Sold Oct 30
$505,000
Mission Gorge Road
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,035 sq ft
98.1% of list price
Listing courtesy of Compass
San Diego Neighborhood Guide
Allied Gardens and Del Cerro are neighboring residential areas in the Navajo community of eastern San Diego, set north of Interstate 8 between Grantville, San Carlos and San Diego State University. Allied Gardens is a postwar ranch-home tract with a small business strip along Waring Road, a recreation center, pool and library. Del Cerro, Spanish for “of the hill,” sits higher, with view lots and quieter curving streets. Both offer quick access to Lake Murray, Mission Trails Regional Park and the Grantville trolley station.
Quick Facts
| Area | Part of the Navajo Community Plan area, about 8,000 acres in all (Navajo also includes Grantville and San Carlos) |
|---|---|
| Planning area | Navajo (City of San Diego; Council District 7) |
| ZIP code | 92120 |
| Boundaries | Roughly Mission Gorge Road and Grantville to the west and north, San Carlos and Lake Murray to the east, and Interstate 8, the College Area and San Diego State University to the south; Del Cerro also touches the City of La Mesa. Neighborhood lines are informal. |
| Founded | Allied Gardens: first subdivision map recorded May 25, 1953, with first residents arriving in early 1954. Del Cerro: developed in stages from the 1950s through the 1970s. |
| Home types | Mostly single-family homes, with some attached housing and apartments, especially in Allied Gardens and along Mission Gorge Road |
| Signature style | Postwar tract ranch homes in Allied Gardens; mid-century ranch and hillside view homes in Del Cerro |
| Price tier | Upper |
| Best for | buyers who want single-level ranch homes, view lots, quick access to Lake Murray and Mission Trails, and a central location near I-8 and the trolley |
Jeff’s Take
I’ve sold and leased a lot of homes in Allied Gardens and Del Cerro. Allied Gardens has postwar ranch homes, a recreation center, pool and library, and Del Cerro sits higher with view lots and curving streets.
Neighborhood schools and parks are close by, and you’re minutes from SDSU, Mission Trails and I-8.
Who it’s not for: These are quiet residential neighborhoods. If you want nightlife or a busy main street, you’ll be happier in North Park or Hillcrest.
Allied Gardens vs. San Carlos: Allied Gardens and Del Cerro sit closer to I-8, SDSU and the Grantville trolley. San Carlos is a bit farther out with direct trail access to Cowles Mountain.
What buying in Allied Gardens / Del Cerro often looks like
Say you find a Del Cerro home with a canyon view. Before we write, I check the fire-zone map for that lot, look at the slope and drainage, and confirm what the Navajo Community Plan allows if you want to add on.
Market Snapshot
| Measure | Oct 2026 | Oct 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $992,500 | $1,200,000 | −17% |
| Avg. price per sq. ft. | $705 | $650 | +8% |
| Homes sold | 14 | 21 | −33% |
| New listings | 28 | 30 | −7% |
| Median days on market | 7 | 21 | −67% |
| % of list price received | 99% | 99% | 0% |
| Months of inventory | 2.2 | 1.7 | +29% |
Single-family homes, ZIP 92120, as of October 2026. Source: San Diego Multiple Listing Service (SDMLS) closed sales, compiled by Jeff Brick. ZIP 92120 covers Allied Gardens, Del Cerro and Grantville.
| Measure | Current listings |
|---|---|
| Median asking price | $1,198,000 |
| Median asking price per sq. ft. | $725 |
| Homes for sale | 51 |
| Median days on market (current listings) | 64 |
| Months of supply | 3.9 |
| HouseCanary 1-year price forecast | 0.9% |
Single-family homes, ZIP 92120, listings on the market as of November 3, 2026. Source: HouseCanary Market Insights. Asking prices are what sellers are listing for, not final sale prices.
Jeff’s note (Q4 2026): 14 homes sold in October at a median of $992,500, down 17% from a year ago. The median and the price per square foot moved differently, which points to a different mix of homes selling rather than a change in values. At 2.2 months of inventory the market is fairly balanced: well-priced homes sell, and overpriced ones sit.
A Few Recent Sales
Not every sale, just a few recent closings I picked to show what buyers are actually paying in Allied Gardens / Del Cerro right now. Updated monthly · November 2026.
