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How Do You Really Feel About Your San Diego Neighborhood? Take SDSU's Survey

By Hedda ParashosOctober 24, 2026

SDSU journalism professor Amy Schmitz Weiss is running a short san diego neighborhood survey right now, and your answers will shape research on how communities connect with local news. For homeowners and buyers in La Jolla and beyond, neighborhood identity is one of the strongest forces driving where people choose to put down roots.

SDSU is running a short san diego neighborhood survey right now, and it closes at the end of the month. If you live anywhere in San Diego County, you can take it, share your perspective, and enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

For anyone thinking about La Jolla real estate, or really any neighborhood in this city, this is worth your five minutes.

What the SDSU Neighborhood Project Is Asking

SDSU journalism professor Amy Schmitz Weiss created the San Diego Neighborhood Project to study how residents feel connected to their neighborhoods and to local news coverage. Her research falls under what she calls Spatial Journalism, a decade-long look at how place shapes the relationship between communities and the reporters who cover them.

The survey asks you how strongly you identify with your neighborhood, how you get local news, and what you think journalists could do better. The results will feed directly into research on how local newsrooms can serve San Diego communities more effectively.

Why Neighborhood Identity Matters in San Diego Real Estate

After more than two decades working in San Diego real estate, I can tell you that neighborhood identity is one of the most underrated factors in how buyers make decisions and how long homeowners stay put. Buyers rarely say, "I want 1,800 square feet." They say, "I want to feel like I belong somewhere."

That sense of place, the coffee shop you walk to, the park your neighbors all use, the way a street feels on a Saturday morning, drives attachment in ways that square footage never can. It also drives value. Neighborhoods with strong identities tend to hold prices better through slower markets because people are less willing to leave.

For current homeowners curious about what that loyalty translates to in dollars, Find out what your home is worth →

The SDSU san diego neighborhood survey is one of the few efforts asking residents to put that feeling into words.

What This Means For You

• If you own a home in San Diego, your participation helps researchers understand what keeps people rooted, which has real implications for how neighborhoods are covered and supported by local journalism.

• If you are considering buying, paying attention to neighborhood identity, not just school ratings or commute times, helps you find a place where you will actually want to stay for years.

• Buyers who choose a neighborhood based on personal fit tend to feel less "buyer's remorse" than those who chose on price alone.

• Strong neighborhood connection correlates with community investment, which matters for long-term property conditions and civic engagement.

Take a few minutes, fill out the survey, and tell SDSU how your neighborhood actually feels from the inside. This kind of research shapes how journalists prioritize coverage, and coverage shapes how neighborhoods are perceived, which loops back to how buyers and residents understand a community before they ever visit.

You can explore what different San Diego communities look and feel like on our communities page.

Tell us your budget, timeline, and priorities, and we will help you build a La Jolla neighborhood shortlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SDSU San Diego neighborhood survey?

The San Diego Neighborhood Project is a research survey created by SDSU journalism professor Amy Schmitz Weiss. It asks San Diego residents how they identify with their neighborhoods and how they engage with local news coverage. Participants who complete the survey before the end of the month are entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

How does neighborhood identity affect San Diego home values?

Neighborhoods with strong community identity tend to see more consistent demand because residents are less likely to move and buyers actively seek them out. In high-attachment areas, homes often spend fewer days on market and hold value better during slower periods, though individual results depend on property condition, location, and broader market conditions.

How do I choose the right San Diego neighborhood before buying a home?

Start with objective data: commute times, proximity to parks or transit, and school ratings from a source like GreatSchools.org. Then spend time in the neighborhood on different days and at different hours. Talk to people who live there. A neighborhood you connect with personally is one you are far more likely to stay in, which matters both for your quality of life and for the long-term stability of your investment.

Source: axios.com