Clairemont

Clairemont San Diego: Neighborhood Overview

Clairemont San Diego real estate gives buyers something that’s getting harder to find in this market: a single-family home with a real yard, a two-car garage, and a 15-minute drive to the beach, all near the county-wide median price. The neighborhood spans ZIP code 92117 and covers a broad mesa northwest of downtown, originally built out in the 1950s as one of San Diego’s first master-planned communities. The housing stock still reflects that era: ranch-style homes on 6,000- to 8,000-square-foot lots, with renovation potential that keeps drawing buyers, investors, and ADU builders. The year-to-date median sale price sits at $1,142,500 for single-family homes and $535,000 for condos and townhomes, according to February 2026 data from the San Diego Association of REALTORS. With just 1.2 months of detached inventory, 192 ADU permits issued in the past 12 months (the highest count in the city), and the Convoy District’s restaurant corridor a few minutes east, Clairemont is a neighborhood where the numbers work for people who care more about square footage and location than a coastal zip code.

Location and Sub-Neighborhoods

Clairemont sits on an elevated mesa between Mission Valley to the south, Pacific Beach and Mission Bay to the west, and the Kearny Mesa employment corridor to the east. La Jolla and University City are a short drive north along the 805 or Genesee Avenue. That central positioning is a big part of the appeal: you can reach downtown, UTC, the beaches, or the airport in about 15 minutes from most addresses on the mesa. I-5, I-805, and SR-52 all border or bisect the community, which makes it one of the better-connected neighborhoods for commuters who work in different parts of the county on different days.

Locals break Clairemont into a few pockets, though the boundaries are informal. Clairemont Mesa is the broad mid-century core along Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Clairemont Drive, where the housing stock is densest and most of the strip retail, grocery stores, and services line the arterials. North Clairemont sits higher on the mesa toward SR-52 and Mira Mesa, with a slightly more open feel and proximity to Marian Bear Memorial Park. The western edge of the neighborhood steps down toward Mission Bay; buyers shopping here often started their search looking at homes near Pacific Beach and landed in Clairemont when they realized how much more house they could get a few blocks inland. Adjacent Bay Park (92110) sits just southwest of the mesa with its own bay views and pricing, and it’s a natural comparison when you’re shopping the broader area.

Walkability is block-dependent. Along Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Balboa Avenue, Walk Scores reach 78 (Very Walkable), with grocery, pharmacy, and restaurant access on foot. On the residential hillside streets, scores drop into the 40s and 50s, and a car is the default.

Transit covers the main corridors. MTS Route 105 runs between Old Town Transit Center and UTC Transit Center along Clairemont Drive. Route 41 connects Fashion Valley to UCSD through the mesa. Route 44 links Old Town to Kearny Mesa via Linda Vista and Convoy Street, which is useful if you’re commuting east toward the Convoy District or the 15 corridor. Frequency runs about every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the route and time of day, so most households still plan around driving for commutes, but the bus network handles errands and connections to the trolley at Old Town and UTC.

Cycling infrastructure is improving. The city installed Class IV protected bike lanes on Clairemont Drive between Iroquois Avenue and Balboa Avenue, with curb-separated lanes that keep riders out of traffic. An additional protected segment on Clairemont Drive between Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Kleefield Avenue is in progress. The Morena Conveyance project is adding improved bikeways along Genesee Avenue, Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Clairemont Drive, and Morena Boulevard, with completion expected in 2026. Clairemont isn’t a cycling neighborhood the way North Park is becoming, but the protected lanes along Clairemont Drive are a real start, especially for riders heading toward Bay Park and the coast.

History: San Diego’s First Master-Planned Community

Clairemont was built from scratch in 1950 by developers Lou Burgener and Carlos Tavares, who named the community after Tavares’s wife Claire. The site, which had hosted Camp Kearny as a military base during World War I, became one of the largest post-war planned communities in the nation. Burgener and Tavares invested $125,000 in infrastructure (sewers, water, and access roads) before building a single home, a significant commitment for an area that was not adjacent to any existing developed land. The first residents moved in by May 1951, and homes sold for $13,000 to $20,000, marketed primarily to military and aerospace workers taking advantage of GI Bill financing.

