Survivability Rankings for Gym in San Diego

StreetSpring's 2026 ranking of San Diego neighborhoods to open a Gym, at a good address, from Kearny Mesa (84.0% survival) to Southwestern College Estates.

•13 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: October 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

  • Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
  • #1 Neighborhood: Kearny Mesa: 84.0% at a good address, 78.0% at a typical address for Gym (6 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure)
  • Neighborhoods at or above 70% at a typical address: 34 of 83 ranked
  • Average across the 83 ranked neighborhoods (typical address): 68.2% for Gyms
  • Most challenging area: Southwestern College Estates: 65.1% at a good address, 61.3% at a typical address
  • Revenue Capture Score: the most important factor in choosing a location, StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address
  • Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Table of Contents

Summary

Opening a Gym in San Diego? Our 2026 analysis identifies Kearny Mesa as the top location, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.0% at a good address and 78.0% at a typical address (6 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure). Its highest scored address is at 84.0% and its lowest at 50.7%. The last-ranked neighborhood is Southwestern College Estates, at 65.1% at a good address and 61.3% at a typical address. Neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation: always check your specific address.


What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around San Diego to Open a Gym?

Kearny Mesa ranks #1 of the 83 ranked neighborhoods in and around San Diego for Gym survivability, with a projected chance of lasting two or more years of 84.0% at a good address as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

RankNeighborhoodMetroAt a good addressAverage (typical address)Best LocationsChallenging Locations
1Kearny MesaSan Diego84.0%78.0%84.0%50.7%
2RolandoSan Diego84.0%77.9%84.0%57.9%
3Ocean BeachSan Diego84.0%76.5%84.0%61.5%
4Normal HeightsSan Diego84.0%72.6%84.0%49.8%
5HillcrestSan Diego84.0%71.1%84.0%48.4%
6South ParkSan Diego84.0%67.3%84.0%48.4%
7Core-ColumbiaSan Diego83.6%81.6%83.6%72.3%
8MilleniaSan Diego83.6%79.4%83.6%69.6%
9Point Loma HeightsSan Diego83.6%73.6%84.0%51.2%
10Carmel MountainSan Diego83.6%73.0%84.0%50.7%

Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

The ranking runs on the good-address figure (the 90th percentile of the scored addresses in each neighborhood). Average is the typical address; Best and Challenging Locations are the highest and lowest scored address in the neighborhood. Every figure is the projected chance of lasting two or more years, as printed in the linked file. See our full methodology →

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.


Where in or Around San Diego Would a Gym Make the Most Money?

Where a Gym would make the most money in or around San Diego comes down to the exact address. The Revenue Capture Score is the most important factor in choosing a location: StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address.

Kearny Mesa is ranked #1 for Gym survivability, at 84.0% at a good address and 78.0% at a typical address; Southwestern College Estates is ranked last of the 83, at 65.1% at a good address and 61.3% at a typical address. Revenue at a specific storefront is what the Revenue Capture Score estimates, so check it for each address you are weighing.

Your choice of location is one of the few business decisions you can test against data before you commit. Opening a Gym in San Diego requires careful location choice. Across the 83 ranked neighborhoods, the average projected chance that a new Gym lasts two or more years is 68.2% at a typical address. Different business types will have different forecasted spend than others, and all of those would have different projections for each location.


What Should I Consider When Opening a Gym in or Around San Diego?

When selecting a location for a Gym in or around San Diego, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. The single most important number in a location decision is the Revenue Capture Score, StreetSpring's proprietary estimate of the revenue a business can capture at a specific address. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. StreetSpring measures competition through a 30-factor framework. Moderate competition often indicates a healthy market with proven consumer demand. These forecasts are generated using StreetSpring's unique analytical framework. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. New competitor openings and closures happen weekly: the live tool ensures you see the latest picture.


Where in or Around San Diego Should I Start a Gym?

The highest-performing areas for this business type are Kearny Mesa, Rolando, and Ocean Beach, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Southwestern College Estates, Greg Rogers, and Kensington. However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. New competitor openings and closures happen weekly: the live tool ensures you see the latest picture.

Related Articles:


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in San Diego to Open a Gym?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Gym in San Diego is Kearny Mesa, at 84.0% at a good address and 78.0% at a typical address (6 ranked neighborhoods share the 84.0% good-address figure), followed by Rolando and Ocean Beach. 34 of the 83 ranked neighborhoods are at or above 70% at a typical address.

Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.


Can a Gym Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in San Diego?

Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Market conditions are changing daily and it is best to use StreetSpring's most up-to-date data. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.


How Often Are Gym Rankings in San Diego Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in San Diego.


Is a Gym a Good Tenant for San Diego Landlords?

In Kearny Mesa, the projected chance that a new Gym lasts two or more years is 78.0% at a typical address and 84.0% at a good address, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Gym in San Diego

The data tells a clear story for Gym tenants across San Diego's top neighborhoods. Kearny Mesa leads at 78.0% at a typical address, with its best scored address at 84.0%. Rolando is at 77.9% at a typical address, and Ocean Beach at 76.5% at a typical address. You can see the Survivability Score for your location for any business right now.

StreetSpring can give you the precise likelihood that hundreds of different businesses will last at an exact address.

Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity


What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around San Diego for My Business Overall?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around San Diego to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: San Diego.


Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for San Diego are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for San Diego

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the figures shown here.