CV Montage (black), 2011
Chula Vista’s story
136 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,718 in 1920, 275,487 in 2020. The archive holds 9 old photos and papers going back to 2011 and 7 maps from 1904 on.
- 1890Chula Vista is settled
Chula VistaCA
A city of 275,533, settled in 1890.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Port of San Diego · CC BY 2.0
Population
275,533
2025 Census estimate · +0% since 2020
Typical home
$845K
+1.3% in a year
Household income
$108K
median
Median age
37.1
years
Jobs based here
65,447
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#282 of 841 in CA
What is it like to live in Chula Vista?
For a city of 275,533, Chula Vista does unevenly: it grades C+, ranked 282nd of 841 in California. It is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 89% of U.S. towns. The trade-off: the typical home is worth about $845K, 8 years of the San Diego metro’s $106K median household income. Chula Vista’s trail density is 2.1 miles per square mile, above both the California town median (1.0) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Chula Vista's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 99% of U.S. towns. Chula Vista is home to Southwestern College.
What makes Chula Vista stand out
Where Chula Vista beats most towns.
College town
Southwestern College calls Chula Vista home
College Scorecard · IPEDS
How Chula Vista grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Chula Vista is from typical.
Cost of livingD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.7 of 20; 4.5% of households have no carAOpen →HealthSharp Chula Vista Medical Center 0.8 miles awayB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →SchoolsB+Open →SafetyCOpen →Jobs & incomeB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAOpen →History31 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life0.5 library visits per resident; 1.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 83° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market21 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 37.1–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 68 attractions →Mexico–United States border wall and 61 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Chula Vista. Close and well known come first.
Big draw9 mi LandmarkMexico–United States border wall
Big draw13 mi Stadium & arenaSnapdragon Stadium
10 mi Stadium & arenaPetco Park
11 mi Zoo & aquariumSan Diego Zoo4.0M visitors a year
10 mi Park & preserveBalboa Park4 mi Park & preserveCerutti Mastodon siteSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mexico–United States border wall: Földhegy, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Snapdragon Stadium: Terrible Tim, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Petco Park: Mds08011, CC BY 4.0 · San Diego Zoo: en:User:Cburnett, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Balboa Park: Antoine Taveneaux, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Chula Vista: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Chula Vista, and how to reach them.
PowerSDG&E45.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSweetwater AuthorityNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Chula Vista’s trash rules yet
SchoolsSweetwater Union High School DistrictChula Vista Elementary School District2 districts serve Chula Vista; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSan Diego Registrar of VotersSan Diego County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP codes91911, 91910, 91913, 9191591911 31% · 91910 28% · 91913 20% · 91915 12%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Chula Vista.
Chula Vista has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, owes part of its health edge to its incomes and has seen reported crime fall beyond ordinary swings.
OutdoorsA
Chula Vista has set aside 18% of its land for conservation
For Chula Vista, that is above both California’s towns (4.2%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). 107 miles of trail in 71 parks and preserves. The biggest place to walk is San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, 439 acres with 3.2 miles of trail.
#155for trails in CA
18%
conserved · 5,984 of 33,179 acres
107 mi
of trails · 2.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. San Diego National Wildlife Refuge | 3.2 mi | 439 |
| 2. Sweetwater Park | 1.3 mi | 37 |
| 3. Montevalle | 1 mi | 24 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB+
Public schools in Chula Vista beat 69% of California districts
Three of its 83 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
69%of CA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho del Rey MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 7–8 | Grades 7–8 | 1,705 | A |
| Eastlake HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,557 | A |
| Olympian HighTop results in townGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,289 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
About half of Chula Vista’s working residents commute to San Diego
Most working residents leave Chula Vista for work: only 17% work in town. Jobs based in Chula Vista grew to 65,447 in 2023, 10,264 more than in 2013. Chula Vista’s average trip to work is 29 minutes.
17%work in town
| Chula Vista | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 17% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Median household income | $108,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Chula Vista17%
San Diego47%
National City3%
Los Angeles2%
El Cajon2%
13 mi
median commute distance
65,447
jobs based in Chula Vista
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 89% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Chula Vista is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Against the 7,451 U.S. towns with household incomes like Chula Vista’s, it is healthier than 51%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
Chula Vista beats the California average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 27% of Chula Vista adults have obesity.
