civic
Neighborhood · Incorporated city
National City
The Mile of Cars, a working port, and one of the oldest Filipino communities on the West Coast.
Population
56,173
Median home value
$692,459
Aug high / Jan low
77° / 47°
To downtown
5 mi
Latest from National City
See all newsNational City sits between San Diego and Chula Vista on the east shore of San Diego Bay, a compact city of about 7.3 square miles of land and 56,173 residents at the 2020 census. It incorporated in 1887, one year after Frank, Warren and Levi Kimball's development of the former Rancho de la Nacion had turned into a railroad town. The Santa Fe line made National City a western terminus in 1882, and the 1882 depot still stands as a streetcar and rail museum. The city is dense and working class, with a majority Latino population, a long-established Filipino community tied to the Navy, and roughly two-thirds of households renting. Its waterfront is dominated by Naval Base San Diego and Port of San Diego marine terminals, while National City Boulevard carries the Mile of Cars, the auto dealership row that grew out of businesses that once served sailors. Victorian houses on Brick Row and around Kimball Park recall the 1880s boom. National City has been reworking its older core in recent years with small-business projects such as the Market on 8th food hall near the 8th Street trolley station. It remains one of the more affordable places to buy or rent in the urban South Bay, with a typical home value just under $700,000 in mid-2026, and one of the most walkable cities in the county.
Living here
Draws
- Among the lower home values and rents in the urban South Bay
- Two trolley stations and short drives to downtown
- Walkable older core with historic buildings
- Deep Latino and Filipino food traditions
Tradeoffs
- Freeway, port and industrial land uses bring truck traffic and air-quality concerns near the bay
- High share of renters and crowded housing in some neighborhoods
- Limited public shoreline access because of Navy and port uses
- Fewer parks and trees than suburban neighbors
Good for: Renters and first-time buyers who want transit access and a short commute to downtown or the Navy base.
Weather
National City sits on the bay a few miles north of the Chula Vista station and shares its mild marine climate: gray mornings in May and June, warm but rarely hot late summers, and most rain between December and March. Neighborhoods farther east toward Paradise Hills and Plaza Bonita warm up a few degrees more on summer afternoons. Santa Ana winds in fall bring occasional heat spikes.
Aug avg high
77°F
Jan avg low
47°F
Annual rain
9.2"
Best time to visit: September and October offer the warmest, clearest days, while spring is mild and less foggy than early summer.
Housing
Typical home value $692,459 (+1.9% year over year) · median rent $2,448
Small-lot bungalows, Victorian and early 20th-century houses near downtown and Kimball Park, and 1950s-1970s ranch homes on the eastside hills, alongside a large share of apartments. Only about 35 percent of homes are owner-occupied.
Facts
- National City incorporated on September 17, 1887.
- Frank, Warren and Levi Kimball bought the former Rancho de la Nacion in 1868 and laid out the town's first roads.
- The Santa Fe Railway made National City a western terminus in 1882, and transcontinental trains arrived by 1885.
- The 1882 National City Depot is the surviving western terminus station of the Santa Fe transcontinental line.
- The city's roughly three miles of bayfront are largely occupied by Naval Base San Diego, the largest Navy base on the West Coast.
- The 2020 census counted 56,173 residents on 7.30 square miles of land, about 7,700 people per square mile.
- Paradise Valley Hospital, founded in 1902, is a 301-bed hospital in National City.
- About 34.7 percent of occupied housing units are owner-occupied, according to Census ACS data.
Fun facts
- In 2012 National City was ranked the most walkable city in San Diego County, with a Walk Score of 71.
- The depot museum displays SD Trolley Car 1002, one of the first modern light rail vehicles in the United States.
- The city's name traces back to Rancho de la Nacion, the Mexican-era name for the former El Rancho del Rey.
- Brick Row's townhouses were built in 1887 to house railroad executives.
- Niederfrank's has been making ice cream in the city since 1948.
Getting around
Freeways: I-5, I-805, SR-54
Transit: The UC San Diego Blue Line trolley stops at 8th Street and 24th Street stations, about 15 minutes from downtown San Diego; MTS buses run along National City Boulevard, Highland Avenue and Plaza Boulevard.
Parking: Metered and free street parking is usually available downtown; residential streets near the trolley can be tight in the evening.
Walkability: The grid of older streets between National City Boulevard and Highland Avenue is walkable, with shops, parks and transit close together.
Frequently asked
Is National City a good place to live?
It suits people who prioritize price and location. The typical home value was about $692,000 in July 2026, two trolley stations connect to downtown, and the older core is walkable, but the bayside areas sit next to freeways, the port and the Navy base.
What is the average home price in National City?
Zillow's home value index put the typical home at $692,459 in July 2026, up 1.9% over a year. Redfin's July 2026 median sale price was $718,000, and typical rent is about $2,448 a month per Zillow.
What is the weather like in National City?
Mild and marine-influenced. The nearby Chula Vista NOAA station averages 67.5 F highs in January and 76.9 F highs in August, with about 9.2 inches of rain a year and frequent morning clouds in May and June.
What is National City known for?
The Mile of Cars dealership row, Naval Base San Diego on its waterfront, 1880s landmarks such as Brick Row and the Santa Fe depot, and a strong Filipino and Mexican American community.
When was National City founded?
The Kimball brothers bought the land in 1868 and the city incorporated on September 17, 1887, making it one of the older incorporated cities in San Diego County.
Nearby neighborhoods
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, National City
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 monthly normals, Chula Vista station USC00041758
- Zillow National City home values
- Redfin National City housing market
- Wikipedia: National City, California
- San Diego Electric Railway Association (National City Depot)
- City of National City calendar of events
- San Diego Magazine South Bay guide
- Tripadvisor National City restaurants