Home to 66,000 residents, the university-oriented city of Davis is flush with acres of parks, arts and cultural activities and miles of bicycle paths. In fact, Davis is regularly named as the most “bicycle friendly” town in the United States by the League of American Bicyclists. It’s also the only city in the U.S. with a high-wheeled bicycle in its city logo. The city is home to the University of California, Davis, and more than 80% of residents here have completed at least one year of college and more than 67% have attained a four-year college degree. UC Davis helps create a professional and technical environment, attracting these types of occupations, plus governmental jobs, to the area.
UC Davis is nicknamed the Public Ivy.
Davis is a welcoming neighborhood in Davis, CA.
Bike through this tunnel in Davis by Mace Ranch Park.
Picnic in Central Park in Downtown Davis.
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Variety of shops, restaurants and a farmers market
Shopping centers are clustered along main thoroughfares like 5th Street, and nearby malls and plazas offer locally owned shops and national retailers. Boutiques, gift shops and clothing stores border coffee shops and restaurants downtown, while breweries and wine bars are found toward the east. Central Park, also downtown, hosts the Davis Farmers Market – one of the largest in California. Restaurants vary from upscale, white tablecloth eateries to divey college bars.
Davis has a number of national retailers serving the community.
Local, sustainable, farm-to-fork food is offered year-round at the Farmers Market in Davis.
There are a number of boutiques in the downtown area of Davis.
Dunloe Brewing serves local craft beers on tap in Davis.
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Faster selling times, mixed housing styles and rentals
On average, homes in Davis sell after 27 days compared to the national average of 44 days. Throughout the last 12 months, the median sale price for single-family homes has been $915,960, up 3% from the previous 12 months. Tree- and sidewalk-lined streets offer a mix of housing styles. Ranch-style and Mediterranean-inspired homes with stucco exteriors sit near new traditional Craftsman-style homes that sell for over $1 million. Homeownership is 43.8% compared to the national average of 66.9%. A large majority of housing units here are rentals, due to the presence of UC Davis. Approximately 55% of residents here live in rental housing, and more than 43% of the units are apartment complexes.
Craftsman style homes with big backyards are available in Davis.
New traditional homes are available in Davis.
There are expansive larger ranch-style homes in Davis.
There are many cute cottages in Downtown Davis.
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Hundreds of acres of green space and a bicyclists’ paradise
More than 90% of residents in Davis live within a 10-minute walk of a park, according to the Trust for Public Land. In all, the city manages 485 acres of parkland and greenbelts, that includes 69 playground areas and 25 athletic fields. Since the city has pioneered bike-friendly infrastructure, miles of bike lanes make cycling an accessible form of fun, exercise and transportation. The Parks and Recreation Department is planning to add an interactive water feature to Central Park downtown, as well as revitalizing the city’s skate park. In South Davis , Walnut Park includes a designated area for dogs to exercise off their leashes.
Enjoy a brisk morning stroll through Mace Ranch Park with your dog in East Davis.
Checkout the skatepark at Community Park in Central Davis.
The Rainbow City playground is located at Community Park in Central Davis.
Students can play baseball, softball, or kickball on the field at North Davis Elementary School.
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Celebrating the arts, holiday festivities
Since the 1970s, Davis has allocated funds for the Art in Public Places Program. It selects artists to blanket the city with murals, sculptures and tilework. Today, Davis is home to more than $200,000 of publicly owned art. Downtown Davis has more than 100 works, and others rest throughout East Davis , North Davis , Central Davis and West Davis . There are scores of public and private art galleries as well as the community-built Art Center. UC Davis is home to the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art and the Mondavi Center; the latter hosts world-class artists and performers like Yo-Yo Ma and David Sedaris.
Annual holiday events are held in city parks, such as the City of Davis Fourth of July celebration, offering food, a softball tournament, live entertainment and fireworks. After Thanksgiving, the community gathers for the Annual Downtown Davis Holiday Candlelight Parade and Tree Lighting.
The Modavi Center attracts world-class entertainment to Davis.
Davis has evolved into a dynamic and diverse neighborhood full of life and art.
Art classes are available at the Davis Arts Center.
Artwork and sculptures can be found throughout Davis.
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Commitment to music education at Davis Joint Unified School District
The Davis Joint Unified School District (DJUSD), which earns an A-plus grade from Niche, serves nearly 8,400 students and is on a mission to equip each student with the skills, knowledge and character to contribute to an evolving and increasingly connected world. The district was awarded the NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education designation for its outstanding commitment to music education in 2024.
Davis Waldorf, which earns an A-plus, is a local private school option that offers hands-on kinesthetic learning. The University of California, Davis is ranked number one in the nation for its agriculture and forestry and veterinary medicine programs. It’s also ranked number one in the nation for campus sustainability, and is home to the Division I Aggies.
Davis Senior High in Davis prepares students for successful careers.
Holmes Jr High in Davis is a place of acceptance and growth for all students.
Davis Elementary is a safe and nurturing environment for young learners.
Downtown Davis is just minutes away from the home of UC Davis.
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Bicycle oriented with nearby interstates and buses
Interstate 80 passes through Davis's southern end, and State Route 113 (Vic Fazio Highway) cuts through the west; Interstate 5 is found about 11 miles north. Sacramento sits 15 miles east, and it takes commuters about 20 minutes by car. City officials have pioneered bicycle-centric urban planning here since the 1960s, developing numerous bike lanes throughout the city. For those who prefer public transportation, the Yolobus travels into neighboring towns, while Amtrak and Capitol Corridor Passenger Rail is another option.
Nearby, the Davis University Airport is owned by the university and is mainly used for school purposes. Sacramento International Airport 19 miles away and features nonstop and direct flights to major U.S. cities and Mexico. Sutter Davis Hospital and Kaiser Permanente Medical Facilities serve the city.
Higher property and violent crime rates, Mediterranean climate
According to the Davis Police Department’s Annual Report, violent crime increased 80% in 2022 from 2021. Property crime, particularly vandalism, increased 56% in 2022, and vehicle burglaries increased slightly from 2021. To help mitigate crime, the Davis Police Department works with 155 neighborhood watch groups, each consisting of 15 to 20 homes. Their Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is designed to help residents, managers and owners of rental properties keep narcotics and other illegal activity out of the community.
Davis is a Sanctuary City, meaning that the city’s police officers and other officials don’t take documented status into account when interacting with individuals. It’s also not a factor in utilizing city services.
Davis sits in California’s Central Valley, which experiences hot, dry summers and mild winters. High summer temperatures are typically in the low 90s with lows in the 60s. The city’s rainy season runs from late fall through early spring, and fog is prevalent from November through March.
Flood hazards here are generally from surface water runoff during rainstorms. The city’s Public Works Department maintains three main channels and three detention ponds for drainage.
On average, homes in Davis, CA sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Davis, CA over the last 12 months is $820,500, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$848,250
Median Sale Price
$820,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$879,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$815,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$496,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
358
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
$1
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$508
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes for Sale
87
Months of Supply
2.90
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in Davis, CA
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Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 Davis School For Independent Study
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#2 Cesar Chavez Elementary School
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#3 Fairfield Elementary School
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#4 Robert E. Willett Elementary School
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#5 North Davis Elementary School
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#6 Pioneer Elementary School
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#7 Birch Lane Elementary School
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#8 Patwin Elementary School
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#9 Fred T. Korematsu Elementary School At Mace Ranch
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Best Public Middle Schools
#1 Davis School For Independent Study
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#2 Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior High School
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#3 Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High School
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#4 Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Junior High School
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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.
