The Pros and Cons of Living in Carlsbad

Located in the northern part of San Diego County, Carlsbad is not a big city by any means, with only 150,000 residents. However, lovely weather and gorgeous beaches make it a top-rated tourist attraction. For some residents, that’s the only drawback in a town full of perks. If you’re moving to CA, you may be curious about the other pros and cons of living in Carlsbad California. If that’s true, this guide will help.

Pro: Living in Carlsbad Means Amazing Weather

Carlsbad has a fantastic climate. So much so that the annual “Best Places Comfort Index” gives it 9/10 stars. It’s one of the most inviting places in California, weather-wise, which is saying something. (California has multiple cities with excellent weather.) The sun shines here almost 270 days a year, and it never (ever) snows. Many folks here live their lives outdoors because the weather is perfect for it. That makes living in Carlsbad, CA, amazing!

Con: Tourists Can Make It Difficult to Get Around

When you live in a city as impressive as Carlsbad, it’s no surprise tourists want to check it out for themselves. Unfortunately, sometimes it can feel like too many tourists come to visit Carlsbad during certain parts of the year. The extra traffic can make it difficult for locals to go grocery shopping or go to work. For some, though, the extra people coming in can be a lot of fun and create opportunities for thriving businesses (if you’re the entrepreneurial type). You see friends that only come in during the summer months, for example. Some local businesses also rely on tourists to make a living. For others, however, the extra cars and people can be a little frustrating.

Pro: Living in Carlsbad is Small Town America

We mentioned at the start of this article that Carlsbad is very quaint. Indeed, it’s a perfect example of small-town America at its very best. Friendly, outgoing locals, for example, are always ready with a smile and a happy greeting. There are many locally-owned businesses, life is the epitome of laid back, and people look out for each other. You’ll truly feel at home here, even if you just moved in.

Con: The Cost of Living in Carlsbad

Living in a city that’s higher than the national average for cost of living is one thing. When you live in Carlsbad, though, the cost of living is twice the U.S. national average. Twice. That’s a lot more money flying out of your bank account for housing, gas, food, insurance, and so forth. Don’t get us wrong, it’s not that Carlsbad isn’t worth the costs. It’s just that living here can be more than a little expensive.

Pro: The Magnificent Pacific Coast

If living at the coast floats your boat, Carlsbad offers coastal living that’s top of the heap. The beaches here are, in a word, spectacular. Sugar-sand stretches of them, beautiful weather, and sunsets that put the ‘aww’ in ‘awesome.’ Like we mentioned above, this is the place so many singers write about. It rarely rains, the air is fresh, and the surf is sublime. Most of the people who live here feel blessed to live in such a wonderful place. When it comes to the pros and cons of Carlsbad, CA, the lifestyle might be the biggest pro of all.

Pro: Education in Carlsbad is AMAZING!

On the list of the pros and cons of living in Carlsbad, education is certainly a pro! The Carlsbad Unified School District gets an A+ for quality. It’s one of the top-rated public school districts in the United States. Amazingly, there are two high schools, three middle schools, and five elementary schools that rate an ‘A’ in the district! That’s almost unheard of and puts Carlsbad at the top of primary education. If you’re worried about your children getting an excellent education, worry no more in Carlsbad! The school system here is on top of its game.

Con: Winter Wonderland? Not Living in Carlsbad.

If you’re a fan of snow on Christmas, we’re afraid we have some bad news. Carlsbad hasn’t seen a white Christmas since the last stone age. In fact, it barely gets chilly here most of the year. That’s usually a good thing, of course, unless you like a solid 4 seasons. There’s also not a big change of the leaves in fall, another beloved annual event that, sadly, skips Carlsbad (if you’re looking to take some fall family photos in San Diego only 40 mins away though, we’ve got your covered!). However, there is a silver lining, and it’s this; you can reach many ski resorts in less than 2 hours!

Pro: San Diego and Los Angeles are Close By

Carlsbad is an unapologetically small-ish city, it’s true. We don’t offer as many big-city amenities because we’re not a big city. However, if you occasionally or regularly need the big city experience, LA and San Diego are close. San Diego is very close, actually, as it’s only about 40 minutes away. LA is a little further at 2 hours but still doable in a day. For those who need a big city (but want to live in a small one), living in Carlsbad, CA, is a great choice.

Brought To You By Your Neighbors at StorAmerica

Now that you know the Pros and Cons of Living in Carlsbad, it’s time to plan your move! Moving anywhere can be a stress-testing experience. If you arrive in Carlsbad and suddenly need storage for all your things, StorAmerica can help. We have clean, safe, and secure storage units all over Carlsbad! They’re easy to access, offer 24/7 security and on-site managers, and are very affordable.

If your closing falls through, one of our storage units is a great choice. Renovating? Need more space at home? Chat with a friendly manager today and see all the affordable self-storage options we offer. And by the way, best of luck in your new Carlsbad home. We think you’ll find living here wonderful because we do too!