72%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Chula Vista | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 29% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 22% | 23% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 72% | 79% |
32 measures vs. California
5 better24 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Chula Vista | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with COPD | 4.1% | 5.1% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5.3% | 6.4% |
| More uninsured adults | 12.4% | 10.6% |
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
0.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
61st
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyC
Chula Vista reports more crime per resident than 66% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 4,556 to 3,930 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
The violent crime rate in Chula Vista is 3.6 per 1,000 residents. Within California, it does better than 61% of towns.
34%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Chula Vista | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.6 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 10.4 per 1,000 residents | 13.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Chula Vista3.6
California4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Chula Vista10.4
California18.2
U.S.15.5
34th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
61st
percentile among CA towns
1,015
violent crimes reported in 2025
2,915
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
In Chula Vista, expect mild winters and pleasant summers
January nights average 45.1°, milder than in 97% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 80.2°.
Chula Vista has warm winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
83°summer high
| Chula Vista | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 80°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 45°F | 40°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter45–68°
Spring52–71°
Summer61–80°
Fall56–78°
+2.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
83°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Chula Vista
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 63% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 16 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Chula Vista.
63risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesWildfire
16
paid flood claims since 1978
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade D−
Chula Vista earns a D− for cost of living
62% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent in Chula Vista. The typical Chula Vista home is worth about $845,000, up 1.3% in a year, 11% above the California typical home. 60% of households own their home in Chula Vista.
$845KZillow home value
| Chula Vista | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,229 a month | $1,895 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 62% | 55% | 48% |
| Households that own their home | 60% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Chula Vista$845K
California$762K
Market temperature
21
days on market
100.4%
sale-to-list price
+1.3%
value change, 1 year
139
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
An age mix much like California’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the California average. 33% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 37% across California.
37.1median age · CA 37.9
| Chula Vista | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 25% | 22% | 22% |
| Median age | 37.1 years | 39.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 33% | 29% | 29% |
Chula VistaCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma14%
High school22%
Some college22%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
50.8% women, 49.2% men
About 97 men for every 100 women. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 37.6, men 36.6.
| Chula Vista | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.2% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.7% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.9% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.7% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.4% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.4% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.4% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 13.8% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21.5% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.2% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.4% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.1% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.1% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chula Vista
20pages on Chula Vista
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 69% of CA districts · 83 schoolsSafetyC3.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than CA on 5 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$845K typical home · up 1.3% in a yearWork & commuteB+$108K median household income · 65,447 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 63% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
21 within 15 miles of the center of Chula Vista
Southwestern CollegeCommunity college · Public · Chula VistaIn town$1,344 in-state tuitionCalifornia Institute of Arts & Technology-National CityUniversity or college · Private for-profit · National City5.8 miSan Diego State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · San Diego10.7 mi$8,728 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 Chula Vista residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
A growing town
Chula Vista has grown 13% since 2010
243,916 counted in 2010 and 275,487 in 2020; an estimated 275,533 in 2025.
Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 12.9% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Famous people from Chula Vista
31 notable people were born in Chula Vista.
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About Chula Vista
City in California, United States
Chula Vista ( CHOO-lə VIST-ə; Spanish for 'Beautiful/Pretty View', Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtʃula ˈβista] ) is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. It is the second-most populous city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh-most populous city in Southern California, the 15th-most populous city in the state of California, and the 81st-most populous city in the United States. The population was 275,487 as of the 2020 census, up from 243,916 as of the 2010 census. It is located in the South Bay, about halfway—7.5 miles (12.1 km)—between the two downtowns of the San Diego–Tijuana region. Chula Vista is named for its scenic location between San Diego Bay and coastal mou…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1911
- Area
- 52 sq mi
- Elevation
- 66 ft
- ZIP code
- 91909, 91910, 91911
- Area code
- 619
Chula Vista’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Chula Vista.
BonitaNational CitySan DiegoChula Vista
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chula Vista | #282 | C+ | D− | C | B+ | B+ |
| Bonita | #176 | B− | D− | — | B+ | A |
| National City | #563 | D | D | D | B | C+ |
| San Diego | #249 | C+ | D− | C− | B+ | A |
Bonita reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Chula Vista with a neighbor →
Questions about Chula Vista
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Chula Vista, CA a good place to live?
Chula Vista grades C+ overall, better than 40% of U.S. towns and #282 of 841 in California. It grades B+ for health, C for safety and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Chula Vista, CA safe?
Within California, it does better than 61% of towns.
What is Chula Vista, CA known for?
31 notable people were born here, including Mario Lopez and Jessica Sanchez.