Escalon is close to other communities in the Central Valley
Escalon is a small city in a semi-rural setting in southeastern San Joaquin County. The city motto, “Stepping Stone to the Central Valley,” speaks to the name Escalon, which means “stepping stone” in Spanish. According to Dan Seider, president/broker at Big Trees Real Estate, many people move to Escalon because it has a nice environment and the schools are well regarded.
The population is about 7,400, according to U.S. Census estimates. “There are a bunch of communities that are fairly close together,” Seider says. Escalon is about 6 miles from Riverbank and 10 miles from Oakdale, which are small cities to the southeast. It’s about 12 miles from Escalon to Modesto, the Stanislaus county seat, with about 220,000 residents.
Options from Craftsmans to ranch-style and manufactured homes
Among the oldest homes are early 20th-century Craftsman bungalows. Ranch-style, contemporary and custom homes came next, and development spread out from the center of the city. However, some of the newest homes, like modern 2020s townhouses, have been built downtown. Prices in Escalon typically range from about $200,000 to $670,000.
Almond Grove Manufactured Home Community, a gated complex for 55 and up, is on the east side of Escalon. Its mobile and manufactured homes are about $30,000 to $150,000.
Parts of the south section of the city may be more vulnerable to flooding. Wildfire risks persist in the region and may impact the availability of home insurance policies. The California FAIR Plan is an insurance program for high-risk properties.
A vintage downtown on Main Street, more businesses to the east
Escalon’s walkable downtown along Main Street has vintage vibes with its century-old buildings. There are boutiques, restaurants and other businesses. The monthly Escalon Farmer’s Market is held on Main Street in the spring and summer. The Valley Inn is a bar with karaoke, bingo and DJ nights. Lumberyard Cellars on First Street has a wine-tasting room, hosts live music on the second Saturday of the month and puts on the Wine Club Car Show in June.
On the east side of Escalon, along Jackson Avenue, strip-mall restaurants include D’boni’s Pizza, the Waffle Factory and Makara Japanese Bistro. Grocery options include Mar-Val’s Main Street Market, Escalon Food Center and Orlando’s Market.
Events and sports at parks, riverside activities to the south
Escalon’s recreational spaces include Main Street Park, which has a covered stage and is the site for annual events like the Christmas on Main, a Veterans Day parade and the Park Fete in late July. The Park Fete, planned by the Escalon Lions Club, features vendors, a carnival, live entertainment and a car show. The Lions Club also hosts the Corned Beef and Cabbage Feed in March at the Escalon Community Center. Hogan Park and Hogan Sports Fields are adjacent to the center and are often used by youth and adult teams.
About 4 miles south of Escalon is the McHenry Recreation Area on the Stanislaus River. The river flow is mild, so it’s a frequently used spot for cooling off and tubing in the summer.
Students may enroll in the Escalon United School District
Public schools are within the Escalon United School District. Kids may attend one of the four elementary schools, such as Dent Elementary School, which earns a B grade from Niche. El Portal Middle School and Escalon High School each receive a B-plus. The high school participates in the Academic Decathlon and offers art, Spanish and peer tutoring clubs. Escalon Charter Academy, rated 6 out of 10 by GreatSchools, serves kindergarten through 12th grade.
Walkable areas, public transportation and medical facilities
In addition to the downtown, there are plenty of residential streets with sidewalks, although in some cases, they are only on one side. The main east/west thoroughfare is state Route 120. First Street and McHenry Avenue have bike lanes. ETrans is the city's bus system that has a route traveling between Escalon’s park and ride lot and Modesto. San Joaquin Regional Transit has a route to Stockton by way of Manteca.
Medical facilities include the Escalon Community Health Center, which has an Oak Valley Hospital District clinic on site. San Joaquin General Hospital, south of Stockton, is about 19 miles away. The Stockton Metropolitan Airport, roughly 20 miles from Escalon, has flights on Allegiant Air to Denver, Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Train tracks and noise issues, but no station in Escalon
Tracks used by freight trains and Amtrak run through Escalon, parallel to McHenry Avenue. However, the nearest station for boarding Amtrak is in Modesto. Noise issues have been an issue for Escalon residents who live close to the tracks; reducing the number of idling freight trains is one proposed step toward mitigation
Written By
Robin Silberman