$505,000
Mission Gorge Road
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,035 sq ft
98.1% of list price
Listing courtesy of Compass
$1,155,000
Wembley Street
4 bd · 2 ba · 1,542 sq ft
94% of list price
Listing courtesy of Baywood Real Estate & Mortgage
$680,000
Hillsboro Street
2 bd · 1 ba · 850 sq ft
90.8% of list price
Listing courtesy of Countywide R.E.& Property Mgmt
$710,000
Glenroy Street
2 bd · 1 ba · 910 sq ft
83.5% of list price
Listing courtesy of Boehm & Boehm Real Estate
$1,200,000
Winona Avenue
3 bd · 2 ba · 1,813 sq ft
100.1% of list price
Listing courtesy of Century 21 Affiliated
$835,000
Clara Lee Avenue
3 bd · 2 ba · 1,406 sq ft
101.2% of list price
Listing courtesy of Larabee Real Estate
$850,000
Barclay Avenue
3 bd · 1 ba · 1,096 sq ft
89.5% of list price
Listing courtesy of Parker Properties
$70,000
Old Cliffs Road
2 bd · 2 ba · 786 sq ft
53% of list price
Listing courtesy of San Diego Living
$545,000
Mission Gorge Road
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,146 sq ft
101.9% of list price
Listing courtesy of Compass
$180,000
Old Cliffs Road
2 bd · 2 ba · 1,120 sq ft
90.2% of list price
Listing courtesy of Pacific View Real Estate
Sold information from the San Diego MLS (SDMLS®), deemed reliable but not guaranteed. These homes may have been listed and sold by other brokerages; they are shown to illustrate the local market, not as Jeff Brick’s own sales. Want the full list of recent sales or a value estimate for your home? Ask Jeff.
History
The Kumeyaay lived along the San Diego River for thousands of years before Spanish settlement, and the Navajo area later became ranch and farm land. In 1887 the Junipero Land and Water Company laid out a townsite whose post office was called Orchard; the area along Mission Gorge Road became known as Grantville, after President Ulysses S. Grant. San Diego annexed the land in pieces after World War II: the 460-acre Waring Tract in 1948, the 1,152-acre Southern Title and Trust Company Tract in 1951, which became Allied Gardens, and Waring Tract No. 2, nearly 5,000 acres, in 1954, where Del Cerro and San Carlos later grew. Builders Walter Bollenbacher and Louis Kelton, operating as Allied Contractors, began grading former Waring Ranch land in 1953. The first houses went up on Twain Avenue that year, residents arrived in early 1954, and about 4,000 homes stood by 1957. The name comes from the company, not from the wartime Allies. Del Cerro filled in on the hills to the east over the late 1950s and 1960s, including the Princess Del Cerro subdivision, which gives a local park its name.
Allied Gardens was built by Walter Bollenbacher and Louis Kelton, who bought part of the Waring Ranch and did business as Allied Contractors; the neighborhood takes its name from that firm. Along with Clairemont, it was one of the largest subdivisions in San Diego at the time, and it earned two National Association of Home Builders awards for its character. Del Cerro was built over several decades by a series of subdividers rather than one master developer. One 1960s subdivision, Princess Del Cerro, is still remembered through Princess Del Cerro Park. Sources we reviewed do not name the individual Del Cerro builders, so specific tract builders should be confirmed through recorded subdivision maps.
Architecture
Allied Gardens is a textbook example of postwar San Diego tract building. Homes are variations on the single-story ranch house with attached two-car garages, a formula that local historians credit with helping to define the city’s postwar tract ranch style. Many were modest in size when built, and later owners have added rooms, second stories and updated facades, so a single block can show both original and expanded versions of the same plan. Del Cerro’s homes are also largely ranch and mid-century designs, but the hilly terrain shaped them differently: early houses were placed to take advantage of elevated lots and views across Mission Valley and toward the mountains. Expect split-level and hillside lots, larger yards on some streets, and a mix of original mid-century homes and remodels.
We found no designated historic district in Allied Gardens or Del Cerro. The area’s history is mostly postwar, and its interest lies in its intact 1950s and 1960s tract streets rather than individual landmarks. The neighborhood’s past is documented in sources such as the City of San Diego’s Navajo Community Plan and local history features. Owners who believe a home is significant can research it through the City’s Historical Resources Board process; designated properties may qualify for a Mills Act contract, which can lower property taxes in exchange for preservation. Check any individual address against the City’s Historical Resources Register.
Living Here
Housing is mainly detached single-family homes. Allied Gardens has a mix of detached and attached housing, while Del Cerro and the hills toward San Carlos are mainly residential single-family streets, according to the City’s Navajo community profile. Most homes date from the 1950s through the 1970s. Lot sizes are typical of postwar tracts in Allied Gardens and often larger or sloped in Del Cerro. Because the neighborhoods are long established, new construction is mostly remodels, additions and accessory dwelling units. Apartments and condominiums are concentrated near Mission Gorge Road and the Grantville area, where the City has encouraged transit-oriented housing near the trolley station.
