2023 · San Marcos Mountains seen from · Wikimedia Commons
Vista’s story
Vista in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 2 places on the National Register.
VistaCA
A city of 99,114. Nearly 7.2% of it is conserved land.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Public domain · Public domain
Population
99,114
+4.8% since 2010
Typical home
$877K
+1% in a year
Household income
$95K
median
Median age
35.9
years
Jobs based here
32,133
Balanced
What makes Vista stand out
The 3 things Vista does most differently from other towns.
Outdoors
#266 most walkable in CA
25 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
7.2% of the town is conserved land.
BSchool Grade
Schools
#211 for schools in CA
of 574 towns
School Grade B.
100 U.S. towns● Vista
Health
Healthier than 66%
of U.S. towns on CDC estimates
Better than CA on 5 measures, worse on 4.
Vista’s report card
Outdoors25 mi#286 for trails in CASchoolsBBeats 62% of CA districtsCommute11 miHalf of commuters travel lessHealthB+Healthier than 66% of U.S. townsClimate83°/45°Summer high · winter lowHousing$877K15% above the CA typical homeSafetyB−Less crime than 47% of U.S. townsHazards52/100Moderate risk of storm & flood damage
Now in Vista
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Vista is #59 of 663 in CA for “Fastest-rising home prices”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Vista’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →82°
Sunny
H 85° · L 65°
Local news
All →- Chula Vista vs Southwest - Girls Varsity Volleyball 09/30/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 29
- JLL completes the sale of Sunroad Plaza in Vista, CAJLL · Sep 24
- Jayden Peterson - Bonita Vista Barons Football (Chula Vista, CA)si.com · Sep 24
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Vista. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
7.2% of Vista is conserved land
25 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves.
#286for trails in CA
7.2%
conserved · 870 of 12,097 acres
25 mi
of trails · 1.3 per sq mi
#315
most conserved land in CA
#266
most walkable in CA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Buena Vista Park Pond and Open Space | 3.4 mi | 120 |
| 2. Dawson-Los Monos Canyon Reserve | 1.7 mi | 125 |
| 3. Brengle Terrace Park | 1.5 mi | 74 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Schools
Vista’s public schools outperform 62% of California districts
The public schools Vista’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 62% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
BSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casita Center for Science/Math/Technology | K–5 | 744 | Not graded |
| Breeze Hill Elementary | K–5 | 742 | Not graded |
| Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts | K–5 | 740 | Not graded |
| Grapevine Elementary | K–5 | 730 | Not graded |
| Classical Academy Vista | K–8 | 651 | Not graded |
| Bobier Elementary | K–5 | 563 | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduationAll 33 schools →
Work & commute
About one in eight working residents works right in Vista
Most working residents leave Vista for work: only 13% work in town. The top destinations are San Diego (16%), Carlsbad (14%) and Oceanside (10%). Half commute less than 11 miles.
13%work in town
Where working residents work
In Vista13%
San Diego16%
Carlsbad14%
Oceanside10%
San Marcos6%
11 mi
median commute distance
32,133
jobs based in Vista
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
Healthier than 66% of U.S. towns
Vista beats the California average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4.
B+Health Grade
32 measures vs. California
5 better23 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Vista | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 10.1% | 11.7% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 5% | 5.6% |
| More uninsured adults | 12.8% | 10.6% |
Tri-City Medical Center
3.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
55th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Climate
Mild winters, pleasant summers
Vista has warm winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 46°, and snow is almost unheard of.
83°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter45–67°
Spring51–70°
Summer61–80°
Fall55–78°
+1.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
83°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Housing
A typical Vista home is worth about $877K
The typical Vista home is worth about $877,000, up 1% in a year, 15% above the California typical home.
$877KZillow home value
Typical home value
Vista$877K
California$764K
Market temperature
20
days on market
100%
sale-to-list price
+1%
value change, 1 year
55
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 47% of U.S. towns
Vista reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 53% report less. Within California, it does better than 73% of towns.
B−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Vista2
California4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Vista5.4
California18.2
U.S.15.5
47th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
73rd
percentile among CA towns
203
violent crimes reported in 2025
538
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
16
paid flood claims since 1978
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Landmarks
2 places in Vista on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Vista
10 notable people were born in Vista.
A
Aaron GarciaAmerican boxer · born 1982M
Mike MarquardtPlayer of American football · born 1982About Vista
City in California, United States
Vista (; Spanish for "view") is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. It is a medium-sized city within the San Diego-Carlsbad metropolitan statistical area. As of the 2020 census, Vista had a population of 98,381. Current data estimates a 2023 population of 99,835. Vista's sphere of influence also includes portions of unincorporated San Diego County to the north and east, with a county island in the central west. Located just 7 mi (11 km) inland from the Pacific Ocean, it has a Mediterranean climate. Much of Vista's current territory was once part of the Mexican land grants of Rancho Buena Vista and Rancho Guajome. A post office was established on October 9, 1882, and Vista…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 98,381
- Area
- 19 sq mi
- Elevation
- 325 ft
- ZIP code
- 92081, 92083, 92084
Vista’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Vista.
More about Vista
Still missing for Vista:upcoming events