Unincorporated Contra Costa County area adjacent to the El Sobrante Hills
Near the San Pablo and San Francisco Bays, El Sobrante is an oddly shaped census-designated place in the El Sobrante Valley. A semi-rural community, small farms and horses are as common a sight as bungalows and ranch-style houses. Looking somewhat like a melted letter ‘A,’ the area’s irregular borders were formed in 1841 from the boundaries of surrounding Spanish land grants. El Sobrante means ‘surplus’ because it was made from the extra land the Spanish government hadn’t given away yet. “It’s a complex area,” says Gordon Allen, a real estate agent with Gordon Phillip Allen Realtors with almost 40 years of experience. “You can look on a map and see that El Sobrante has been split up into islands of land that aren’t connected in any meaningful way. Some addresses are Richmond; some are San Pablo. We just call ourselves Western Contra Costa County. It’s very difficult to obtain an identity, depending on what side of the street you live on.”
Variety ensures that residents can find a community that suits their lifestyle in El Sobrante
You can find anything from cozy mid-century bungalows to contemporary homes in El Sobrante
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Wildcat Canyon, regional preserves and the Sikh Temple
Semi-rural El Sobrante has incredible access to multiple community and regional parks. Hilltop Green Park covers 6 acres in the town with open grassy spaces, a playground, and basketball and tennis courts. La Moine Park, or Cheese Park as locals call it, has an ADA-accessible playground, a nature area and a community center on 18 grassy acres. Wildcat Canyon’s hiking trails can be reached through multiple points in the area’s southwest corner. Sobrante Ridge Botanic Regional Preserve, in the El Sobrante Hills just east of town, protects the rare Alameda Manzanita, a tree-like flowering shrub only found here and in the Oakland Hills. It has a 2.5-mile trail system leading to the ridge's top, providing unblocked views of San Pablo Bay and Mt. Diablo.
Another incredible view is The El Sobrante Gurdwara Sahib, or Sikh Temple, which overlooks the valley and is instantly recognizable by its golden domes. Opened in the 1970s, this is the spiritual heart of the area’s growing Sikh community.
Playground at Hilltop Green Park in Hilltop Green, El Sobrante, CA
Hilltop Green Park offers basketball courts for the community.
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San Pablo Dam Road, restaurants and the Pinole Vista Shopping Center
Most of El Sobrante’s stores and restaurants are on San Pablo Dam Road. Retailers and grocers mix with Vietnamese, Mexican, Indian and American eateries. The small community supports local businesses, like Oliver’s Hardware, a town fixture since the 1940s. The Pinole Vista Shopping Center has big-box stores and national quick-service restaurants along the town's northern border.
Local shops reflect the unique character of the community in El Sobrante.
Boba and Beyond has delicious Boba in El Sobrante.
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Rising property values in the El Sobrante Valley
Over 88% of El Sobrante’s housing was built between 1940 and 1979 in the construction boom following WWII. Most single-family homes have two to three bedrooms, while condos and townhouses range from one to four bedrooms. The community is split into three major neighborhoods: El Sobrante Hills, El Sobrante Manor and Hilltop Green. El Sobrante Hills is an affluent area with spacious homes, and El Sobrante Manor is near Pinole Valley Park and the San Pablo Reservoir. Hilltop Green has a community park and scenic views of San Pablo Bay. The market is somewhat competitive due to El Sobrante often having lower housing prices than surrounding areas like San Pablo and San Bruno. Properties appreciated nearly 11% over 2024. Homes sell for a median price of $775,000.
A variety of housing options, from single-family homes to apartments in El Sobrante.
From affordable apartments and townhouses to spacious, upscale homes in El Sobrante.
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STEM programs and a Fab Lab in the West Contra Costa Unified School District
Founded in 1965, the West Contra Costa Unified School District oversees more than 50 schools across the El Sobrante Valley. It earned a B-minus from Niche and is known for multilingual classes, STEM programs and career preparation. Thirty campuses have gardens where students care for plants while learning about agriculture, the environment and healthy eating. Kennedy High School is home to a Fab Lab that allows kindergarten through 12th grade students to learn STEM concepts while designing and creating their own 3D printed and laser cut projects.
Kennedy High School is a huge campus serving students of Park Plaza and other neighborhoods.
Murphy Elementary School is located in El Sobrante CA.
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Interstate 80, AC Transit and Oakland International Airport
The community is adjacent to Interstate 80, which connects to Interstate 580. Both lead to Oakland, and the 80 also goes to San Francisco, around 21 miles away. San Pablo Dam Road passes through town, leading to San Pablo and Richmond. AC Transit operates bus routes along San Pablo Dam Road and Appian Way. Valley View Road has designated bike lanes, and sidewalks run through downtown. People typically have a 42-minute one-way commute, longer than the national average of 27 minutes. The Oakland International Airport is 23 miles south, while San Francisco International Airport is 32 miles southwest.
Area industries, major employers and the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
Healthcare, education and manufacturing are the area’s most significant industrial sectors, with the West Contra Costa Unified School District, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and the West Contra Costa Healthcare District being the largest employers. The Contra Costa Regional Medical Center is a nationally recognized training hospital, and the West Contra Costa Healthcare District provides medical information and programs throughout the county.
Long summers, earthquakes and FBI Crime Data
El Sobrante has long, arid summers and short, rainy winters, during which much of the area’s 24 inches of annual rainfall occurs. The community experiences 15 or more days of severe air pollution each year, during which people are advised to wear masks to avoid breathing problems. Earthquakes are common in the Bay Area, and El Sobrante residents may feel tremors from time to time.
According to FBI Crime Data, violent crimes happen to 4 out of every 1,000 people in El Sobrante, which is even with the national median. Property crimes are below the national median of 20, with 16 out of 1,000 experiencing theft or burglary.
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.
