Esparto is a small, quiet community in the Capay Valley
Located in the heart of the Capay Valley, Esparto is a former railroad town surrounded by agricultural land on the State Route 16 corridor. “It’s a big farming community,” says Charlotte Lloyd, a local Realtor at Re/max Gold with over 30 years of experience. “Walnuts were big for a long time, now there’s a lot of row crops and almonds.” The center of the community is more densely developed with traditional single-family homes and a small Main Street-style downtown with local restaurants and a few parks. Esparto is known for its peaceful, small-town character, though the Annual Almond Festival brings many visitors to the area in February.
Single-family homes surrounded by larger agricultural properties
Near the town’s core are early-20th-century Craftsman homes and late-20th-century ranch-style homes and bungalows, as well as some duplexes and triplexes. In the early 2000s and 2010s, suburban development expanded outward, especially on the west side, offering new traditional homes with Spanish Revival-style elements like stucco facades and barrel-tile roofs. Around the community's edges, farmhouses with as many as 40 acres of land host hobby farms, typically with private well water and septic systems. Home prices usually range from $370,000 to $600,000, depending on home and lot size. Country Villa Mobile Estates, a senior living community, has manufactured homes for between $50,000 and $100,000. The wildfire risk increases on Esparto’s west side, meaning insurance rates can be comparatively higher, and the Esparto Fire Department serves the community.
Local parks feature playgrounds, basketball courts and walking trails
Esparto Community Park is at Esparto’s center, featuring playgrounds and picnic tables with scattered palm trees and other foliage. Tuli Memorial Park and Aquatics Center is the other main gathering space in the area, with basketball courts, soccer fields and walking trails. The park’s pool is open to the public for a $3 admission fee, with free community swim on Wednesdays. The nearby Capay Open Space spans over 40 acres along Cache Creek with 2 miles of walking trails through floodplains, woodlands and grassland. Birdwatchers often visit the park to view bald eagles, meadowlarks and woodpeckers.
The annual Almond Festival is held in February
A tradition for more than 100 years, the Annual Almond Festival is a two-day celebration held in February with live music, food trucks and mariachi performances. “The Almond Festival goes through the Yolo County area on State Route 16,” Lloyd says. “It starts in Esparto and goes all the way to Rumsey.” During the festival, locals can travel up and down the State Route 16 corridor for farm tours, art shows and other activities in towns like Guinda and Brooks.
A small array of shops and local restaurants on Yolo Avenue
Though retail in the area is limited, locals have access to an Ace Hardware, Dollar General and Valley Food Market. Local businesses include El Toro Meat Market and Taqueria, a butcher shop that opened in 2006. The Ravine on Sixteen, one of several restaurants along Yolo Avenue, serves pizza and American fare. Hog Canyon Deli is a popular quick-service spot with indoor and outdoor seating.
State Route 16 connects the Capay Valley
State Route 16 connects Esparto locals with Woodland less than 15 miles away, while Sacramento is about 40 miles away. Intercity bus routes, operated by Yolobus, stop in the center of the community. Woodland Memorial Hospital is the nearest medical center, under 15 miles away. Sacramento International Airport is less than 30 miles away.
Career-related programs at Esparto schools
Esparto Elementary and Esparto Middle both earn a C from Niche. The middle school offers a horticulture class and an after-school robotics program. Career-oriented programs at the C-plus-rated Esparto High include agriscience, plant and soil science and agricultural mechanics. After school, students can participate in the culinary arts club or join the Future Farmers of America.
