Castro Valley: a bedroom community with a strong outdoorsy identity
Castro Valley is situated at the confluence of five canyons in the East Bay Hills between Oakland and Fremont. Once a valley filled with chicken ranches and orchards, It is now a fully developed city with many shopping and dining options, distinct neighborhoods and strong job opportunities. Eden Medical Center is the biggest employer, but many residents commute to work at companies like Oracle, Workday and Visa in nearby cities. Despite this commuter town status, Castro Valley has a distinct identity. “I like working and living here because of the diversity, and I like the amount of thought put into the area by planners,” says Dinh Truong, Broker Associate with Compass. “The traditional perception is that this is just a drive-through town on your way to Oakland or Freemont, but we’re more than that. There’s a lot of great nature, culture, traditions, and a lot of progression happening.”
Castro Valley, home to 65,000 people, is still a census-designated place because, as longtime locals say when incorporation comes up for a vote, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And broke it is not; a municipal advisory council handles public affairs, and people continue to be drawn to the valley for the mild climate and abundant green space. “The best things are the schools and the weather, and it’s very walkable and good for biking—very outdoor-friendly. We only need air conditioning two weeks a year. I can walk around the lake with just a sweater in winter.” says Keil. “Of all the cities around us, this is where people want to be,” says Danielle Keil, a realtor with KW Advisors who lives in Castro Valley.
Downtown Castro Valley residents have easy access to explore the surrounding hills.
Castro Valley Pride in Downtown Castro Valley help raises awareness toward the LGBTQ Community.
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Distinct neighborhoods from Downtown Castro Valley to Five Canyons
The median home price for Castro Valley is $1.15 million, and the average home value is more than twice the national average. “Housing prices have gone up; people that came in the last five years have more disposable income,” says Keil. “The housing market is hot, but I’ve been in business 24-plus years, and there’s hardly been a slow time. There are always multiple offers.”
Smaller, older homes are in the central part of Castro Valley, while bigger homes with larger lots are in the hills. Downtown Castro Valley is an up-and-coming city center, and South of 580 has easy access to the Peninsula and South Bay for commuters. West Castro Valley, south of Lake Chabot, has post-war homes, while Castro Valley East has unique Craftsman and Spanish Revival homes along hilly avenues as well as townhomes. The Palomares Hills neighborhood is in the far northeast part of the city and features spacious homes with red tile roofs, patios and two-car garages. The newest and most expensive neighborhood is Five Canyons, adjacent to Lake Chabot Regional Park. Homes include Craftsman, farmhouse and mid-century modern styles.
Homes in the Downtown Castro Valley exhibit a variety of architectural styles.
Ranch-style homes line the streets of the Downtown Castro Valley neighborhood.
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Top of the line Castro Valley Unified School District
The Castro Valley Unified School District is graded A by Niche. It is one of 22 districts in the state to receive the California Exemplary District Award for being a model to other districts and excelling in student achievement. Much of community life revolves around the schools. “Our schools are just great. They’ve won many awards—my clients say they only want to be in the Castro Valley school district. The afterschool programs are great, the academics and special needs programs are great. Kids in the middle may sometimes get a little lost, but otherwise, the schools are fabulous," says Keil.
Castro Valley High School score an A on Niche, with a student-teacher ratio of 23 to 1.
Canyon Middle School offers a space where all student can learn and thrive.
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Lake Chabot is first among equally inviting outdoor spaces
Community parks throughout Castro Valley have playgrounds, picnic areas and green space. Fields and courts are frequently used for community sports. “There’s a big sports culture here for kids growing up,” says Keil. “You’re playing football or soccer or baseball. My kids were in sports, and all my friends' kids are in sports.” Lake Chabot is a prime outdoor attraction. The 300-acre lake is filled with rainbow trout, black crappie, largemouth bass and catfish, and has several fishing piers. Kayaks and boats can be rented at the marina, and the lake is surrounded by miles of trails for hikers, joggers and horseback riders. The Don Castro Regional Recreational Area, along the border between Castro Valley and Hayward, also has hiking trails and a fishing lake.
The swimming lagoon is one of the biggest attraction at Don Castro Regional Park.
Residents enjoy a peaceful boat ride through Lake Chabot in Castro Valley East.
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Rowell Ranch Rodeo among community-building events
A highlight of the year in Castro Valley is the Rowell Ranch Rodeo in May. Debuting in 1921, one of the oldest rodeos in the nation is set over a weekend of bull riding and cattle roping. “It’s huge – we do have a cowboy presence, but you don’t even have to go to the rodeo to enjoy it,” says Keil. “There’s a parade every year, a chili cookoff and a cowgirl picnic.” Plus, the Chamber of Commerce closes Castrol Valley Boulevard the weekend after Labor Day for a fall festival that brings out thousands. Cultural attractions include the Adobe Art Gallery, which displays fine art in a 1938 building, and The Chabot, a one-screen theatre with a landmark marquee. The theatre opened in 1950 and continues to screen first-run movies, one film at a time. It’s also a meeting place for local arts events.
Downtown Castro Valley Fall Festival is the perfect weekend outing for food and family fun.
The Castro Valley Marketplace glows during the Downtown Castro Valley Light Parade.
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From longtime favorite Lucca’s Deli to newcomer La Perla
Castro Valley Marketplace, a combination grocery store and food hall, anchors the culinary scene in the area. The building used to be a department store, and new restaurants have been opening, including a craft coffee and beer shop, a Vietnamese eatery, and La Perla. This well-regarded restaurant moved from Oakland to Castro Valley in 2024. Old favorites include Lucca’s Deli, which has been on Castro Valley Boulevard since the 1960s. Castro Village Shopping has more retail options from big box stores.
Downtown Castro Valley Marketplace is the largest food hall and community gathering space.
Cordial Bottle Shop offers a wide range of wine in Marketplace Monthly Mixer in Castro Valley.
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Castro Valley connects to San Francisco and other Bay Area cities
Major Bay Area destinations, including San Francisco, are accessible from Castro Valley by train or car. “People say ‘I can just jump on BART and go to the city,’” says Keil. The BART station is located downtown on Norbridge Avenue, and the trip to San Francisco takes 35 minutes. Interstate 580 goes through Castro Valley and connects to Oakland, 18 miles away. Fremont is about the same distance south. Oakland International Airport is under 10 miles from Castro Valley.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office addresses environmental risks and crime rate
Summers are long and warm in Castro Valley. Winters are mild with some cloud cover. Castro Valley is in Alameda County, which has a high-risk level for natural disasters, including earthquakes and wildfires. The county provides a mitigation plan to reduce risk and prepare families for emergencies. According to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the crime rate in Castro Valley increased by about 23% between 2021 and 2023. Most of that increase is attributed to property crimes, with violent crime relatively rare.
On average, homes in Castro Valley, CA sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Castro Valley, CA over the last 12 months is $1,415,000, up 18% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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