Suburban living in the golden foothills of the Sierra Nevada
In El Dorado Hills, winding roads twist through the straw-colored slopes of the California countryside east of Folsom Lake. Envisioned as a master-planned community in the 1950s, this unincorporated town outside Sacramento is where the suburbs fizzle out, giving way to the rugged foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. “It’s up in the hills, above the fray,” says Victoria Witham, broker at Witham Real Estate and a longtime El Dorado Hills resident. “It’s a little escape from the hustle and bustle of Sacramento.” Gated communities, spacious homes, large lots and plenty of outdoor recreation have made this one of the fastest growing communities in the region, and one of the most expensive.
El Dorado Hills begins the climb out of the Sacramento Valley.
El Dorado Hills has miles of trails paved and unpaved.
High-end homes are available in El Dorado hills on large lots.
The winding roads of El Dorado Hills adds to the unique lay of the land here.
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Spacious homes, large lots and hillside views
El Dorado Hills offers a wide range of upscale homes in gated communities and subdivisions. Contemporary-style homes are the most common here, owing to the town’s rapid expansion over the past three decades, but there are also older homes that date back to the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Many homes are situated along rolling hillsides with sweeping views of the countryside. Some of the most exclusive neighborhoods have homes that sit just a few hundred yards from the shores of Folsom Lake. The median home price is around $900,000, with modest midcentury homes typically listing for less, while luxury homes can top $2 million.
Homes in El Dorado Hills with an unobstructed view of Folsom Lake sell for a premium price.
Red tile roofs are found all across California but are rare in El Dorado Hills.
Some El Dorado Hills homes sit close to the shore of Folsom Lake.
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Lakeside activities, community parks and country clubs
Outdoor recreation abounds in El Dorado Hills. Residents can book a tee-time at the high-end Serrano Country Club, spend a day boating and sunbathing at Folsom Lake or hike the many trails that extend out into the hillsides outside of town. There are also 28 community parks encompassing over 500 acres within El Dorado Hills, so residents are never far from playgrounds, ballfields and picnic areas. Plans for new parks are moving ahead, with the goal of having one neighborhood park within a half mile of every home. Lake Tahoe, one of the nation’s premier outdoor tourism destinations, is only an hour and a half east.
Serrano Country Club is a high-end neighborhood within El Dorado Hills.
Browns Ravine Trailhead offers residents of El Dorado Hills a well-maintained walking path.
About 2 million people visit the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area each year.
El Dorado Hills Community Park has a covered playground for the tiny tots.
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Highly rated public schools
El Dorado Hills is home to highly rated schools. The Buckeye Union Elementary School District earns a B-plus rating from Niche, while the Rescue Union Elementary School District earns an A-minus, and the El Dorado Union High School District earns an A. Oak Ridge High is among the state’s top echelon of schools for its graduation rate, far exceeding the statewide average. It’s also known for its athletic programs, which have brought home several state and regional championships over the past 20 years.
The student population of Oak Meadow Elementary is 473.
Niche gives Lake Forest Elementary an A- grade for academics.
Oak Ridge High School is the last step before a college career for students in El Dorado Hills.
Oak Ridge High School has State Championships to their credit.
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Shopping, dining and entertainment close to home
El Dorado Hills Town Center is the go-to shopping destination. This walkable commercial district has dozens of restaurants, local businesses, a hotel and a movie theater. Groceries and everyday goods can be found at Target, Raley’s and Nugget Markets. There’s also a much smaller shopping plaza near the northern edge of the town with a Safeway, a gas station and several local eateries. For everything else, more shopping is on tap a few miles away in the city of Folsom.
The El Dorado Hills Town Center is a vast shopping area with dozens of stores.
Relish Burger Bar is a tasty go to in El Dorado Hills
Regal Cinemas was renovated and provides modern amenities to moviegoers in El Dorado Hills.
Nugget Market is a family-owned grocer that offers high-end food to El Dorado Hills residents.
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Getting around greater Sacramento
Because El Dorado Hills is in the outskirts of the Sacramento metropolitan area, residents will likely need a car to get around. U.S. Route 50 runs along the southern edge of the town and is the quickest way to get to into Sacramento, about 30 miles away. The Sacramento International Airport is the nearest major airport, about 40 miles away, with nonstop flights to major cities like Washington D.C., Los Angeles and Miami.
Low crime in El Dorado County
El Dorado Hills doesn’t have its own police department. The town falls under the jurisdiction of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office. The county’s violent crime and property crime rates are typically low. In 2023, there were 62 violent offenses per 100,000 residents, which is 63% lower than the national average and 45% lower than the statewide average, according to FBI stats.
Written By
Daniel Berti
Photography Contributed By
Wesley Jimerson
Video By
Timothy Cerva
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Deborah Stafford,
an experienced agent in this area.
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.
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