College Area, San Marcos, CA
College Area at a Glance
College Area is ranked #5 of 7 neighborhoods in San Marcos with an overall score of 3.6/5. Its standout factors are safety (4.3/5, 7th of 7 in San Marcos) and schools (3.7/5), at a typical home price of $885k, which Houseberry currently rates as overvalued by about $7,000. The trade-offs are curb appeal (3.0/5) and nearby merchants (3.1/5), though prices run about 14% below the San Marcos typical home price.
College Area Reviews & Questions
Palomar College gives the College Area its name, and the big community college campus on West Mission Road anchors this busy western side of San Marcos. A large letter P on the hillside above it is one of the easiest landmarks in town to spot. South of the campus, the College Area spreads across San Marcos Boulevard, Grand Avenue and the Highway 78 interchanges, and a large share of the city's shopping and dining sits inside its lines. Housing here is a real mix. Apartments and condos cluster near the college and the boulevards, tract homes climb the slopes in Santa Fe Hills and nearby subdivisions, and mobile home parks such as Palomar Estates East fill some of the flatter ground. Old California Restaurant Row, the Spanish-style dining plaza on San Marcos Boulevard, is set to change too. The city approved a plan that replaces much of it with about 200 condominiums, shops and a small park. Sunset Park on Puesta del Sol is the main green space, with sand volleyball, disc golf, a dog park and a splash pad in summer. Bradley Park on Linda Vista Drive has ball fields, and Lake San Marcos, its own community just to the south, has paddleboard and boat rentals for an afternoon on the water. For food, start with Memli Coffee Lab on Grand Avenue roasts its own beans and runs a brew bar by reservation. The light industrial streets off Linda Vista Drive and Grand Avenue hide a small brewery cluster. Dos Desperados pours lagers and a medal-winning Belgian quad in an Old West saloon room, and Craft Coast Beer & Tacos pairs Baja-style tacos with its own beer. Errands are easy by car. Sprouts sits on Las Posas Road and a Vons anchors the center at Rancho Santa Fe Road. The Sprinter stops at Palomar College, and buses run along Rancho Santa Fe Road. Highway 78 has exits at Las Posas Road and San Marcos Boulevard. Commerce shapes the setting. Wide boulevards, parking lots and warehouse blocks take up a lot of ground, and rush hour on San Marcos Boulevard moves slowly. Climb into Santa Fe Hills and the streets go quiet, with the college and the boulevard shops still only a few minutes below.
Top Neighborhoods in San Marcos, CA
College Area Amenities
Near good merchants3.1
Public Spaces3.3
Curb Appeal3
Overall Amenities score: 3.1
College Area Weather
College Area Photos
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Schools Serving College Area
| School Name | Type | Grades | Houseberry School Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| La Mirada Academy | Primary | K-8 | |
| Paloma Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| Carrillo Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| San Elijo Middle | Middle | 6-8 | |
| San Marcos Middle | Middle | 6-8 | |
| Mission Hills High | High | 9-12 | |
| San Marcos High | High | 9-12 |
Click links for school listing
info at GreatSchools.org
Houseberry School Score Data
from CA Dept. of Education
Houseberry recommends using these scores as only a starting point, and conducting your own investigation into what schools fit best for your preferences. School boundaries are not guaranteed and may change. It is important to contact the appropriate school district to confirm enrollment eligibility before making any decision to move to a neighborhood.
College Area Home Prices
College Area FAQs
10 answers
Is College Area a good place to live?
College Area ranks 5th of 7 neighborhoods in San Marcos with an overall Houseberry score of 3.6 out of 5. Its strongest factors are safety (4.3/5) and schools (3.7/5). The trade-offs are curb appeal (3.0/5) and nearby merchants (3.1/5).
Is College Area safe?
College Area, San Marcos scores 4.3 out of 5 on Houseberry's Safety Score, ranking 7th of 7 neighborhoods in San Marcos.
What do homes in College Area cost?
The typical home price in College Area, San Marcos is $885k, compared with $1.03M for San Marcos as a whole. Houseberry currently rates it overvalued by about $7,000 against comparable neighborhoods.
Are home prices in College Area rising or falling?
The typical home price in College Area, San Marcos is down about 4.8% over the past 12 months, at $885k. The full 12-month history is charted in the Typical Home Price section on this page.
Which schools serve College Area?
Schools serving College Area, San Marcos include Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary, La Mirada Academy, Paloma Elementary, Carrillo Elementary and San Elijo Middle. 3 more schools are listed in the Schools section on this page.
What is the weather like in College Area?
College Area, San Marcos receives 79% of its possible sunshine, the least sunny of San Marcos's 7 neighborhoods. Summer days run 61° to 81°F and winter days 45° to 68°F, August is the warmest month and rainfall averages about 14 inches a year.
Is College Area walkable to shops and restaurants?
College Area, San Marcos scores 3.1 out of 5 for nearby merchants and 3.3 out of 5 for public spaces. Its overall amenities score is 3.1 out of 5, 6th of 7 in San Marcos.
What is College Area known for?
College Area, San Marcos is associated with Palomar College, Restaurant Row and Sunset Park. Its highest-scoring factor is safety (4.3/5).
How does College Area compare to other San Marcos neighborhoods?
College Area ranks 5th of 7 neighborhoods in San Marcos. It ranks 7th of 7 in San Marcos for safety (4.3/5) and scores lowest on curb appeal (3.0/5). The next-ranked neighborhoods in San Marcos are Richmar and Richland.
What are the downsides of living in College Area?
College Area, San Marcos scores lowest on curb appeal (3.0/5) and nearby merchants (3.1/5).
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