National City 66 Good
National City Livability #353 ranked city in California#11,102 ranked city in the USARanks better than 62% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in National City

PROS
  • Commute

    An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.

  • Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Cost Of Living

    Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.

  • Crime

    This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.

  • Health & Safety

    The low score in this category could be due to challenges related to air quality and the limited accessibility of health-related facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and pharmacies.

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What's it like Living in National City?

National City, California is a moderately-sized city with a population of 61,342 residents. In National City, there are 8,348 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. More than a quarter of the residents of National City identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 52% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. National City is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 48% married, this city falls well below the national average. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in National City, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 27 minutes.

Living in National City can be a good experience for anyone moving to the town. Having said that, in the state of California, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Finding the best places to live in National City and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, commute, health & safety, education, employment and other important metrics.

National City, CA receives 66/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #340 in California and #9,343 in the USA. If we examine each of the categories individually, we see that National City ranks well for amenities (B-) and education (B-). There is at least one category that does not have great scores in National City. The following was graded with a less than perfect score: crime (F) and cost of living (F).

If you're living in National City, you can expect to enjoy a multitude of local amenities, mostly thanks to the strategic placement of essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks and various shops. If you're contemplating a move to this locale with the intent of establishing it as your permanent residence, you'll be pleased to find an extensive array of amenities and recreational opportunities within easy reach, either on foot or via a brief commute. This wealth of accessible amenities not only enhances the livability of the area but also ensures that you can enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle, making National City an attractive destination for those seeking a vibrant and well-served community to call home.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in National City. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in National City are affordable. Median real estate prices in National City come in at $428,800, which is 4.8% higher than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In National City, the home price to income ratio is 8.7, which is 35.9% higher than the California average.

Best Places to Live in and Around National City

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How Do You Rate The Livability In National City?

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Compare National City, CA Livability

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      National City transportation information

      Statistic National City California National
      Average one way commute27min28min26min
      Workers who drive to work66.0%73.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool15.5%10.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit5.1%5.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.7%1.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk7.0%2.7%2.8%
      Working from home4.1%5.4%4.6%
      Source: The National City, CA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).