Communities
East County San Diego
Value, sunshine, and room to grow
Area Guide
Living in East County San Diego
East County San Diego offers some of the best values in the region, with established neighborhoods, larger lots, and semi-rural properties — many with room for RVs, ADUs, or horses. La Mesa's walkable village, Santee's lakes, and the open spaces of Lakeside and Spring Valley all sit within about 30 minutes of downtown.
La Mesa
La Mesa, nicknamed "The Jewel of the Hills," is a close-in East County city with a charming village downtown and leafy, hilly neighborhoods.
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El Cajon
El Cajon sits in a broad valley surrounded by mountains, roughly 15 miles east of downtown San Diego.
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Santee
Santee is a family-oriented East County city along the San Diego River, bordered by Mission Trails Regional Park.
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Lakeside
Lakeside is an unincorporated East County community with deep ranching roots and a proud "cowboy town" identity.
Explore Lakeside
Spring Valley
Spring Valley is an unincorporated community in southern East County, named for the natural spring that drew settlers to the area.
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Other San Diego Areas
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