Pretty big town to generalize, the outer edges and unincorporated areas have their merits. South, by the mall, West of the 15, North off center city and El Norte and the Jesmondene area and east to Bear valley/San Pasqual are all nice, but like the previous poster said, not that cheap. The bargains are in the middle and that is the real problem with the town. Gangs, drugs and illegal aliens, not here to discuss social issues and their causes, just that they aren’t very good on real estate. The trouble with the permimeter areas is that when you go to the store or send you kid to school, it’s pot luck. But if you speak Spanish or would like easy access to Meth at competative prices, this is the hood for you.

As always, when considering a purchase in an unfamiliar area, visit at night, get out of your car and walk the neighborhood. Then go to the nearest grocery store, gas station, etc, also at night. At the end of the night if you weren’t scared or injured and your cars is still where you parked it, you will feel better about the purchase. Also drive at the beginning or end of a school day. Last year I drove through esco every day on my way to work, here’s game to play as you navigate through the hundreds of kids on their way to school. It’s called “find the blonde kid.” Seven or eight miles of driving, exiting the 15 at the 78 east, down to ash and then all the way through the city to Bear valley parkway. I played it for a year and never won.

Poway and R/B aren’t that much further away and much more consistent.