Rancho Del Rey is one of Chula Vista’s established master-planned communities, and the numbers describe a settled one: in the two ZIP codes that cover the area, about 91% of residents lived in the same home a year earlier. This page looks at who does move, where people moving in and out of San Diego County come from and go, and what to compare and check off if you are next.
Relocating
Moving to Rancho Del Rey: Newcomers, Neighbors and a Checklist
How settled the Rancho Del Rey area is by the numbers, where San Diego County’s newcomers come from, the differences to consider before buying and a checklist by origin.
Inside the ZIP code
Newcomers, ZIP by ZIP
The Census Bureau asks residents where they lived one year earlier.
Turnover in the ZIP code
Share of residents aged one year and over, by where they lived one year earlier. Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024.
| Area | Same home | Moved within the county | From another California county | From another state | From abroad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 91910 (Chula Vista, Rancho Del Rey area) | 91.3% | 6.7% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| ZIP 91913 (Chula Vista, EastLake and Otay Ranch) | 91.2% | 6.3% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| San Diego County | 87.2% | 8.0% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 0.8% |
Roughly 9 in 100 residents of ZIP 91910 had a different address a year before, compared with about 13 in 100 across San Diego County. Newcomers from other states were 0.6% of residents (2.2% countywide).
Survey estimates have a margin of error, and a small share of residents in a ZIP are new each year. The figures describe the residents, not the neighborhood’s character.
What “settled” looks like
In ZIP 91910, 8.7% of residents lived at a different address a year earlier, and in ZIP 91913 it was 8.8%, both below the 12.8% for San Diego County. Lower turnover means, on average, that residents stay longer.
That can be good news for a newcomer, since neighbors tend to know one another. It also means fewer homes reach the market in any given month, so a buyer benefits from being ready when the right one does. The market reports show what is on offer now.
From and to
Where people move from and to
County to county, 2022–2023, from IRS tax-return address changes.
Where people went
People who moved out of San Diego County in 2022–2023, by the county they moved to. Top 6.
Where newcomers came from
People who moved into San Diego County in 2022–2023, by the county they left. Top 6.
Both directions side by side
Flows under 10 tax returns are not published, which is why some cells say so.
| County | Moved in | Moved out | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 8,425 | 12,708 | −4,283 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 9,296 | 6,906 | +2,390 |
| Orange, CA | 5,810 | 4,787 | +1,023 |
| Maricopa, AZ | 2,636 | 3,877 | −1,241 |
| San Bernardino, CA | 2,928 | 2,303 | +625 |
| Clark, NV | 1,829 | 3,142 | −1,313 |
The largest source of newcomers was Los Angeles, CA (9,296 people), and the largest destination was Riverside, CA (12,708). The county that sent San Diego County the most on balance was Los Angeles, CA, +2,390. The biggest net loss was to Riverside, CA, −4,283.
Differences to consider
Compare before you commit
The things newcomers most often ask about, with a place to start on each.
The differences that matter
General information for orientation. Confirm anything that matters with the official source, your lender and your agent.
| Topic | What to compare | Where to look or whom to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Property tax | The base tax is close to 1% of the purchase price, plus voter-approved charges and any special assessments. That is a different formula from places that charge a higher rate on a lower assessed value. | The property tax estimator; the county assessor for a specific address. |
| Special taxes | Look for a line such as “community facilities district” or “assessment” on the tax bill. It changes the monthly cost of owning a home and is worth pricing in. | Your agent and the title company’s report; the county tax bill. |
| Associations (HOAs) | Many Southern California communities have homeowners associations. Ask for the rules (CC&Rs), the budget and the reserve study, and check dues, rental rules and parking rules. Rancho Del Rey has neighborhood associations; the HOA and zoning page explains how to read their rules and plan a project. | The association’s documents, which escrow provides. |
| How the closing works | Closings here run through an escrow officer rather than a closing attorney. Your agent will walk you through the timeline: deposit, inspections, loan approval, signing, recording. | Your agent and the escrow officer. |
| Insurance | Insurance quotes vary by address and by the home’s age and materials. Collect at least one before you remove your contingencies. | An independent insurance broker. |
| Getting around | A route that looks short on a map can behave differently at 8 a.m. Drive it at your usual hour and look at the transit options. Interstate 805, State Route 125, the trolley and local buses connect the area to the rest of the county. | Try the drive at your own commute hour. |
Checklist
Checklist for the move
Practical steps for a move to the area, grouped by where you are coming from.
Check it off
Print this page or copy the list. Not every item applies to every move.
For everyone
- Meet a lender before you tour seriously; a pre-approval letter tells you and sellers that you are ready.
