A small, lakeside city in the heart of Northern California
Named for its location along Northern California’s Clear Lake, the rural city of Clearlake is far removed from the bustle of the Bay Area and Sacramento. Re/Max Gold Realtor and Clearlake's Recreation & Events Coordinator Tina Viramontes says, “It’s an up and growing community. There’s a gated community right outside Clearlake, and we’re starting to get newer, bigger businesses. People are coming out here to get away from the Bay Area.” This community of nearly 17,000 residents has a smalltown feel due to its small selection of local businesses, its quiet atmosphere and its abundance of nature. Though its limited career opportunities, crime rate and seasonally extreme weather may be deterrents to some, this city offers lower-than-average housing prices, an escape from big-city traffic and noise and plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Clearlake has stunning wildlife all year round.
Catfish Coffee House offers small mom and pop style coffee and pastries in Clearlake.
Many homes in Clearlake are placed right on the water with their own boat docks.
It's common to find craftsman style homes in Clearlake.
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Healthcare and retail are Clearlake's dominant industries
As a small city far from major urban centers, Clearlake’s economy is largely focused on healthcare and retail. Adventist Health’s hospital and clinic are the largest employers in the city, with the Meadow Nursing Center being the second largest. Safeway and Walmart are the third and fourth largest employers. Clearlake also has a long history of agriculture, and a Tractor Supply Co. outlet in the southern part of the city helps this city’s skilled laborers pick up supplies for their construction and farming efforts.
Adventist Health offers convenient health care in Clear Lake.
Starbucks provides residents of Clearlake with all their favorite coffee drinks.
Tractor Supply has all the farming supplies needed to run a farm in Clearlake.
Safeway provides residents in Clearlake with fresh produce.
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Hilltop and lakeside homes in Clearlake
Clearlake’s housing stock is a diverse assortment of prewar construction and 2000s builds, manufactured and site-built homes and lakeside and inland properties. Manufactured homes, which vary from 1960s-built fixer-uppers to 2000s-built properties with larger lot sizes, tend to sell for between $20,000 and $395,000. Site-built residences vary in price from $150,000 to $525,000, with lakeside homes selling for higher prices. Clearlake’s median home price of $219,000 is well below the state average of $778,000 and the national average of $420,000. Most residences sit along quiet, hilly roads with abundant trees and vegetation, although driveways tend to be small and most streets lack sidewalks.
It's common to find homes high in the hills in Clearlake.
Manufactured homes offer affordable real estate options in Clearlake.
It's common to find homes with large yards in Clearlake.
It's common to find homes with fenced in yards and plenty of trees nearby in Clearlake.
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Exploring Clearlake by boat and foot
Clear Lake State Park is the center of outdoor life in Lake County. “The lake is a big thing; it’s getting more popular for boating," Viramontes says. At 68 acres, Clear Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in California, and its wide-open waterways are open to boaters who travel here from near and far. While motorboating and fishing are allowed on the lake, Clear Lake has recently suffered from mercury contamination and harmful algal bloom, meaning that swimming in the lake is not advisable. Environmentalist and tribal efforts to clean up the lake are underway, and the lake has been designated an EPA Superfund site as part of its restoration. Several parks border this lake, including the skatepark at Austin Park, the baseball field and fishing pier at Redbud Park and the 1,298-acre nature preserve at the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. This massive state park not only takes hikers past historic residences and farms, but also immerses visitors among the reeds, vegetation and flowers that sit alongside Copsey Creek. As Clearlake and the surrounding area feature Mediterranean climates, this city enjoys around 262 sunny days each year, making it one of California’s sunniest spots and encouraging of outdoor play. Clearlake also borders hilly federal land open for off-roading and camping.
Resident's enjoy afternoon walks by the lake in Clearlake.
It's common to see people walking their pets near the lake in Clearlake.
Anderson Marsh Historic Park offers hiking trails in Clearlake.
It's common for residents in Clearlake to own their own boat.
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Small businesses serve up diverse dishes and local wine
Though Clearlake may not be known as a retail hub, this city has its own diverse selection of retail franchises and small businesses. Grocery options include Grocery Outlet and Safeway, while smaller markets like Kool & Kash and Foods Etc offer easy access to supermarket goods in their own parts of town. Lakeshore Drive, which runs along Clear Lake, serves as Clearlake’s main outlet for dining. Eateries like the Gaytan Family Market & Taqueria and Delicias Alvarez specialize in Mexican fare, while the Main Street Bar & Grill and Trejo’s Diner serve up comfort food classics from sunup to sundown. During the evening, locals tend to drop by the Stein & Wein beer garden for drinks and live music, while Self Made Billiards and Taqueria offers both a lounge and Mexican restaurant vibe. At the northern periphery of the city, Diamond Ridge Vineyards and other local wineries are at the center of a small, but growing viniculture scene that has emerged along State Routes 29 and 53.
Public and private options in Clearlake
Clearlake’s students attend the Konocti Unified School District, which scores a D-plus on Niche. Though the public district may score low marks, especially in the areas of academics and administration, private schools like the Konocti Christian Academy provide alternative education options and serve more than 100 local students.
Lower Lake Elementary School offers quality education to students in Clearlake.
Zemorah Christian Academy offers faith based learning in Clearlake.
W C Carle High School offers spacious grounds for students in Clearlake.
W C Carle High School has a spacious football field in Clearlake.
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Public safety in Clearlake
According to the FBI, Clearlake experienced 143 violent crimes and 458 property crimes in 2022. This city’s crime rate of 8.57 per 1,000 people is well above the national median of 4 and the California average of 4.99. Much of Clearlake’s crime is concentrated in its southern part. The city has historically contended with high rates of substance abuse, in addition to environmental factors like smog and air pollution caused by wildfires. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office cooperates with the community in monitoring security camera footage to quickly respond to crimes, while it also offers outreach programs in the form of ride-alongs, a Citizens’ Academy and even an Activities League for youths in need of adult role models or team-based hobbies.
The LTA provides access to the rest of the city
Clearlake is served by the Lake Transit Authority, which operates bus routes connecting residents to major landmarks like the Burns Valley Mall, the post office and points along the lake. The city is also located within 52 miles of Santa Rosa and 95 miles of Sacramento, both of which are accessible within two-hour drives.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
Photography Contributed By
Teal Mandzik
Video By
Francesco Basti
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