Firstly why Chula-Vista, California?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Chula-Vista
• State: California
• Population: 275,406 people
• Chula-Vista’s quick summary would be Known for its picturesque bayside location and the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 9,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 16,000 annually
• Net Migration: -7000 less people annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 4,000
• Number of Homeless people: 900

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it affords diverse culture and proximity to the San Diego area appealing to families

Perk #1: Chula-Vista Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 35%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 56%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is Hispanic
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
• The median income is (and growing)  $72,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Chula-Vista is $74,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $2000 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Chula-Vista’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 130 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $4,080
• Property Tax %: 1.03%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,800
• Rent for an average house: $2,500
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Eastlake
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Chula-Vista, Bonita, Eastlake, Otay-Ranch, and probably could include San-Miguel-Ranch
• Avg. Age of Homes in Chula-Vista: 35 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 2.3%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Chula-Vista’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Chula-Vista are  Retail, Healthcare, and Education
• Chula-Vista Job Scene: stable job market focused on education and healthcare
• The General Tech Scene: modest tech landscape focused on healthcare services and community technology , ,
• Chula-Vista Resident’s pay $1,400 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Chula-Vista: 10.25%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 180 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 14

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Chula-Vista

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $160 on average per person
• Freeway Access: I-805 connects Chula Vista to southern San Diego and beyond
• Commute Time: 24 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: traffic jams on I-805
• Transportation Score: 42 out of 100 described as Some Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Chula-Vista: 200,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.7
• No. of Car Washes: 8 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Chula-Vista: dmv.ca.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 70 of 100
• Local Airport: San Diego International

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Chula-Vista’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Earthquakes
• General Weather in Chula-Vista is best described as has mild winters with cool temperatures and warm dry summers with occasional heat waves
• Winter Weather in Chula-Vista i’d describe as mild and sunny
• Spring Weather in Chula-Vista can be described as mild and coastal
• Summer’s in Chula-Vista are mostly warm and coastal
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Chula-Vista is usually warm and sunny
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 56 days in summer
• Days in a row in Chula-Vista below Freezing: 0
• Average Annual Rainfall: 27 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually moderate air quality influenced by local traffic
• Chula-Vista Winter Air average air quality with some urban emissions

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Chula-Vista Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Chula-Vista 3
• While the number of trade schools inside Chula-Vistas’s city limits are 4
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Chula Vista Public Library

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Chula-Vista Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 7 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Chula-Vista only Doctors is about 80
• Local Hospitals here is  5
• Full-time Chula-Vista only Police Officers is about 170
• Crime Rate Index: 40/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Chula-Vista’s Monthly utility bill average is $190
• Chula-Vista’s Monthly Gym Membership: $58
• Chula-Vista’s Water Quality Score: 72

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Chula-Vista

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 8 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: diverse city with parks and community events
• You might enjoy live performances at the OnStage Playhouse
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Chula-Vista  features a diverse nightlife with local bars and a variety of dining establishments catering to all tastes

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Chula-Vista

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Offers a range of Mexican cuisine and casual diners
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 50 scattered around Chula-Vista
• The Popular Sports Team is Chula Vista High School
• Top Level Political Climate in Chula-Vista can be described as diverse city with progressive initiatives on immigration
• Chula-Vista’s Longer standing religious establishment is Chula Vista First Assembly of God

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Chula-Vista Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Chula-Vista has 45 Parks?
• Chula Vista Olympic Training Center is Chula-Vista’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Chula Vista Farmers Market normally open Thursday 3pm-7pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Outdoor sports, hiking, and biking

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Chula-Vista Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Chula-Vista can be described as fast-paced urban environment with a diverse population
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Chula-Vista visiting parks community sports events local festivals
• The Cities people commute to from Chula-Vista are San-Diego 6 miles away National-City 6 miles away Imperial-Beach 8 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Chula-Vista or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: traffic jams on I-805. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Chula-Vista’s Earthquakes risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Eastlake is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Chula-Vista are San-Diego 6 miles away National-City 6 miles away Imperial-Beach 8 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 40 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Chula-Vista has 0 days in a row below freezing and 56 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Chula-Vista people have an average (positive or negative) $2000 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   900 homeless people living in Chula-Vista. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general diverse city with progressive initiatives on immigration could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Chula-Vista.

Retiree & Senior Life in Chula-Vista

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can may receive property tax exemptions aiding in overall affordability
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is The Royal Garden
• Chula Vista Senior Center provides social programs meals and health workshops for older adults

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Chula-Vista, California?

If Chula-Vista, California ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Chula-Vista, California, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!