Hayward

Located in California’s East Bay, the Burbank neighborhood of Hayward is at the center of it all. “I think the real highlight of Burbank is its location,” says Maggie Ng, a local realtor of 13 years at Legacy Real Estate. “It’s close to everything you would need for your daily life, as you are next to the freeway, the Amtrak station, the DMV, the Post Office and supermarkets, plus you are within walking distance to downtown.” While the area features longstanding single-family homes, newer, contemporary condo developments next to prime public transportation hubs have helped increase Burbank’s popularity — attracting a new wave of residents. “It’s the perfect community for first-time homebuyers. It used to have more of an older demographic, but many of these people are relocating or now retirees, so they are downsizing,” Ng says. “Younger people are now moving in, especially more and more IT workers from South Bay who like Burbank’s convenience and easy morning commute.” Burbank features a mix of single-family homes, townhouses and condos, all typically within walking distance of public schools and downtown. Tree-lined, single-family residential streets feature narrowly paved sidewalks, with properties lined along straightaways and cul-de-sacs, displaying small front lawns. The housing landscape is architecturally mixed, but the most common styles are classic California craftsmans, bungalows and ranchers. The neighborhood has a few subdivisions packed with rows of newer condos, which are mainly concentrated near the BART or Amtrak stations. Condos in Burbank are typically contemporary or Mediterranean in design, often highlighted with stucco roofs. Popular condominiums along Parkhurst Street are known for offering two-level condos designed to look like townhouse-style properties. These condominiums feature highly manicured grounds, nicely paved walking paths and large central open green spaces for residents to enjoy. Single-family home prices start at around $700,000 and can typically go up to around $1.3 million dollars, while condos go from $600,000 up to $1 million. Burbank residents can walk to Hayward’s top shopping and dining. Downtown options like Anna’s Coffee Shop have been around for decades. This Hayward staple dishes out American and Mexican breakfast and lunch items, with favorites including huevos rancheros and Mexican omelets paired with chorizo. The World Famous Turf Club is a popular downtown bar where residents can grab drinks while watching live music on the bar’s professional sound stage. Located in a converted Victorian house, Nuemanali is an upscale spot for New American dining with wine-filled interior walls and a beautiful, garden-style outdoor patio. Favorite menu items include old-fashioned bread pudding with crème anglaise and rib-eye steak. Indian and Nepalese-style cuisines are highly celebrated at Aama Kitchen, located on Foothill Boulevard. Locals enjoy authentic specialties like Tandoor chicken and chili momos. When looking for grocery staples, the Arteagas Food Center is right within the neighborhood, offering everyday essentials along with Mexican grocery items. Alternatively, Costco is just minutes away on Hathaway Avenue, and downtown Hayward has a weekly farmer’s market located on Watkins Street. Residents have multiple opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation. The most prominent neighborhood park is Cannery Park, featuring a vast open green lawn space and a paved walking trail that loops around the tree-lined site. The park’s playground has multiple climbing structures and a popular splash pad where kids can cool off in the warmer months. With numerous outdoor grills and picnic tables on-site, residents can enjoy outdoor barbecues. Situated south of the neighborhood on Amador Street is Centennial Park. This athletic-focused park features a skatepark, soccer fields and softball fields where many of the community’s sports league games are held. Less than two miles south of the neighborhood is the 3-mile Eden Greenway, a natural wooded area where residents can walk along tree-encompassed hiking trails while spotting native wildlife. Students are zoned for Burbank Elementary School, which gets a C-plus rating from Niche. Winton Middle School receives a C-rating, and Hayward High School gets a B-rating. The high school offers an AVID program, which is a rigorous college-readiness program. They additionally offer an Engineer Pathway program, where students can elect to take a four-year sequence of engineering courses for those interested in attaining a career in the field. Outside of the neighborhood, locals can take part in numerous annual events in downtown Hayward. During the Christmas season, residents come together for Light Up the Season, a winter-themed holiday lighting ceremony at the Hayward City Hall, followed by children’s games and festive activities. Hayward’s Latin Jazz Festival is an annual favorite, taking place in August and featuring multiple stages of live jazz performances along the downtown streets. For more summer outings, residents head to the Third Thursday Summer Street Party to hear live music, try out local food and drinks at the beer and wine garden and enjoy a hot rod and classic cars show. Burbank has multiple public transportation options. The Hayward Amtrak train station resides right within the neighborhood, and the Hayward BART Station sits directly north. Both are popular options for traveling or commuting around the Bay Area. Along with multiple bus stops nearby, the neighborhood is situated east of Interstate 880 for direct traveling to Fremont or Oakland. The San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is also located next to Burbank, allowing quick access to San Mateo and other destinations around the San Francisco Peninsula. The Oakland International Airport, which is the closest Bay Area airport, is nine miles north of Burbank.

