culture
Neighborhood · Incorporated city
Del Mar
Fifteen blocks of village between the racetrack and the bluff, and a fight over the fairgrounds in every election cycle.
Population
3,954
Median home value
$3,831,646
Aug high / Jan low
71° / 47°
To downtown
21 mi
Latest from Del Mar
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food
Il Fornaio, with restaurants in Coronado and Del Mar, to pay $3 million to settle federal harassment suit
culture
Del Mar Harvest Festival brings an indoor arts and crafts market to the Fairgrounds Oct. 16–18
culture
Del Mar Wine + Food Festival closes out its five-day run with a Grand Tasting weekend
food
SanDiegoVille: Market Restaurant + Bar in Del Mar closes for an overhaul, plans spring 2027 reopening
Del Mar is one of the smallest cities in San Diego County, a village of about 1.8 square miles and fewer than 4,000 residents between Torrey Pines and the San Dieguito River. It was laid out in 1885 as a seaside resort for wealthy visitors and incorporated in 1959, largely so residents could control development and keep high-rises off the bluffs. That choice still defines the place: a short commercial strip along Camino Del Mar, cottages and modern hillside houses, and a public beach that runs nearly the length of town. The city's name is known far beyond its size because of the Del Mar Fairgrounds and racetrack at its northern edge. Bing Crosby helped open the track in 1937, and the San Diego County Fair draws huge crowds each June and July. Those events bring traffic and a seasonal economy, while the rest of the year Del Mar is quiet, older and very affluent, with a median resident age above 55 and a median household income near $200,000. Housing here is among the most expensive in California, with a typical value around $3.8 million in mid-2026. The main civic issues are the same ones that shaped the town at incorporation: bluff erosion under the coastal rail line, beach sand loss, state housing mandates that push against the low-scale village plan, and the future of the state-owned fairgrounds.
Living here
Draws
- Long public beach and bluff-top parks within walking distance of most homes
- Small-town scale protected by decades of local planning
- Highly rated Del Mar Union and San Dieguito schools
- Quick I-5 access to Carmel Valley and the Torrey Pines job center
Tradeoffs
- A typical home value near $3.8 million
- Heavy seasonal traffic during the fair and racing seasons
- Bluff erosion and rail-line stabilization work along the coast
- Few rentals and almost no entry-level housing
Good for: Affluent households and retirees who want a walkable beach village and do not mind summer crowds.
Weather
Del Mar's beach and bluffs sit in the full marine influence, so summer highs stay in the low 70s at the sand while the fairgrounds and the San Dieguito valley just inland run several degrees warmer. May Gray and June Gloom often coincide with the county fair, and fog can linger over the lagoon mornings well into July. Santa Ana winds in fall and winter bring the rare hot, dry days.
Aug avg high
71°F
Jan avg low
47°F
Annual rain
10.27"
Best time to visit: Late August through October, when the marine layer thins, the ocean is warmest and the summer race meet and fall events are on.
Housing
Typical home value $3,831,646 (+7.2% year over year)
Beach cottages and rebuilt modern homes on small lots west of Camino Del Mar, larger view homes on the hillside east of it, and a limited number of condos. Very little new multifamily housing exists.
Facts
- Del Mar was founded in 1885 by Theodore Loop and Col. Jacob Taylor, who bought 338 acres to build a resort.
- The Tudor Revival Stratford Inn, completed around 1910, drew silent film stars to early Del Mar.
- Del Mar incorporated on July 15, 1959, in large part to preserve its small-town character and limit high-rise development.
- The San Diego County Fair has been held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds since 1936.
- The Del Mar Racetrack opened in 1937 after Bing Crosby partnered with William Quigley.
- Del Mar's historic train depot closed in 1995 when rail service moved to the new Solana Beach station two miles north.
- Del Mar's median resident age is 55.5 and 86.4 percent of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (ACS 2020-2024).
Fun facts
- The track's slogan, 'where the turf meets the surf,' comes from the Crosby-era theme song sung at the start of each race day.
- Seabiscuit beat Ligaroti in a famous 1938 match race at Del Mar, one of the first nationally broadcast horse races.
- The Torrey pine, which grows at Del Mar's southern edge, is found naturally only here and on Santa Rosa Island.
- At about 1.8 square miles, Del Mar is smaller than many single neighborhoods in the City of San Diego.
Getting around
Freeways: I-5
Transit: The nearest rail station is Solana Beach (Coaster and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner); NCTD Breeze Route 101 runs along Camino Del Mar.
Parking: Metered street and lot parking near the beach is limited and fills fast in summer and during fair and race days.
Walkability: The village core along Camino Del Mar is compact and walkable; the east-side hillside streets are steep and car-oriented.
Frequently asked
Is Del Mar a good place to live?
Del Mar offers a walkable beach village, strong schools and a median household income near $200,000, according to Census estimates. The city has only about 3,900 residents, so it feels quiet outside fair and racing season. The main drawbacks are cost and summer event traffic.
What is the average home price in Del Mar?
Zillow's Home Value Index put the typical Del Mar home at $3,831,646 in June 2026, up 7.2 percent from a year earlier. That makes it one of the priciest markets in San Diego County.
What is the weather like in Del Mar?
NOAA normals from the nearby Oceanside Marina station show January averaging 63 degrees for a high and 47 for a low, with August averaging 71 and 66. Rain totals about 10 inches a year, almost all between November and March.
What is Del Mar known for?
Del Mar is known for its racetrack, opened in 1937 with Bing Crosby, and for hosting the San Diego County Fair every summer. It is also known for its dog-friendly North Beach and its bluff-top parks.
When is the Del Mar racing season?
Del Mar runs a summer thoroughbred meet that traditionally opens in mid-July and ends around Labor Day, plus a fall Bing Crosby Season, scheduled for Nov. 6-29 in 2026.