Daily life is centered on parks, the lake and quick errands. Allied Gardens Community Park on Greenbrier Avenue has a recreation center, a pool on Glenroy Street and an off-leash dog park that opened in February 2024. The Allied Gardens/Benjamin Library is on Zion Avenue, and the Waring Road strip holds long-running spots such as Brothers Family Restaurant and Foster’s Freeze. Del Cerro has a small village of shops along Del Cerro Boulevard, including Windmill Farms Market and Del Cerro Gallery. Lake Murray’s shoreline path and the trails of Mission Trails Regional Park are a short drive or bike ride away.
Getting Around
Walk Score: Varies by area: Allied Gardens 45 (Car-Dependent); Del Cerro 14 (Car-Dependent). Sources: https://www.walkscore.com/CA/San_Diego/Allied_Gardens and https://walkscore.com/CA/San_Diego/Del_Cerro · Transit Score: Allied Gardens 27; Del Cerro 36 · Bike Score: Allied Gardens 29; Del Cerro 21
Allied Gardens and Del Cerro are served by San Diego Unified School District, mostly within the Patrick Henry cluster. Neighborhood elementary schools include Marvin Elementary on Brunswick Avenue, Foster Elementary, and Hearst Elementary on Del Cerro Boulevard. Lewis Middle School sits next to Allied Gardens Community Park, and older students attend Patrick Henry High School, located between Del Cerro and San Carlos. San Diego State University is next door. School assignments follow attendance boundaries, so buyers should confirm the schools for a specific address with the district.
Allied Gardens Community Park and Recreation Center, Allied Gardens Pool, the Allied Gardens Off-Leash Dog Park, Princess Del Cerro Park, Lake Murray and its shoreline path, and Mission Trails Regional Park, including nearby Cowles Mountain.
Explore Allied Gardens / Del Cerro
Public and charter schools closest to the heart of Allied Gardens / Del Cerro.
San Diego Unified
San Diego Unified
San Diego Unified
San Diego Unified
San Diego Unified
San Diego Unified
San Diego Unified
San Diego Unified
School assignment depends on the exact address, so confirm the schools for any home with the school district. Source: California Department of Education, 2024–25 school sites. Report cards link to the official California School Dashboard.
Green space, trails and play areas in and around Allied Gardens / Del Cerro.
Park data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances are approximate, measured from the center of Allied Gardens / Del Cerro.
Allied Gardens and Del Cerro sit in the western half of the Navajo community in eastern San Diego. Interstate 8 and Mission Valley lie to the south, with San Diego State University and the College Area just across the freeway. Grantville and Mission Gorge Road form the western and northern edge, leading into Mission Trails Regional Park, while San Carlos and Lake Murray lie to the east and the City of La Mesa borders Del Cerro’s southeastern corner.
Local Favorites
Breakfast and lunch restaurant (since 1994)
5150 Waring Rd, San Diego, CA 92120
Directions →Italian restaurant and pizzeria
5156 Waring Rd, San Diego, CA 92120
Directions →Independent produce and natural foods market (since 2003)
6386 Del Cerro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92120
Directions →Neighborhood bistro and bottle shop
6380 Del Cerro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92120
Directions →Photos, ratings and links from Google Maps
FAQ
Allied Gardens is somewhat better for walking, with a Walk Score of 45 and shops, a library and a park near Waring Road and Zion Avenue. Del Cerro scores 14 and is largely car-dependent, though Del Cerro Boulevard has a small cluster of shops.
Life is quiet and residential, built around parks, the recreation center and pool, and quick errands on Waring Road or Del Cerro Boulevard. Many residents spend free time walking around Lake Murray or hiking in Mission Trails Regional Park.
Public students attend San Diego Unified schools in the Patrick Henry cluster, including Marvin, Foster and Hearst elementary schools, Lewis Middle School and Patrick Henry High School. Confirm assigned schools by address with the district.
Downtown is typically about 15 to 20 minutes away by car via Interstate 8, and the Grantville trolley station offers a rail option. The nearest beaches, such as Mission Beach and Ocean Beach, are usually about 20 to 25 minutes west on I-8 without traffic.
The neighborhoods are postwar, so homes mostly date from the 1950s through the 1970s rather than earlier eras. Allied Gardens is a well-preserved example of 1950s tract ranch building, but we found no designated historic district there.
It comes from Allied Contractors, the company formed by builders Walter Bollenbacher and Louis Kelton, who developed the tract starting in 1953. It is not a reference to the World War II Allies.
All three share the Navajo community, Patrick Henry High School and access to Lake Murray and Mission Trails. Allied Gardens is closer to I-8 and the trolley, Del Cerro has more hillside view lots, and San Carlos sits farther east at the base of Cowles Mountain.
Work With Jeff
Jeff Brick, San Diego REALTOR® at Compass, DRE# 02156850. Million Dollar Service at All Price Points. Call or text 858-324-4448.
Nearby neighborhood guides: Mission Valley · Clairemont · University City / UTC · Tierrasanta · San Carlos
Header photo: Z3lvs (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
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