Age 65+ share: 14% (4% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 95% (4% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Typical rent (2BR): $2,348/mo (63% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Typical home value: $848,500 (144% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
1,385,061
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 51%Female 49%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$2,348/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Typical home value
$848,500
National median: $347,900
Age 65+ share
14%
National median: 14%
Median age
36
National median: —
Median household income
$104,321
National median: $75,598
Broadband subscription
95%
National median: 91%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and typical home value.
5/100
Retiree Signals
Age mix and income as broad service proxies.
45/100
Connectivity
Broadband access for everyday logistics.
95/100
Comfort
Climate comfort and commute friction.
90/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

10%
Less than HS
40%
HS / Some college
29%
Bachelor’s
21%
Advanced

Age mix

Share of residents age 65+ (ACS).

14%
Age 65+
86%
Under 65

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

95%
Broadband
5%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$2,348/mo
Typical home value
National median $347,900
$848,500
Age 65+ share
National median 14%
14%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$104,321
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
95%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
10%

Similar cities (by score)

#183 San Francisco, CA
35/100
#184 Santa Ana, CA
34/100
#186 Fullerton, CA
34/100
#187 Santa Clarita, CA
34/100

FAQ

›What is San Diego’s retirement score and rank?
San Diego, CA scores F (34/100) and ranks #185 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on San Diego city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level retirement patterns can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of San Diego, CA?
Population is about 1,385,061 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in San Diego, CA?
About 51% male and 49% female (ACS 2023).
›How affordable is housing in San Diego, CA?
Typical rent (2BR) is $2,348/mo (national median: $1,441/mo). Typical home value is $848,500 (national median: $347,900).
›What share of residents are 65+ in San Diego, CA?
Age 65+ share is 14% (national median: 14%).
›How common is broadband internet in San Diego, CA?
Broadband subscription is 95% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in San Diego, CA?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 10%, HS/some college 40%, bachelor’s 29%, advanced 21%.
›Where does this data come from for San Diego, CA?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (healthcare access, neighborhoods, taxes, climate preferences, support network).