- Build a full monthly budget: principal and interest, property tax, insurance and any HOA dues or special-tax charges.
- Estimate closing costs and the cash you will need at escrow with the closing cost tool.
- Request written quotes from a few movers, try the moving cost planner and confirm what their insurance covers.
- If you are renting: Decide how much rent is comfortable and when you will revisit buying; the rent-versus-buy tool shows both sides.
- Watch for the supplemental tax bill California sends after a purchase; it is separate from the regular bill.
- Go through the disclosures line by line with your agent and note what to ask or inspect.
- Get insurance quotes (homeowners, and earthquake or flood if you want them) before your contingency period ends.
- Arrange mail forwarding and send your new address to your bank, employer, insurers and subscription services.
- Update your voter registration with your new address.
- If you are selling: Assemble permits, HOA documents and repair receipts so a buyer’s file is complete.
- If you are renting: Keep your lease handy and note the notice period, deposit and renewal dates.
- Schedule the general inspection and the pest inspection right away, since contingency periods are short.
- Check that smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms are installed and the water heater is braced, as California requires.
- Walk through the home before you sign to confirm repairs, appliances and overall condition.
- If you are selling: Ask for a market report for your street, then decide what to fix, stage and photograph.
- Measure doors, stairs and rooms for big furniture, and ask your HOA or building about moving-truck rules.
- On day one, change the locks, test the smoke alarms and find the water shut-off.
- Spend time in the area on a weekday morning, a weekend and an evening, and drive the commute at rush hour.
- Walk or drive the neighborhood and note the shops, parks, and services you would use each week.
- Set up electric and gas, water, trash and internet, and ask for the last twelve months of bills to see typical costs.
Coming from elsewhere in California
- If you are selling: Find out what your current home would net, and decide whether the sale has to close before you buy.
- If you are selling: Homeowners 55 and older, and some others, should ask the assessor about carrying their tax base to a new California home (Proposition 19) before selling.
Coming from another state
- Ask a CPA how a move to California changes your income taxes, especially if you are coming from a state without an income tax.
- Look up the California DMV rules for new residents: a license within 10 days and vehicle registration within 20 are the general expectations.
- Ask whether the home has air conditioning and how it stays comfortable; some coastal homes do not have it.
Coming from another country
- If your funds or income are abroad, ask a lender which documents they need and how long each takes.
- Set up U.S. banking, keep copies of your documents and learn how credit history works here.
How Rudy can help
Rudy Flores, Real Estate Strategist with Coldwell Banker West, can turn this page into a plan for your move to Rancho Del Rey: the market numbers for your ZIP code, the differences that apply to your situation and a timeline you can print. He also introduces newcomers to the local professionals they tend to need first, such as a lender, an inspector and an insurance broker.
Tell him where you are coming from, when you would like to be settled and whether you plan to buy, sell first or rent first. He will send a short, personal plan, with no pressure.
Common questions
Are the numbers specific to Rancho Del Rey?
The IRS numbers are for San Diego County. The ZIP tables are for 91910 and 91913, which include Rancho Del Rey and other Chula Vista neighborhoods.
Is a lower turnover rate a good sign?
It is a fact about how long residents stay, not a grade. It can mean a steady community; it can also mean fewer homes come to market.
Where can I find HOA rules?
In the association documents that escrow provides, and on the HOA and zoning page on this site.
A note on what this is
This page uses public statistics about where people move. It describes counts of people by county, state and ZIP code, not who any neighbor is, and it cannot say why anyone moved. Rudy Flores is a licensed real estate agent (CalDRE #02257808) with Coldwell Banker West, not a tax, immigration or legal professional; confirm anything that matters with the official source and with licensed advisors.
Keep exploring
- Market reports — Values, inventory and price cuts for the ZIP code.
- Weekly and monthly updates — Dated updates on the local market.
- Rancho Del Rey guide — The community in detail.
- Rancho Del Rey vs. EastLake — Two ZIP codes side by side.
- Zoning, SPA plans and HOA rules — How to plan a project.
- Moving cost planner — Estimate the cost of the move itself.
- How to Read a Chula Vista Property Tax Bill — How the property tax bill works after a purchase.
Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Point Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #231073), at (619) 475-4095. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Sources
- IRS Statistics of Income: migration data (county-to-county flows)
- U.S. Census Bureau: county population totals and components of change, 2020–2025
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020–2024, table B07001 (geographic mobility)
General information for orientation, not legal, tax, financial or appraisal advice. Details change; confirm anything that matters with the official source, your lender and your agent.