Kensington or Talmadge: which should I buy in?
Choose Kensington, San Diego if you want businesses close by and more finished homes, with patios, pools and manicured gardens. Choose Talmadge if you want bigger lots, more open space and a more suburban feel. I'm Jared Harman, a San Diego REALTOR® based in North Park, and I show buyers both.
Published . Last updated . Figures are from my own records unless a source is linked.
What is the real difference between Kensington and Talmadge?
They're both quiet communities. Let's keep that straight.
Talmadge typically has bigger lots and bigger yards, from what I've seen. It's a little less developed, with more open space.
Kensington has more of the luxury staples, like a finished patio, a built-in pool or a manicured garden. Everything is just a little more pristine when it comes to the properties.
A lot of people prefer the Talmadge vibe. I do, personally.
The other big difference is businesses. Talmadge doesn't have many. In Kensington, you have Adams Avenue. More on Kensington, and more on Talmadge.
Where does Kensington turn into Talmadge?
Once you're on Aldine Drive, you can tell you're at a transition point between the two.
Going up Aldine, you feed right into Monroe Avenue. I usually take a left on Euclid Avenue and go up and over to the Talmadge traffic circle. That's where the vibe changes, and you really feel like you're in the heart of Talmadge.
The city says the same thing: the renovated traffic circle marks the heart of the neighborhood, and the Talmadge Gates set off its entrances (City of San Diego).
What do you only notice on the second visit?
How different the streets are. On Miracle Drive in Talmadge, the homes and the streets are much wider, and it's much more peaceful.
Adams Avenue is always going to be a little more crowded, because it's the through-traffic street. In Talmadge, the main streets are Adams and Monroe.
Is all of Talmadge the same?
No. In my opinion, the north end, toward the top, is the part to look at first. That's completely my own personal preference.
Further south, things get a little tighter. The streets are narrower and there's less parking, partly because there are more rental buildings closer to El Cajon Boulevard.
What does the same budget buy in Kensington versus Talmadge?
In my read, around $1.3 million to $1.8 million gets you something very, very nice in north Talmadge. In Kensington, that's about the entry point for something decent.
For the zips as a whole: through September 2026, the median house in 92116 sold for $1,337,000, across 110 sales. Data: San Diego MLS via GSDAR, thru September 2026.
The median house in 92115 sold for $955,000, across 160 sales. Data: San Diego MLS via GSDAR, thru September 2026.
One caveat. 92116 also covers Normal Heights and part of University Heights, and 92115 is mostly the College Area. Neither figure is one neighborhood, so treat them as backdrop, not a price for either. Medians do not account for seller concessions.
What does this mean if you are buying in Kensington or Talmadge?
If you're torn, drive the route I take: Adams east to Aldine Drive, up Aldine to Monroe, left on Euclid to the traffic circle, then over to Miracle Drive. On houses this age, budget for the sewer scope and a real look under the house. Here is my Kensington inspection list.
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What does this mean if you are selling in Kensington or Talmadge?
Here is how I would sell a Kensington home right now, and here is how the whole sale runs.
Want the number first? Tell me about your place and I will personally research what you would actually walk away with. That is a Net Number, back to you in 24 hours.
Who is Jared Harman?
Jared Harman is a real estate agent and REALTOR® in San Diego, California, licensed under DRE 02193879 with MatchPoint at eXp Realty of California, Inc. He is based in North Park and works with buyers and sellers in Kensington, Talmadge and the surrounding central San Diego neighborhoods.
Jared Harman has 46 Google reviews, all five stars. He has sold $14M+ in real estate so far in 2026. His videos reach about 250,000 people in San Diego every month, which is where his listings get seen. He personally toured 800+ homes in 2025. In the last 12 months he negotiated about $990,000 in credits and price reductions for his clients.