Survivability Rankings for Beauty Salon in San Diego

StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in San Diego to open a Beauty Salon, from Old Town (79% survival) to Palm City (62%).

•12 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: Old Town: 79% average survivability for Beauty Salon
  • Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 12 of 83 analyzed
  • City-wide average: 70% for Beauty Salons
  • Most challenging area: Palm City at 62%
  • Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~34.3% more expected revenue in Old Town
  • Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Table of Contents

Summary

Old Town leads San Diego's 2026 survivability rankings for Beauty Salon operators with 79% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 84% and the most challenging locations in Old Town at 63%. The worst neighborhoods include Palm City with 62% average chance. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform.


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

Old Town ranks #1 of 83 neighborhoods analyzed in and around San Diego for Beauty Salon survivability, with a 79% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

RankNeighborhoodAt a good addressAverage LocationsBest LocationsChallenging Locations
1Old Town83.6%77.0% to 82.0%83.0% to 84.0%62.0% to 64.0%
2Kearny Mesa83.6%76.0% to 80.0%83.0% to 84.0%48.0% to 50.0%
3Rolando83.6%75.0% to 79.0%83.0% to 84.0%62.0% to 64.0%
4Harborside83.1%72.0% to 77.0%82.0% to 84.0%58.0% to 60.0%
5Loma Portal83.1%72.0% to 77.0%82.0% to 84.0%58.0% to 60.0%
6University Heights83.1%72.0% to 77.0%83.0% to 84.0%51.0% to 53.0%
7Carmel Mountain83.1%69.0% to 74.0%83.0% to 84.0%48.0% to 50.0%
8Grantville83.1%69.0% to 74.0%83.0% to 84.0%48.0% to 50.0%
9Millenia82.6%77.0% to 81.0%82.0% to 84.0%73.0% to 75.0%
10Core-Columbia82.6%74.0% to 78.0%82.0% to 84.0%62.0% to 64.0%

Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations. StreetSpring refreshes survivability data continuously: check the tool for the most current score at any address.

Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. 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 Beauty Salon Make the Most Money?

In Old Town, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~34.3% more than the average location in or around San Diego.

On the other hand, in Palm City, the worst possible location could result in making ~30.0% less than the average location in the city.

Where you open matters more than anything else. Opening a Beauty Salon in San Diego requires careful location choice. Across 83 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Beauty Salon is 70% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. The interplay between location characteristics and business type produces unique survivability scores for every combination.


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

When selecting a location for a Beauty Salon in or around San Diego, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. Of all the variables StreetSpring analyzes, Revenue Capture Score has the strongest predictive power. 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's training dataset includes millions of transactions and business lifecycle events. A certain density of competitors signals strong demand and can benefit all businesses. The prediction engine behind these rankings is entirely proprietary: developed in-house over years of research. 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. Our live tool reflects the latest competitive landscape: these static rankings may already be slightly out of date.


Where in or Around San Diego Should I Start a Beauty Salon?

StreetSpring identifies the strongest markets as Old Town, Kearny Mesa, and Rolando, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Palm City, Heritage Hills, and Robinhood-Bon Vivant. A low-ranking neighborhood can still contain high-potential storefronts: the address matters most. Because local conditions evolve weekly, the live survivability tool offers a more current snapshot than any published ranking.

Related Articles:


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

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Beauty Salon in San Diego is Old Town with 79% average survivability, followed by Kearny Mesa and Rolando. 12 of 83 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.

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


Can a Beauty Salon 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 Beauty Salon 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 Beauty Salon a Good Tenant for San Diego Landlords?

In Old Town, StreetSpring forecasts a 77.0% to 82.0% average chance for a new Beauty Salon to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Beauty Salon in San Diego

Should you rent your storefront to a Beauty Salon? The answer depends heavily on your neighborhood. Old Town offers the strongest outlook at 77.0% to 82.0% average survivability, followed by Kearny Mesa at 76.0% to 80.0%, and Rolando at 75.0% to 79.0%. Get a live Survivability Score for your specific storefront at no cost.

StreetSpring's predictions are granular enough to distinguish between two storefronts on the same block.

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 static ranges shown here.