Clairemont broke from San Diego’s traditional grid street patterns, using winding roads, scenic view lots, and preserved canyons and bluffs overlooking Mission Bay. The master plan integrated schools, parks, shopping centers, and churches into the community from the start, rather than adding them as afterthoughts. At roughly 13.3 square miles, it was a massive suburban development for the era and became a model for how San Diego would grow in the decades that followed. The nearby Convoy District, though technically within the Kearny Mesa community planning area, evolved organically from 1980s mom-and-pop Asian restaurants and markets into one of the nation’s largest Pan-Asian business districts, officially designated by the city in 2020. Lou Burgener later served as a California Assemblyman and U.S. Congressman.

Clairemont Real Estate Market in 2026

Clairemont’s detached market in 2026 is one of the tightest in the county, running at a pace that still catches buyers off guard if they’re coming from neighborhoods with more inventory.

For single-family homes, the year-to-date median sale price is $1,142,500, down 4.6% from the same period last year. That modest price dip hasn’t loosened the supply picture: inventory sits at just 1.2 months, homes are selling in an average of 24 days, and sellers are getting 98.6% of the original list price. For context, North Park has 2.0 months of supply and Pacific Beach has 2.5 months. Clairemont is tighter than both, which means the best-priced and best-condition listings still draw multiple offers. The county-wide median for single-family homes is $1,089,795, so Clairemont sits just above that line, buying you a central location, a real lot, and renovation or ADU upside at roughly the county average price.

Condos and townhomes have a year-to-date median of $535,000 with 3.1 months of supply, closer to balanced territory. Closed volume is thin (only 3 attached sales through February), so the median can swing on a small sample. The condo market in Clairemont is a different animal from the detached side: fewer options, less competition, and more room to negotiate. For buyers comparing Clairemont’s numbers to other neighborhoods, our 2026 Best Neighborhoods guide stacks median prices, inventory, and pace of sale across 15 communities.

Market data sourced from the San Diego Association of REALTORS (SDAR) FastStats for ZIP 92117, current as of March 2026.

Development and Building Activity

Clairemont is the ADU capital of San Diego. That’s not an exaggeration. The City of San Diego issued 192 ADU permits in the Clairemont Mesa community planning area over the past 12 months, more than any other neighborhood in the city, according to the city’s public permit database. North Park came in second with 117. Pacific Beach had 109.

The reason is straightforward: Clairemont’s mid-century lots are big enough to fit a detached backyard unit without cramming the yard. A 7,000-square-foot lot with a 1,200-square-foot ranch house and a two-car garage leaves room for a 600- to 800-square-foot ADU that pencils out as rental income, a guest suite, or multigenerational living space. For the full neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown, our ADU permit analysis covers the numbers across the city.

Total permit activity across all categories topped 3,300 in the past year. Beyond ADUs, Clairemont saw 15 new single-family home permits, 33 new apartment building permits (five or more units), 8 new condo building permits, and 9 permits for triplexes and fourplexes. The multifamily product tends to concentrate along commercial corridors, while interior residential blocks stay single-family. The overall picture: homeowners and developers are putting real money into this mesa, and the ADU numbers confirm that people who already own here believe in the long-term demand.

The Convoy District, Dining & Everyday Life

Clairemont’s own commercial corridors handle the basics well: groceries, coffee, gyms, and casual restaurants line Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Balboa Avenue, and Genesee Avenue. Clairemont Town Square anchors neighborhood errands on the west side. It’s practical, convenient, and not trying to be a nightlife scene.

