Once a peninsula, this "Island City" is still in the East Bay
Incorporated in 1854, Alameda has a rich maritime history and was the terminus of the first transcontinental passenger trail that started in New York City and concluded at Alameda Point Pier in September 1869. Though nicknamed “The Island City,” Alameda wasn’t always an island. It took the Army Corps of Engineers 28 years to transform the peninsula that was once connected to Oakland into an island. It was an ambitious project completed in 1902. Boosted by the First and Second World Wars, the city was home to some of Bethlehem Steel’s most productive shipyards of the war era. Commissioned in 1940 and closed in 1997, Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda once sustained a substantial middle-class community with housing for military members.
As the Bay Area has grown in price and prominence, families of modest means have been priced out of Alameda by the increased cost of living. However, with Niche's A-plus city rating, those who reside in Alameda find that the area’s quality of life and job opportunities help offset the rising real estate costs. "I'd say one of the probably more main highlights of living in Alameda is that you get this sort of coastal lifestyle," says Nina Lim, a longtime local Realtor with Keller Williams. "It's just a beautiful place and has a lot of great qualities; people love the school districts around here and the neighborhoods, and I think also the general atmosphere of Alameda, which is pretty unique if you're comparing it generally to other areas around the East Bay." While the population in San Francisco and Oakland is in broad decline, Alameda has increased by 7% since 2020. The city's growing biotech sector is one of the distinct reasons for its population influx, while some of the other biggest area employers that draw in new residents are those in the health and manufacturing industries.
Alameda's bridges connect the island to the mainland.
Many Alameda homes sit along beautiful canals and waterways.
Alameda has almost 6 miles of beautiful coastline.
Alameda is a popular fishing destination due to the calm waters & easy access to the beach.
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Above-average East Bay Area home prices
Home prices in sprawling Bay Area urban centers like San Francisco and Oakland are in double-digit decline, a trend Alameda homeowners are feeling. In the 12 months prior to August 2023, Alameda home values have decreased over 11%, one of the worst declines in the country over that span. The outlook for buyers is mixed – despite a drop in prices, there has been a relative lack of inventory compared to demand, making each listing highly competitive despite a hefty median price point that reached $1.39 million as of October 2024. Though this median housing cost is well above the state and national averages, the city has been working on housing options for underserved seniors, struggling veterans and low-income families with affordable housing properties. The plan is to redevelop the formal Naval Air Station, now called Alameda Point, into residential use, as well as commercial, recreational and retail use.
The city comprises two main sections – Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, which isn’t an island but rather a peninsula attached to Oakland. Bay Farm Island has high-end townhouses and contemporary homes in planned communities. Alameda Island has renovated Craftsman, Tudor, Colonial-Revival and Mediterranean houses, modestly sized apartment buildings and stately Victorians like the Painted Ladies on Grand Street. Looking ahead to meet demand, the city is planning for an additional 5,000 homes to be built by 2031, with the goal that 2,000 of them will be affordable to lower or moderate-income households.
Alameda homes have a lot of unique character.
Alameda is full of incredible victorian architecture.
Alameda's historic Victorian-era homes are iconic of the city.
Alameda is home to many beautiful examples of Spanish mission architecture.
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High-performing school district
The Alameda Unified School District is highly rated by Niche, with an overall A-plus grade. Though it’s performing in the top 15% of the state’s public school districts, the district has been facing the prospect of budget cuts for over a decade. For the 2024-25 budget year, California is contending with a $38 billion deficit, expected to impact state funding to public schools. In fact, the school board voted to close Bay Farm Middle School in 2023. The news isn’t all bad for the high-performing district with nine elementary, four middle, and four high schools. The neighborhood schools offer STEAM programs, intervention services, arts integration and newcomer classes for students entering the country. The high schools have strong career technical education programs, including broadcast journalism, sports medicine, childcare and genomics. Alameda High School, established in 1924, is a standout in the district, ranked in the top 5% of high schools in the state. With an A rating by Niche, the school boasts a 96% graduation rate.
Alameda High School is a pillar of the educational system in Alameda.
Encinal High School is a co-educational public high school located in West Alameda.
Alameda's Lincoln Middle School sits along the southernmost coastline.
Amelia Earhart Elementary School is a highly rated, public school located in Alameda.
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Historic Park Street District and Spirits Alley
Alameda is a lively and vibrant city, with restaurants, retail and entertainment venues clustered in different neighborhoods. Downtown Alameda's Historic Park Street District is a commercial corridor of boutique businesses and independent dining destinations, with some buildings dating back to the late 1800s. The eateries here are notably diverse, with everything from New American to Cuban and Vietnamese food offerings. An anchor of the district is the Alameda Theatre & Cineplex, an Art Deco structure built in 1932 and restored in 2008.
Park Street near Central Avenue is lined with coffee shops and a mix of restaurants that range from Mexican to Mediterranean. With Alameda’s coastal location, waterfront restaurants are another highlight, with top-rated spots like Pier 29, Pasta Pelican, Trabocco Kitchen and Cocktails. Spirits Alley is a cluster of artisan distilleries and tasting rooms along Monarch Street at Alameda Point. Set within and among historic buildings and oversized hangars, Spirits Alley has a unique, distinctive vibe and backdrop painted by stunning panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline. Nearby South Shore Center is often considered the city's premier open-air shopping destination, with almost 600,000 square feet of dining, shopping and entertainment destinations.
Alameda's Park Street is full of historical California charm.
Alameda has an incredible selection of shops and restaurants.
Alameda's Marketplace sells delicious groceries and foods.
Alameda is full of characterful shops and eateries..
