SERRA MESA

About Serra Mesa

Serra Mesa is a centrally located family neighborhood that blends urban and suburban. It's the epicenter of Sharp Healthcare, where you see the iconic stork peering over the 163 freeway.

Plenty of parks and open space via Ruffin Canyon appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, and make Serra Mesa a much-desired community to be a part of.

History

Like its neighbor to the north, Kearny Mesa, Serra Mesa got full swing into suburban sprawl after the Korean War. Clusters of homes were given grandiose names like Princess Park and Royal Highlands.

In 1961, Serra Mesa was officially named after the Cabrillo Mission Community Council held a naming contest. The lucky winner earned herself a $25 savings bond and a $10 gift certificate.

Today

Serra Mesa remains a family-oriented community, just like it started out decades ago. While single-family homes dominated in the 1950s and 1960s, today the community offers a mix of single-family, condos, and apartment complexes.

Notable Events

In 2021, Serra Mesa resident John Marsh organized a block party that has evolved into an annual event, drawing hundreds of attendees and featuring vendors, music bands, and a car show. The Serra Mesa Big Block Party is held annually in July on Greyling Drive.

Fun Facts

  • Serra Mesa is named after Junípero Serra, a friar who founded Mission San Diego de Alcala.
  • Rick Harrison, of Pawn Stars fame, is from Serra Mesa.
  • National Baseball Hall of Famer Alan Trammell is from Serra Mesa.
  • Haveteur Way was named by a builder having a dispute with his wife over the naming of a street, settling on “Have It Your Way”.
Montgomery field airport
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Serra mesa sun

If you’re new to Serra Mesa, you’re likely interested in finding out the tried and true favorites of locals. Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. From coffee shops to eateries, these are some of the top picks of Serra Mesa residents.

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Real Estate

The Serra Mesa real estate sales and rental markets are ever evolving.  We provide you with the latest data from RentCast. The stats combine single-family and multi-family housing.

92123 Sales Stats

Updated Oct 8, 2025
$975,000

median list price

103

inventory

30

average days on market

7

new listings (30 days)

$389,000

lowest price

$1,579,900

highest price

92123 Rental Stats

Updated Oct 8, 2025
$3,105

median list price

1

average days on market

295

inventory

154

new listings (30 days)

$1,600

lowest rent

$9,870

highest rent

Serra Mesa Demographics

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Residents
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0

Median Household Income

0

Median Age

Serra Mesa Resource Guide

Parks & Recreation

Serra Mesa residents can take advantage of the natural resource that is Ruffin Canyon and Sandrock Canyon. There are multiple trails to explore.

Parks

Serra Mesa Community Park & Rec Center offers green space, basketball courts, softball fields, and a playground.

Murray Ridge Neighborhood Park has a basketball court, tennis court, two pickleball courts, a playground and green space.

Cabrillo Heights Neighborhood Park has baseball fields, green space, and two playgrounds.

 

Public Transit

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) offers public transportation to Serra Mesa residents via bus.

If you plan to travel via bus, MTS offers standard bus service, as well as Rapid bus service. Rapid is a limited-stop bus service.

For additional information on fares, schedules, or mapping out your trip, visit the MTS website.

 

 

Waste & Environmental Resources

Trash (black bin) and organic waste collection (green bin) occur weekly between 6 am and 5:30 pm.

Recycling collection occurs every other week.

To check your trash collection pickup schedule, you can enter your address in San Diego’s trash collection map lookup.

You may contact San Diego Environmental Services with any questions at 858-694-7000 or trash@sandiego.gov.

Healthcare & Medical

Serra Mesa is served by Sharp Memorial Hospital.

You can find a nearby medical facility in our general resources guide, or in our directory.

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