What is Kensington actually like to buy in?
Kensington, San Diego is mostly Spanish Revival homes on quiet streets, and a few blocks in it feels like the suburbs. Through September 2026, houses in the 92116 zip, which it shares with Normal Heights and part of University Heights, sold at a $1,337,000 median (San Diego MLS via GSDAR). I'm Jared Harman, based in North Park.
Published . Last updated . Figures are from my own records unless a source is linked.
What is Kensington actually like?
It's an incredible neighborhood. You'll find a lot of Spanish Revival homes, and not so many Craftsman. A lot of Spanish, and they're absolutely beautiful.
That fits the history. Spanish Revival was the most popular style in San Diego in the late 1920s, when much of Kensington was built out (Wikipedia).
It's the kind of neighborhood where the front lawns are manicured perfectly and the houses are kept up.
Get two or three blocks into the neighborhood and it starts to feel like the suburbs. There's plenty of parking, and you don't hear a peep.
Is all of Kensington that quiet?
Not the edges. Kensington runs from Interstate 15 on the west to Fairmount Avenue on the east (Wikipedia).
On the east side, the canyon-side homes look out over Fairmount. On the west side, they look out over the 15. Those can be a bit noisy.
Anything more central is incredibly quiet and peaceful.
What should you check on a Kensington house before you buy?
Most of the Spanish Revival homes here were built somewhere between the 1920s and the 1950s, and a house that age needs a closer look.
Most of them sit on raised foundations, which is great. There may still be some settling, and the floors may be uneven.
Here is what I check, in no particular order.
- The roof. It is always good to check the roof.
- The sewer line. A lot of these houses still have old cast iron sewer lines, which can have root intrusion, cracking, corrosion or a blockage. When one is in bad shape, relining it helps.
- The foundation. If anything comes up on the general home inspection, get a foundation specialist out to look at it.
- The electrical. I don't see many electrical problems on the Kensington homes that hit the market, but at this age it is always smart to check.
Which Kensington street would I show you first?
Adams Avenue. It's the lifeblood of the neighborhood. We'd walk it, and I'd point out the businesses, like Kensington Cafe.
Then we'd keep going east on Adams until it ends, onto the loop of North and East Talmadge Drive. People don't realize how quiet it gets once you're east of Aldine Drive and Van Dyke Avenue. That's probably where my favorite homes in Kensington are.
What do homes cost in Kensington right now?
Through September 2026, the median detached house in the 92116 zip sold for $1,337,000. That is down 8.4% from the same months of 2025, across 110 sales. Data: San Diego MLS via GSDAR, thru September 2026.
Houses took a median of 28 days to sell, at 97.8% of the original list price. Data: San Diego MLS via GSDAR, thru September 2026.
One caveat. 92116 also covers Normal Heights and part of University Heights, so these are zip figures, not Kensington alone. Medians do not account for seller concessions.
What does this mean if you are buying in Kensington?
The zip median came down this year, which can mean room to negotiate. Spend some of that on the inspections above. On a house this age, they are not optional.
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What does this mean if you are selling in Kensington?
Price it off what is selling now. The 92116 house median fell 8.4% through September 2026, so last year's numbers will not hold up. Data: San Diego MLS via GSDAR, thru September 2026.
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. Interviewing agents? Here is what I would ask them.
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, Normal Heights and the surrounding central San Diego neighborhoods. He personally toured more than 800 homes in 2025.