Cardiff-by-the-Sea: Homes for Sale & Neighborhood Guide
Encinitas’s southern beach town, between San Elijo Lagoon and the bluffs, with its own ZIP and its own school district.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea is the southernmost community of Encinitas, north of San Elijo Lagoon, mostly in ZIP 92007. Developer J. Frank Cullen began selling lots here in 1909 and his wife, Esther, from Cardiff, Wales, gave it its name. In September 2026 the 92007 median detached sale was $2,350,000 (GSDAR). Only a few homes sell in 92007 each month, so its figures swing a lot. Cardiff-by-the-Sea has about 3,300 detached homes and 2,200 attached homes such as condos, townhomes and apartments (U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024).
Boundary: approximate neighborhood outline by Jamile Storck and Jed Bratt. Map tiles © Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, NGA, EPA, USDA, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea Market · September 2026
ZIP 92007 · compared with September 2025
Source: Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS® Local Market Update for 92007 (Cardiff), September 2026 (current as of Oct 5, 2026). Sept 2025 figures are as shown in the same report. All data from the San Diego MLS. Medians do not account for sale concessions. Small sample sizes can swing percentages.
Homes for Sale In and Near Cardiff-by-the-Sea
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Living in Cardiff-by-the-Sea
The vibe
Cardiff has beach cottages, newer custom homes and condos on hills above the coast. Many streets are named for British cities, and the Composer District has twelve streets named for composers.
Source: Wikipedia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
Things to do
Cardiff State Beach and San Elijo State Beach line the coast, and the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve has trails along its south side. The Magic Carpet Ride statue, known as the Cardiff Kook, stands on Coast Highway 101, and MiraCosta College has its San Elijo campus here.
Sources: California State Parks; San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy.
Schools
Ada W. Harris Elementary
Grades 3-6
Ocean Knoll Elementary
Grades K-6
San Dieguito HS Academy
Grades 9-12
Ratings out of 10: ELA and math = % of students meeting or exceeding the 2025 CAASPP standard, divided by 10; overall = average of the two. Source: California Dept. of Education (caaspp-elpac.ets.org). School assignment changes, so confirm with the district before you buy.
Getting around
Coast Highway 101 and I-5 run through Cardiff. The nearest COASTER stations are Solana Beach to the south and Encinitas to the north.
Source: NCTD.
Neighborhood Insight
Cardiff is the only Encinitas community with its own ZIP code, 92007. Cardiff’s Composer District has twelve streets named for composers.
Source: USPS.
Around Cardiff-by-the-Sea
Cardiff-by-the-Sea FAQ
Where is Cardiff-by-the-Sea?
Cardiff is the southernmost beach community in Encinitas, just north of San Elijo Lagoon and Solana Beach, in ZIP 92007.
What was the median home price in Cardiff-by-the-Sea in September 2026?
For ZIP 92007, the September 2026 median sale price was $2,350,000 for detached homes and $1,515,000 for attached homes (GSDAR Local Market Update). Only a few homes sold in 92007 that month, so the figures can swing a lot.
How long are Cardiff-by-the-Sea homes taking to sell?
In September 2026, detached homes in 92007 sold in a median of 13 days and attached homes in 16 days (GSDAR).
Which schools serve Cardiff?
Cardiff School District runs Cardiff Elementary (K-2) and Ada W. Harris Elementary (3-6), and San Dieguito Union High runs the middle and high schools. Check your exact address with each district.
How did Cardiff-by-the-Sea get its name?
Esther Cullen, a native of Cardiff, Wales, persuaded her husband, developer J. Frank Cullen, to name the town Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
Who can help me buy or sell a home in Cardiff-by-the-Sea?
Jamile Storck (DRE 01920597) and Jed Bratt (DRE 01891062) help buyers and sellers in Cardiff-by-the-Sea and across Encinitas.
Neighborhoods Nearby
Twelve neighborhoods closest to Cardiff-by-the-Sea, with Sept 2026 median sale prices by ZIP from GSDAR.
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