Palomares Hills
Plentiful local parks
Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area meanders for 360 acres along the suburb’s west end, and includes a seasonal, shallow swimming lagoon, shaded picnic areas and a network of hiking and mountain biking trails. While most of these trails are easy to moderate, the 14-mile-roundtrip Chabot-to-Garin Regional Trail is a real challenge, climbing multiple switchbacks through oak woodlands, meadows and open grassland. Lake Chabot Regional Park draws a crowd all year round. Located about 6 miles west, it’s a lark for hikers, boaters, anglers and cyclists. On weekends and in summer, the barbecue pits in Palomares Hills Park are smokin’ and picnic shelters are full of family get-togethers. Locals head to Greenridge Park to play basketball and enjoy the serene views from this semi-shaded hilltop. Belonging to the Palomares Hills HOA costs about $70 a month, but it offers residents access to a clubhouse, a community pool and tennis courts.
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Spacious homes perched on hillside vistas
Unlike adjacent Castro Valley Hills, where most homes date to the mid-20th century, most of the housing in Palomares Hills was built between the mid-1980s and 2000s. A four-bedroom single-family home here averages $1.5 million, while a three-bedroom attached town house averages $1.3 million. Within Palomares Hills’ subdivisions, it’s common to see spacious Mediterranean Revival-style homes with red tile roofs, open floor plans, back patios and two-car garages. There are also some Craftsman homes, farmhouse-style homes and midcentury modern designs available in the area. Sidewalks aren’t a given, but most homes and streets offer views of the surrounding hills, which are grassy golden brown for much of the year, tumbled with fluffy green bushes and small round trees. Hawks circle high above, and the sky stretches along a seemingly endless horizon, with stunning orange sunsets in the height of summer.
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Top-notch public schools
The Castro Valley Unified School District is the area’s star attraction: Every one of its schools earns above-average Niche ratings for their student test scores and academic progress. “The schools are a huge draw for the neighborhood, and for Castro Valley in general,” Davila says. Located in the heart of Palomares Hills is Jensen Ranch Elementary, which earns an A rating from Niche. A-rated Canyon Middle has high academic expectations but offers flexibility for individual learning styles; and downtown, the challenging, A-rated Castro Valley High maintains graduation rates that regularly top 95%. The school is a three-time winner of the California Distinguished Schools Award.
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Downtown Castro Valley
While there’s no shopping or dining in the neighborhood, there’s a shopping plaza close by with a Safeway grocery store, a pet supply store, a 24-hour gym and several restaurants, including Pho Play, a downhome Vietnamese noodle shop. Downtown Castro Valley is the community’s lively centerpiece where residents shop at independent markets and dine on outdoor patios. Castro Valley Marketplace is an artisan food hall with a bakery and wine shop, as well as eateries like tapas hotspot Oculto, voted one of 2023’s Top 25 Bay Area Restaurants by the San Francisco Chronicle. Downtown also features The Chabot, an historic single-screen movie theater.
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Getting around Castro Valley and the East Bay
Palomares Hills is just a few miles from Interstate 580, a major East Bay travel corridor that connects residents with nearby cities like Dublin and Oakland. It’s also just 4 miles from the Castro Valley BART Station, a commuter train that runs throughout most of the Bay Area.
What you need to know
Castro Valley is part of the Eden Area, a series of unincorporated communities in Alameda County, so it has no mayor and relies on the county for police and fire service. The area is at an increased risk for wildfires; however, a new fire station was built right in Palomares Hills in 2021, cutting response times to a bare minimum. Nearby hospitals include Kindred Hospital San Francisco Bay Area and Eden Medical Center.
Written By
Daniel Berti
Photography Contributed By
Anita Shin
Video By
Zack Kojoyian
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Janella Anguiano
Janella Anguiano
Century 21 Masters
(510) 674-1058
89 Total Sales
1 in Palomares Hills
$950,000 Price
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Russelle Arciaga
Russelle Arciaga
Corcoran Icon Properties
(628) 250-2275
18 Total Sales
1 in Palomares Hills
$855,000 Price
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Westin Means
Westin Means
eXp Realty of California
(510) 853-6907
32 Total Sales
1 in Palomares Hills
$1,375,000 Price
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Julie Flouty
Julie Flouty
Compass
(650) 414-5474
191 Total Sales
1 in Palomares Hills
$1,660,800 Price
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Michele Manzone
Michele Manzone
Compass
(510) 291-6194
66 Total Sales
1 in Palomares Hills
$1,748,000 Price
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Brian Dobbie
Brian Dobbie
(925) 308-2176
8 Total Sales
1 in Palomares Hills
$1,688,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Earl Warren Park
- Dog Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area
- Fishing
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Deerview Park
Palomares Hill Park
Greenridge Park
Bay Trees Park
- Bike Trails
- Trails
- Hiking
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Palomares Hills | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 1 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 | 4 |
| Larceny | 1 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 1 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Palomares Hills Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Palomares Hills, Castro Valley sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Palomares Hills, Castro Valley over the last 12 months is $660,000, up 23% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$1,100,000
Median Sale Price
$660,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$926,500
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$222,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$1,015,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
5%
Last 12 months Home Sales
23
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
23%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$331
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,393
Number of Homes for Sale
6
Median Year Built
1979
Months of Supply
3.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,084
Above the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,851
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,350
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
9,583
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
6,567
Median Age
49
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.2%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$190,873
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$205,796
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.9%
College Graduates
62.9%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
27.2%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
63.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
16''
Average Winter Low Temperature
43°F
Average Summer High Temperature
76°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
1
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
8
/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
0
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Castro Valley East
A classy and classic bedroom community with ranching roots
Five Canyons
Suburban community with lots of recreation areas and highway access
Downtown Castro Valley
A cozy neighborhood near Lake Chabot with great restaurants
South of 580
Convenient East Bay hub with traditional suburban allure
Fairview
Suburban community with older homes and large lots
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