Both are nice but overall Aviara is several big steps up.
Aviara has a Four Seasons Resort with phenomenal golf course as its center piece and overlooks a lagoon. Many homes have ocean and/or canyon views. It is 5 minutes from the freeway and the beach. Elementary and Jr. High schools are outstanding. It is next to Encinitas, one of SoCals’ truly unique and great beach towns.
Calavera has some nice tract homes and some nice canyon open space around it. Good schools. No golf course, No 5 star resort, No 5 minutes from the beach or freeway but it is 5 minutes from an area of Oceanside (Lake & Thunder) with a fair amount of gang activity. For a nice new tract home in Carlsbad it is a relative bargain.
Both areas go to Carlsbad High, though a school bond just passed to build another HS that will probably end up with most of the Aviara kids.
