Relocating to San Diego for a Scripps or UC San Diego Health job in 2026

by Mance Rieder

Quick answer: Where should I live if I'm moving to San Diego for a Scripps or UC San Diego Health job?

Pick the campus first. For the La Jolla and Torrey Pines campuses, University City, Mira Mesa, Clairemont and Carmel Valley sit roughly 2 to 8 road miles away. For Hillcrest, look at Mission Valley, North Park, Linda Vista, Allied Gardens and La Mesa. Redfin's San Diego city median was $999,339 for the three months through August 2026.

Key takeaways:

Scripps and UC San Diego Health each run hospitals in two hubs: La Jolla/Torrey Pines and Hillcrest.
Redfin's three-month medians through August 2026 ran from about $557,000 in Mission Valley to $1.89 million in Carmel Valley.
Hillcrest is mid-rebuild: UC San Diego Health opened a new outpatient pavilion there in July 2025.

Got an offer letter and a start date? The hard part is picking where to live in a county you may barely know.

Where are the Scripps and UC San Diego Health campuses?

The La Jolla hub sits along Genesee Avenue and the I-5 corridor. Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla is at 9888 Genesee Ave., and Scripps Green Hospital, connected to Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines, is at 10666 N. Torrey Pines Rd.

UC San Diego Health's Jacobs Medical Center is at 9300 Campus Point Drive, on the east side of the university's La Jolla campus.

The Hillcrest hub is in Uptown, just north of downtown. Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego is at 4077 Fifth Ave., and UC San Diego Health Hillcrest is at 200 W. Arbor Drive.

Hillcrest is changing. UC San Diego Health opened the 250,000-square-foot McGrath Outpatient Pavilion on July 28, 2025, the first phase of a multi-phase campus redevelopment planned over about 15 years.

What do homes cost near the La Jolla and Torrey Pines campuses?

Distances below are road miles from each neighborhood's mapped center to Scripps Memorial La Jolla, measured with OpenStreetMap routing on October 5, 2026. Rush-hour drive times vary, so test your route at your shift time.

Under $900,000: University City is about 1.6 miles away. You'll find condos and townhomes near UTC plus 1960s and 1970s single-family tracts south of Rose Canyon. Redfin's median was $854,208 for the three months ending July 2026.

$900,000 to $1.1 million: Mira Mesa is about 7.8 miles away, with 1970s tract homes, townhomes and condos. Its median was $961,672 for the three months ending July 2026, and our Mira Mesa budget guide breaks down what each price range buys.

Clairemont is about 5.7 miles away and is mostly 1950s and 1960s single-family homes, many remodeled. North Clairemont's median was $1,099,469 for the three months through August 2026.

Over $1.5 million: Carmel Valley is about 6.4 miles away, with newer master-planned single-family homes and townhomes, most built since the late 1980s. Its median was $1,894,086 for the three months through August 2026.

What do homes cost near the Hillcrest hospitals?

Miles here run to UC San Diego Health Hillcrest, measured the same way. Scripps Mercy is a few blocks east.

Under $900,000: Mission Valley is about 2.4 miles away and is mostly condos and townhomes, many in newer mid-rise buildings. Its median was $557,231 for the three months through August 2026.

North Park is about 3.0 miles away, with Craftsman and Spanish-style bungalows, older apartment-style condos and some newer townhomes. Its median was $894,568 for the three months through August 2026.

La Mesa is about 10.9 miles east via I-8, with mid-century single-family homes and condos near the village and trolley. Its median was $841,443 for the three months through August 2026.

$900,000 to $1 million: Allied Gardens is about 7.5 miles away and is mostly 1950s single-family ranch homes on standard lots. Its median was $974,530 for the three months through August 2026.

Linda Vista, about 4.5 miles away, mixes mid-century single-family homes, condos and newer townhome communities. Redfin hasn't posted a current median there, so check recent sales first.

What should you sort out before you sign or make an offer?

Ask HR what your relocation package covers, and get your loan pre-approval before you fly out for a house-hunting trip. If you're weighing a condo against a detached home, read how condos, townhomes and single-family homes differ in San Diego, since HOA dues change your monthly payment.

For schools, most of these neighborhoods are in San Diego Unified. Carmel Valley is served by Del Mar Union and San Dieguito Union High, and La Mesa by La Mesa-Spring Valley and Grossmont Union High. You can look up any school on the California School Dashboard.

Bottom line

Choose the campus, then the housing type, then the price range. University City and Mission Valley offer the shortest drives at lower medians, while Clairemont, Allied Gardens and Carmel Valley trade more miles for detached homes.

Moving to San Diego for a new job? Start with our relocation checklist, then call or text me at (858) 295-0556, or book a quick call at calendly.com/mance-riederhomes/strategycall.