EDC’s Inclusive Growth blog series highlights and celebrates San Diego companies and organizations helping drive economic growth and progress toward San Diego’s 2030 Inclusive Growth goals, launched in 2018 and informed by a partnership with the Brookings Institution.
Thriving households in San Diego
Decreasing affordability in San Diego threatens progress toward all the goals and disproportionately impacts communities of color. Household incomes have not kept pace with the cost-of-living reflected in basic household needs such as transportation, grocery expenditures, and childcare, leaving only one in 10 households able to afford the median-priced home in the region. As of 2023, San Diego has added 49,916 newly thriving households (chart below) bringing the total number of San Diego’s thriving households in the region to 610,983—51.7 percent of total households.
Meet SDSU’s Mission Valley Innovation District
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a top-tier public R1 institution that provides transformative educational experiences for more than 43,000 students in person and online, ranking among California’s leading public research universities. Building on this foundation, the SDSU Mission Valley Innovation District extends the university’s mission by fostering collaboration between academia and industry. The 1.6 million square-foot hub for office, technology, and research space creates new career pathways for students, drives regional economic growth, and advances innovative solutions to pressing societal challenges.
Promoting thriving student and faculty households
A significant challenge that SDSU faces in supporting thriving households is the rising home prices and rental costs which far outpace income growth—making it increasingly difficult for students, faculty, and staff to live near campus. For students, housing insecurity can affect academic success and well-being; for employees, it can hinder recruitment and retention, particularly among early-career professionals and those with families.
As SDSU expands through projects like SDSU Mission Valley, the university continues to explore partnerships, policy solutions, and innovative models that increase access to attainable housing while maintaining the quality and sustainability of the surrounding community. Maintaining affordability is a central focus so that students and employees can live and thrive where they learn and work—all essential to advancing SDSU’s mission of opportunity, equity, and regional impact.
Addressing affordability on multiple fronts
SDSU’s Mission Valley Innovation District is designed to advance economic opportunity and improve regional affordability through intentional planning and partnerships. Recognizing housing costs as a primary barrier to thriving households, SDSU Mission Valley will include more than 4,600 residential units, with 10 percent designated as affordable housing. The project’s transit-oriented design connects directly to the trolley, reducing transportation costs and improving access to employment and education. In addition, SDSU continues to explore partnerships that expand childcare options and support working families within the Innovation District.
Hear from SDSU:
“SDSU and EDC have a shared commitment to advancing economic growth, regional talent development, and innovation. SDSU continues to invest in EDC, because EDC serves as a vital convener of regional stakeholders, bringing together leaders from government, education, and the private sector who also share common priorities and challenges. Through EDC’s programs, roundtables, and trade delegations, SDSU gains valuable connections and insights that strengthen collaboration across sectors. EDC’s data-informed approach supports evidence-based decision-making, helping partners align strategies to address regional needs in workforce development, housing, and economic growth. This collective effort directly advances SDSU’s mission of driving opportunity and innovation across the region.”
Join the movement
Progress on EDC’s 2030 Inclusive Growth goals is only achievable with and through the region’s employers scaling innovative and intentional solutions. Anchor institutions like SDG&E are helping to collectively pave the way toward a more inclusive regional economy. Join us:
- Endorse the goals, and be part of the change San Diego’s economy demands.
- See full Inclusive Growth Spotlight series.
- Learn more about becoming an EDC investor.
To learn more and get involved in EDC’s work, contact:
Lauree Sahba
Chief Operating Officer