Oceanside is located just south of the nation's b
usiest military base, the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, within San Diego County. Oceanside has among the most affordable coastal housing in all of Southern California and its year-round sunshine and perfect weather make it an ideal place to move to and settle down. Oceanside is the third-largest city in San Diego County, and along with Carlsbad and Vista, it forms a tri-city area within the county.
This guide will provide you with some helpful tips and information on just about everything you need to know if you're going to be making the move to Oceanside. From the city's neighborhoods and school systems to the employment options and recreational activities available within the city, you'll go into your move with the knowledge needed to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Oceanside climate
The city of Oceanside experiences a semi-arid climate, and its location in Southern California means that it has year-round sunshine and warm weather. San Diego County is frequently recognized as having some of the most pleasant weather in the country, and Oceanside is no exception. With relentless sunshine, you'll be hard-pressed to find too many rainy days in Oceanside.
The summers remain seasonably warm with temperatures staying around the high-70s to low-80s and the winters are also incredibly mild with temperatures rarely dipping below 50 degrees during the day and 40 degrees at night. The weather remains somewhat constant almost year-round, with the average variation in daily high temperatures only being around nine degrees from January through December.
Oceanside neighborhoods
Oceanside is located in San Diego County and has a total area of 42.2 square miles. It is roughly 30 miles north of the downtown San Diego area and approximately 40 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border and Tijuana. The city is comprised of a number of distinct neighborhoods, including Dixie Village, La Mision Village, East Side Capistrano, Fire Mountain, Canyon Vista, Pelican Cove, San Luis Rey and Mira Costa, among many more.
Living costs
Oceanside is located within San Diego County in Southern California, which is one of the most expensive regions of the country to live in. Its proximity to cities like San Diego to the south and Los Angeles to the north have driven up the cost of living in the area. The costs of living in Oceanside are high when compared to other cities of similar size throughout the country, and the price of rent is hi
gher than average throughout most of Oceanside, as are the various living expenses such as transportation, food and utilities.
The median family income in Oceanside is $66,939, which is higher than the national average for median family income. The median home price for an average home in Oceanside is around $285,000, also well above the national average, but on par with similar real estate prices that exist in other major cities throughout the country.
Registering your car
In the state of California, your car is required to have a smog check upon registration. Also, upon your arrival in California after moving, you have 20 days to update your registration and have your vehicle registered in the state before you may be required to pay a penalty.
A California Driver's License can be obtained at any California DMV location. The state requires new California residents to update their license from their previous state to a California driver's license within 10 days of moving.
Oceanside moving resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Oceanside, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in California. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Oceanside schools
There are four public school districts operating in Oceanside. Depending on where they reside within the city, students may attend any of the four districts - the Oceanside Unified School District, Vista Unified School District, Bonsall Union School District and Carlsbad Unified School District. The Oceanside Unified School District is comprised of a total of 24 schools, including two high schools - El Camino High School and Oceanside High School - and three charter schools.
Oceanside employment
The economy in Oceanside was based mostly around farming in its early days, however during World War II the city became a big part of the wartime industry and was home to a lot of military personnel and an ammunition manufacturing facility.
The current unemployment rate is right around 6.6 percent as of April 2013, lower than the national unemployment rate, and the job growth rate is rising at 10.79 percent. Oceanside is home to the headquarters for a number of major businesses like Genica Corporation, Learning Forum International, Bergensons Property Services and more. Some of the top employers in the city are Mira Costa College, the City of Oceanside, Tri-City Medical Center, Select Staffing, Ocean's Eleven Casino, Milagro Ranch and Genentech.
Public transportation
Oceanside connects San Diego County with the Los Angeles basin via several major highways like Interstate 5 and Interstate 15. Metrolink provides service for commuters to Los Angeles while Amtrak offers commuter service to several places within California. Coaster trains are also available in Oceanside for service to San Diego. The North County Transit District also provides bus and rail service for the city and the surrounding areas.
The closest major commercial airport is the San Diego International Airport which is located about 30 miles from Oceanside in San Diego and is busiest single-runway commercial airport in the United States. The airport features over 550 flights each day to destinations around the world, including domestic, and over 50,000 passengers pass through the terminals each day.
Culture and contemporary life
There are several notable attractions and places of interest located in Oceanside, including the Oceanside Pier which was built in 1888 and is the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline. The city is also home to the California Surf Museum and the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, one of the Alta California missions. In addition, residents of Oceanside have access to beautiful beaches and miles of coastline, and you're always only a short drive from San Diego, a bustling Southern California city with plenty of sights to see.
Moving to Oceanside
Whatever your reasons for moving to Oceanside, whether it be for a change of scenery or for employment, the city beckons you with its charm. The first step in the process of moving to Oceanside is choosing a moving company after first checking their BBB ratings, insurance and license. The moving rates are charged by the hour if you are moving within the state boundary, while for a long distance move the charges will depend on the total weight or volume in cubic feet of your belongings. In the latter case, you can ask about a flat rate or any special discounts that are available with the mover.
Photo by: WestJones (Wikimedia Commons)