Where the food story gets genuinely interesting is just east of the mesa. The Convoy District in Kearny Mesa, centered along Convoy Street between Balboa Avenue and Aero Drive, has become one of San Diego’s most celebrated dining corridors. It’s a 5- to 10-minute drive from most Clairemont addresses, close enough to treat as your own neighborhood kitchen on a weeknight. The strip-mall storefronts along Convoy don’t look like much from the parking lot, but behind the facades you’ll find some of the best Korean barbecue, ramen, pho, dim sum, hot pot, and boba in the county. Tajima Ramen, Zion Korean BBQ, Jasmine Seafood Restaurant, Shan Xi Magic Kitchen, and 85°C Bakery Cafe are just a handful of the spots that draw people from across San Diego. Kura Revolving Sushi Bar opened a location on Convoy that regularly has a wait. The corridor keeps growing, and the San Diego City Council officially designated the area as the Convoy District in recent years, reflecting its cultural and culinary significance.

For residents, proximity to Convoy is one of Clairemont’s underrated selling points. Many community pages for Clairemont don’t mention it because Convoy technically sits in Kearny Mesa, but the practical reality is that Clairemont residents eat there regularly. If you care about dining variety, Convoy changes the equation for this neighborhood.

The Clairemont Certified Farmers’ Market runs Saturdays on Clairemont Drive, typically 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (confirm hours seasonally). It’s a smaller market than the Pacific Beach or North Park versions, but it brings produce, prepared food, and local vendors to the heart of the neighborhood every weekend.

Parks, Canyons & Outdoor Access

Clairemont’s outdoor assets are canyons, community parks, and easy access to Mission Bay, not beachfront in your backyard.

Tecolote Canyon Natural Park covers roughly 900 acres of coastal sage scrub and riparian habitat running through the southern part of the mesa. The Tecolote Canyon Trail is a 6.4-mile out-and-back that connects to a nature center and offers a surprisingly wild feel for a trail surrounded by suburban development. It’s popular with runners, dog walkers, and families. Marian Bear Memorial Park runs along the SR-52 corridor on the northern edge, with a 2.5-mile trail through a shaded canyon that’s one of the more pleasant weekday runs in central San Diego. North Clairemont Community Park and Cadman Community Park serve as neighborhood hubs for youth sports, picnics, and playground access.

Mission Bay is the regional draw. Living in Clairemont means paddleboarding, kayaking, cycling the bayfront loop, and sunset barbecues at Fiesta Island are all part of the regular rotation, just a short drive west. The beaches of Pacific Beach and Mission Beach are equally close. You won’t walk to the water, but you’ll drive there often enough that it stays part of daily life.

Schools in Clairemont

Clairemont is served by San Diego Unified School District and has the widest selection of elementary schools of any neighborhood in this guide, a hallmark of its family-oriented, master-planned character. Bay Park Elementary (K-5, GreatSchools 8/10) and Toler Elementary (K-5, GreatSchools 8/10) are the strongest-rated options, both with Gifted & Talented programs. Alcott Elementary (K-5, GreatSchools 7/10), Holmes Elementary (K-6, GreatSchools 6/10), Cadman Elementary (K-5, GreatSchools 5/10, a California Distinguished School), and Clairemont Canyons Academy (K-6, magnet, GreatSchools 5/10) round out the six options across the community.

The language immersion standout is John Muir Language Academy (PreK-8, GreatSchools 9/10), which runs a 90/10 one-way Spanish immersion program with a Gifted & Talented component. For families who want bilingual education, John Muir is one of the top options in the district. Marston Middle School (6-8, GreatSchools 6/10) offers Gifted & Talented, Project Lead The Way, and 27 sports. Clairemont High School (9-12, GreatSchools 7/10) provides AP courses and Project Lead The Way programming. The Clairemont Community of Schools cluster focuses on K-12 alignment across academics, civic engagement, and wellness. The private option is The Child’s Primary School (K-8), a progressive-curriculum school with class sizes of 10 to 14 students.

Who Buys in Clairemont

Clairemont draws buyers who’ve done the math on what they actually need day to day, and decided that a bigger home in a central location beats a smaller one closer to the coast.

