“People who are leaving San Diego are from the lower income status. ”

Simply not true, and not supported by any data or facts. My wife and I make about $180K between us – that’s nearly 3 times the median houshold income. We’re leaving (hope to come back some day) because we don’t want to spend $4500/mo on a 1300 sq/ft shack in dumptown, when we can spend $1900/mo on a 3000 sq ft house in a great neighborhood. Sure, a bank might lend us that money, but it’s a bad investment. If some day it comes back down to earth, we’ll be back. If not, then we left at the right time.

And we’re not alone, I have at least three families in identical situations at my company alone, who are contemplating the same escape. Nurses, engineers, programmers… professionals who make good incomes, can’t buy schzitt here. They are leaving in droves.