development
Neighborhood · City of San Diego neighborhood
Kearny Mesa
Convoy Street — the best Asian food corridor in Southern California — wrapped in light industrial and car dealerships.
Population
11,326
Median home value
$807,499
Aug high / Jan low
80° / 48°
Latest from Kearny Mesa
See all newsKearny Mesa is central San Diego's working mesa, a grid of office parks, light industry, auto dealers and aerospace sites bounded by State Route 52, Interstate 805, Aero Drive and Interstate 15. It takes its name from Camp Kearny, the 1917-1946 Army camp that became Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, which in turn honored Gen. Stephen W. Kearny. The general said "Car-nee"; San Diegans say "Cur-nee." Aerospace and electronics firms began arriving in 1955, and the former General Dynamics plant has since been redeveloped into the Spectrum mixed-use district. Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, opened as Gibbs Field in 1937, still handles private and corporate aircraft at the mesa's center. For most San Diegans, Kearny Mesa means Convoy. Asian businesses took root on Convoy Street when Woo Chee Chong and Zion Market opened in 1979, followed by Nijiya Market in 1986. The city officially designated the Convoy District on Oct. 20, 2020, and it now holds hundreds of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai restaurants, markets, tea shops and karaoke bars within roughly two square miles. Few people lived here historically, but that is changing: SANDAG counted 11,326 residents in the Kearny Mesa planning area in 2022, and new apartments are appearing on former industrial parcels. Typical home values, at $807,499 in July 2026 according to Zillow, are among the lowest in central San Diego because most homes are condos and townhomes. The mesa is split between City Council Districts 6 and 7.
Living here
Draws
- The region's densest concentration of Asian restaurants and groceries
- Central access to SR-52, I-805, I-15 and SR-163
- Condo prices around $807,000, below most central neighborhoods
- Major job centers within the district
Tradeoffs
- Industrial and office surroundings with few parks
- Heavy traffic and parking congestion on Convoy
- Aircraft noise from Montgomery-Gibbs and nearby Miramar
- No trolley service
Good for: Renters and condo buyers who work nearby and prioritize food, convenience and freeway access over neighborhood greenery.
Weather
Kearny Mesa is the reference point for the central mesas: warmer summer afternoons and cooler winter nights than the coast, with a semi-arid climate classification. The marine layer usually reaches the mesa in May and June but burns off earlier than at the beaches, and Santa Ana winds in fall bring the hottest, driest days.
Aug avg high
80°F
Jan avg low
48°F
Best time to visit: October and November offer warm, dry days, and the Convoy District's restaurants are a year-round draw on cool winter evenings.
Housing
Typical home value $807,499 (-3.7% year over year)
A small residential stock of condos, townhomes and newer apartment buildings inserted among office and industrial areas, including the Spectrum development on the former General Dynamics site; detached houses are rare.
Facts
- Kearny Mesa is named for Camp Kearny, a military base that operated from 1917 to 1946 and became MCAS Miramar.
- Camp Kearny honored Brig. Gen. Stephen W. Kearny, who served as California's military governor after the Mexican-American War.
- Aerospace and electronics firms have operated in Kearny Mesa since 1955.
- Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport opened as Gibbs Field in 1937, was renamed Montgomery Field in 1950 and received its current name in 2016.
- The Convoy District was officially designated on Oct. 20, 2020.
- Woo Chee Chong and Zion Market opened on Convoy in 1979, and Nijiya Market's first location followed in 1986.
- SANDAG estimated the Kearny Mesa planning area's population at 11,326 on Jan. 1, 2022.
- Kearny Mesa is represented by San Diego City Council Districts 6 and 7.
Fun facts
- General Kearny pronounced his name "Car-nee," but San Diegans say "Cur-nee."
- Montgomery Field's 1950 name honors aviation pioneer John J. Montgomery; the 2016 rename added back Bill Gibbs, the airport's original owner.
- The Convoy District's promoters call it the "de-facto Asia Town" of San Diego.
- On May 17, 1995, a stolen M60A3 tank rampaged through Kearny Mesa and Linda Vista, crushing about 40 vehicles.
- Montgomery-Gibbs sits at 427 feet above sea level, about the height of the surrounding mesa.
Getting around
Freeways: SR-52, I-805, I-15, SR-163
Transit: No trolley line crosses the mesa; MTS bus routes, including Rapid service on Clairemont Mesa and Balboa corridors, connect to the Blue Line and to Mission Valley.
Parking: Most Convoy plazas have free surface lots, but they fill quickly on weekend evenings.
Walkability: Wide arterials and big parking lots make it a driving district, though the Convoy core rewards walking once parked.
Frequently asked
Is Kearny Mesa a good place to live?
It works for people who value central freeway access, nearby jobs and the Convoy food scene, and condo values around $807,499 (Zillow, July 2026). The tradeoffs are few parks, traffic and aircraft noise.
What is the average home price in Kearny Mesa?
Zillow's Home Value Index for Kearny Mesa was $807,499 as of July 2026, down 3.7% over the past year. Most homes are condos and townhomes.
What is the weather like in Kearny Mesa?
WeatherSpark's averages for Montgomery Field show January highs around 66°F with lows near 48°F and August highs around 80°F. It is warmer than the coast in summer and cooler on winter nights.
What is Kearny Mesa known for?
The Convoy District, San Diego's pan-Asian dining and shopping hub designated in 2020, along with Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport and a long aerospace history.
How do you pronounce Kearny Mesa?
Locals say "Cur-nee Mesa." General Stephen W. Kearny, the namesake of the camp that gave the mesa its name, pronounced it "Car-nee."
Nearby neighborhoods
Sources
- Wikipedia: Kearny Mesa, San Diego
- City of San Diego Community Planning Group Demographic Data (SANDAG estimates, Jan. 1, 2022)
- Zillow: Kearny Mesa home values
- City of San Diego: Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport
- Convoy District
- Zion Market locations
- Tajima Ramen
- Spicy City
- WeatherSpark: Average Weather at Montgomery Field Airport