Families and move-up buyers are the core of the market. The combination of single-family homes, yards, garages, and public school access pulls parents who want space without leaving central San Diego. With 1.2 months of supply, the detached market moves fast, so preparation on financing and offer strategy matters. Many buyers in this segment started their search in Pacific Beach or North Park and migrated to Clairemont for the lot size.

ADU and renovation buyers target the mid-century housing stock specifically. If you’re modeling rental income, multigenerational living, or a home office build-out, Clairemont’s lot sizes and the city’s permitting track record (192 ADUs in the past year) make it one of the most practical places in San Diego to execute that plan.

Investors see tight inventory, steady rental demand from families and working professionals, and a mature lot base where ADUs pencil out. Miguel Chairez, a San Diego broker with Juniper Real Estate, offers property management and tenant placement services for owners who want local operations support.

First-time buyers often enter through the condo market, where the $535,000 median sits well below the county condo average of $660,000. It’s a lower entry point than most coastal or urban-core neighborhoods, with upside if you eventually want to move into a detached home on the same mesa.

Clairemont Homes for Sale

Clairemont has 53 active listings across detached homes, condos, and townhomes. Inventory turns over quickly on the detached side, with most homes selling in under a month. Browse active listings below, or contact us to set up a search tailored to your priorities: sub-area, ADU potential, school proximity, or commute route.

What is the average home price in Clairemont San Diego?

The year-to-date median sale price for detached homes in Clairemont (ZIP 92117) is $1,142,500, while condos and townhomes have a median of $535,000. Both figures come from closed transactions through February 2026, sourced from the San Diego Association of REALTORS. Clairemont’s detached median sits just above the county-wide single-family median of $1,089,795, which means you’re buying into a central San Diego location at roughly the county average price point. The condo median of $535,000 sits below the county-wide attached median of $660,000.

Is Clairemont a good place to buy in 2026?

Clairemont’s detached market is one of the tightest in the county right now: 1.2 months of inventory, 24-day average time on market, and 98.6% of original list price received. For comparison, Pacific Beach has 2.5 months of supply and La Jolla has 3.8 months. If you’re buying a single-family home in Clairemont, expect competition on well-priced listings and plan to move quickly. The attached market has more breathing room at 3.1 months of supply. Overall, Clairemont’s fundamentals favor sellers on the detached side and look closer to balanced for condos.

What are the main areas of Clairemont?

Locals usually talk about Clairemont Mesa (the broad mid-century core along the main boulevards), North Clairemont (higher on the mesa toward SR-52 and Marian Bear Memorial Park), and the western edge that steps down toward Mission Bay. Adjacent Bay Park (92110) sits just southwest with its own bay views and pricing, and it’s a natural comparison when you’re shopping the broader area. Boundaries are informal, so map every listing to your commute and school priorities rather than relying on pocket names alone.

How far is Clairemont from the beach?

Most Clairemont addresses are 10 to 15 minutes by car to Mission Bay or the Pacific Beach coastline. The Convoy District in Kearny Mesa is 5 to 10 minutes east. Downtown San Diego is about 15 minutes south via I-5. The trade-off is clear: you’re not walking to the water, but you’re close enough that the beach stays in the weekly routine, and you get a significantly larger home and lot than the same budget would buy in Pacific Beach.

Is Clairemont walkable?

It depends on where you are on the mesa. Along Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Balboa Avenue, Walk Scores reach 78 (Very Walkable), with grocery stores, restaurants, and services within walking distance. On residential hillside streets, scores drop into the 40s and 50s, and a car is essential for daily errands. Clairemont is best understood as a car-oriented neighborhood with walkable commercial pockets, not a fully walkable urban village like North Park or Hillcrest.

Work With a Clairemont Expert

Whether you’re comparing fixer-uppers with ADU potential, evaluating a turnkey family home near the bay commute, or running investment numbers against other central San Diego neighborhoods, Miguel Chairez knows this mesa at the block level. Reach out any time to talk through your options.

619.253.3333 · miguel(at)junipersdre(dotted)com