North County | |
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![]() Oceanside Pier in North County | |
![]() North County cities (blue and yellow) and census-designated places (pale blue and cream). Certain neighborhoods in northern San Diego may also be considered part of North County. | |
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Population | 869,322 |
North County is a region in the northern area of San Diego County, California. It is the second-most populous region in the county (after San Diego), with an estimated population of 869,322. North County is well known for its affluence, especially in Encinitas, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Poway and Solana Beach, where house prices range, on average, above $1,000,000.[1] Cities along the 78 freeway (Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido) have more mixed incomes.
Beach culture is prominent in the area, and many of the region's beaches and lagoons are protected areas to help ensure the environment remains pristine, though there has been pressure from commercial entities to develop some of these areas.[2][3]