East County

The suburban corridor east of San Diego along I-8, anchored by El Cajon — a city of over 100,000 in a broad inland valley — and surrounded by La Mesa, Santee, Lemon Grove, and unincorporated communities such as Lakeside, Spring Valley, and Alpine. The MTS Green and Orange Trolley lines serve El Cajon and La Mesa, connecting to downtown San Diego in about 30 minutes. East County offers significantly lower housing costs than coastal areas, with a mix of older suburban homes, newer master-planned developments, and semi-rural properties in the foothills. Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and the mountain town of Julian are at the far eastern edge.