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Outdoor amenities, community parks and coastal beaches
The Alameda Recreation and Park Department is the third-oldest park system in California, maintaining dozens of parks and facilities. The department hosts a year-round calendar of family kid-friendly events like Alameda’s Spring Shindig and the Family Snowball Dance Party. The city’s On The Green initiative seeks to integrate the beautiful Corica Park golf course into the wider community with reimaged programming for golfers and non-golfers alike. Sunset Magazine has recognized Crown Memorial State Beach as one of the best spots in the region for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Host of the annual sandcastle and sculpture contest, the park's showpiece is its 2.5-mile beach, with sand dunes bordering a bicycle trail. The Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove is at the beach's west end, and toward the east end is the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary. Alameda itself is flat, making it great for biking and walking with strollers. Robust outdoor amenities contribute to the city’s so-called livability and high quality of life.
Alameda is full of paved bike paths that follow its waterways.
Surfers and fishermen love Alameda for its relatively safe and beautiful waters.
Alameda's Lincoln Park is full of local youth baseball leagues during the school year.
Leydecker Park in Alameda is a popular Tennis court.
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Fostering the arts in the community
Founded in 2015, the West End Arts District’s programming includes a range of free arts and community-building events. A self-described small but ambitious organization, WEAD is transforming Alameda into a dynamic Bay Area arts hub. Blues, Brews and BBQ is an annual one-day street festival that brings internationally renowned blues musicians, local breweries and barbecue vendors together in September. Fiesta Alameda, in July, is a celebration of Latin music, culture, food and drinks that began in 2022. Established in 1999, Rhythmix Cultural Works is a community-based arts facility with a reputation for artistic excellence and cultural depth of programming. The arts are also fostered at a city level – adopted in recent years; the Alameda Public Arts Master Plan guides efforts to support creativity in the community.
While larger-scale national performances and venues are typically found outside of Alameda, the city has undergone the development of Radium Presents. This venue is set to be the premier city destination for national and international performances in music, dance, opera theater and literary arts.
Alameda regularly celebrates cultural heritage with arts performances.
Live music and concerts are a regular part of Alameda life.
Alameda is full of murals and artistic scultpures.
Alameda is a musical city. You can find live music all around the city every weekend.
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Numerous public transportation options
Route 61 runs through the middle of Alameda and leads major roads like 260. There are the four draw bridges and an underground tunnel that takes drivers off the island. The speed limit throughout the city is only 25 miles an hour. This is in direct response to the travel problems of the surrounding cities. Oakland is known for deadly collisions, and San Francisco has crippling traffic. In fact, each is featured on annual lists of the worst cities for gridlock and drivers in general. Plus, both Bay Area cities are known to have some of the most poorly maintained roads in the country.
Three ferry terminals connect the city to downtown San Francisco, the Ferry Building and Jack London Square in Oakland. AC Transit provides bus service to the city, and BART operates the light rail. Bike Walk Alameda publishes a map of the 47 miles of bike paths and public lockers that line the city streets. East Bay Paratransit provides public transport for people who cannot use regular buses or trains because of a disability or a disabling health condition – a service of increasing importance in a city known for senior pedestrian accidents. Alameda is only 25 miles from San Francisco International Airport and under 8 miles from Oakland International Airport via Otis Drive.
AC Transit serves Alameda with a few Transbay bus lines that cross into San Francisco.
The San Francisco Bay Ferry is a luxurious way to commute to San Francisco from Alameda.
Alameda is a short bus ride to the BART, which connects to the rest of the Bay Area.
Alameda is served by multiple AC Transit bus lines.
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Crime and climate change concerns
According to the local police, the number of criminal incidents reported annually in Alameda has been climbing modestly since 2020. In 2023, violent crime happens at a rate of 312 per 100,000 people, while violent crime in California is 511 per 100,000 people. The rate of aggravated assault and murder is substantially lower than the national number, with only one homicide recorded in 2023. Property crime is markedly higher than the California average of 2,727, with burglaries, larcenies and particularly, car thefts – including armed carjackings – happening at a higher rate of 4,106. That said, compared to growing crime concerns across the bridge in Oakland, crime rates in Alameda are much lower by comparison.
As a man-made island at sea level, Alameda faces significant risk from rising ocean levels, which could increase by as much as 2 feet in the coming decades. The city has been struck by localized flooding in recent years as rain has fallen so fast it has overwhelmed storm sewers. Other natural risks to the area include earthquakes and wildfires. However, the city released a robust hazard mitigation strategy in June 2022. The city’s recently completed master plans address the lack of sewer capacity during 10-year and 25-year storms. The plan identifies a series of short-term goals within five years, mid-range goals between five and 10 years, and long-term goals for 10 years and beyond to better help the community with any future weather and climate risks.
Alameda's streets are full of the hustle and bustle of city life.
Many homes in Alameda are waterfront properties.
Alameda's a very busy city, in the heart of the Bay Area.
Alameda hospital is a leader in providing emergency and medical services to Alameda.
On average, homes in Alameda, CA sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Alameda, CA over the last 12 months is $1,200,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Hello! I'm Betzahire Pelayo, an agent with Keller Williams. Originally a Central Valley Native who moved out to the Bay Area after being enchanted with the area's true charm. Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to experience the warmth and beauty of all of the many communities in the Bay Area.
I am no stranger to the difficulties people can encounter while dealing with Real Estate and I am here to facilitate the process for you whether it's buying, selling, or investing! I have spent a vast amount of my career learning the ins and outs of the business to ensure my clients' demands are met and satisfied. I have a profound passion for Real Estate and ensuring that every need is met when buying, selling, or investing. In a business where knowledge is power, I am here to commit my services to help you make an educated decision on opportunities that best serve your goals.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
