In the southeastern position of South Diego North County Coastal is the thriving and diverse community of Carmel Valley. Carmel Valley is a master-planned neighborhood consisting of residences, commercial and industrial offices, hotels, restaurants, and numerous stores and boutiques. The master-planned community of Carmel Valley is located in the northwestern corner of San Diego as a part of the North County Coastal area of San Diego County. Comprised of a number of commercial offices and warehouses, residential units and hotels, restaurants, and retail stores. The diverse community is devoted to comfortable living in one of the nicest parts of Southern California. A large portion of Carmel Valley residents are employed at companies that have offices in the area, including Oracle Corporation, US Bank, Scripps Health, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Fish & Richardson, Morrison & Foerster, The Allen Group, and Neurocrine Biosciences. 

Carmel Valley offers convenient access to the I-5, which forms its boundary to the west and is also easy accessed from state highway 56. This access makes Carmel Valley a convenient place to live and work in San Diego County.

Carmel Valley, established in 1975, is one of the newest communities in San Diego. The name Carmel Valley came from the Carmelite Sisters of Mercy, a group of nuns who had formed a monastery and dairy farm nearby in the early 1900s. Prior to being called Carmel Valley, the area was called North City West.

Carmel Valley is served by a few different school districts, the Solana Beach School District serving the northern section and the Del Mar Union School District serving the southern section. All middle and high schools in Carmel Valley are operated by the San Dieguito Union High School District. In addition, students can attend schools in Pacific Highlands Ranch, Torrey Hills, and Torrey Pines. The University of Phoenix offers post high school educational opportunities.