it was the cherry trees on William Meek’s sprawling 3,000-acre estate that inspired Cherryland’s name when it started transforming into a Bay Area neighborhood in the early 20th century. Today, it’s a primarily residential community situated about 15 miles southeast of Oakland and adjacent to downtown Hayward. “It’s a well-established, sleepy little town. The most notable thing about it is that it’s very affordable compared to the area around it,” says Realtor Greg Ricchini of Coldwell Banker Realty. Most of Cherryland’s 15,000 residents live in modest-sized bungalows, Craftsman homes and condos arranged in a traditional urban street grid. While many houses include a small driveway, some parts of the neighborhood feature long alleyways that provide off-street parking. The homes are a mix of older and newer construction reflecting different periods of the 20th century. The oldest properties were built around the 1920s and 1930s, as Meek’s descendants started subdividing the land for development, while later growth brought in more recent developments. Homes typically range from around $700,000 to $1 million, though prices vary depending on the age and renovation status of the home. The median home price in Cherryland is about 40% lower than the Bay Area median. Although Cherryland has changed dramatically over the past century, William Meek’s mansion still stands on what is now a 10-acre park. The first floor of this 1869 Italianate-style home is open for self-guided tours on the first Saturday of each month. “The park is very popular with the neighborhood. It’s a great walking park. It’s quite a gem for the community,” says Diane Curry, executive director of the Hayward Area Historical Society. The society also holds nighttime paranormal investigations of the mansion twice a year with experienced Bay Area ghost hunters. But whether those investigations have uncovered any suspicious activity is up for debate, Curry says. Residents gather at Cherryland Park for picnics, playgrounds and pickup games of basketball. Old Creek Dog Park lets pups play off-leash underneath shady tree canopies. Indoor classes and activities can be found nearby at Cherryland Community Center. In addition to the numerous taco proprietors in the area, Exquisitos Raspados just south of the neighborhood on A Street sells Mexican-style deserts and snacks, including corn elote and shaved ice raspados that come in flavors such as tamarind, pina colada, lime and guayaba. Close by on Mission Boulevard, Silva Bakery produces Portuguese bread and baked goods, while SushiLand serves Japanese fare from its unassuming storefront. On the periphery of the neighborhood, Cherryland residents buy groceries at supermarkets and big-box stores like Target and Safeway. While Cherryland has a few gems of its own, Downtown Hayward is home to several upscale restaurants and a movie theater. Downtown Hayward hosts a weekly farmers market every Saturday. There are street festivals throughout the year, including the annual Hawaiian May Day Festival and the city’s summertime Street Party, featuring live bands, car shows, fair rides and artisan vendors. Young students can attend Cherryland Elementary School, a centrally located school with a C-minus rating from Niche. The elementary school opened its doors in 2019 and offers the latest in modern classroom amenities. Students move on to C-rated Winton Middle School and B-rated Hayward High School. Cherryland is conveniently located next to an on-ramp for Interstate 580, a popular commuting route. From there, it’s about 15 miles to Oakland, 26 miles to downtown San Francisco and about 23 miles to Silicon Valley cities like Menlo Park and Palo Alto. Those who prefer to travel by rail have easy access to Downtown Hayward’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station. Residents seeking medical care can head to St. Rose Hospital, a 153-bed community medical center that’s about 5 miles southwest.

Located centrally within California’s East Bay, Downtown Hayward is where all of the city’s thriving action takes place. It’s home to Hayward’s central business district and fosters a strong community through quality housing, authentic local shopping and dining establishments and spaces for lifestyle and cultural entertainment. “Downtown is very convenient and has everything you would ever need. You have a BART station right there and all kinds of really great shops and really popular restaurants, and there’s a nice Farmers Market each week that people enjoy going to,” says Maggie Ng, a local realtor of 12 years at Legacy Real Estate. “It’s great because it’s all within walking distance, so that’s a big benefit of living downtown.” Downtown is packed with shopping options, including many local retail stores, boutiques and vintage shops, including the popular Vintage Alley on B Street. The area is also home to some of the city’s best dining, including upscale spots like Neumanali, a New American spot that finds its culinary setting in a restored Victorian mansion. More casual but tried-and-true American food is the star of Casper’s Hot Dogs, a longstanding establishment serving up classic hot dogs within a retro-style space. The World Famous Turf Club is the go-to spot for hand-crafted cocktails and live music, while Lucky on Mission Boulevard is where residents come to pick up everyday grocery essentials. For even more local fresh produce, the downtown Hayward Farmers’ Market runs weekly on Saturdays along Watkins Avenue with over 35 local farmers and vendors to shop from. The neighborhood’s streetscapes are tree-lined with paved sidewalks that connect the residential homes directly to downtown. Homes here feature well-manicured front lawns that are often wrapped in white picket fences or brick barriers for added privacy. The single-family housing landscape is well mixed, with typical home styles including craftsman bungalows and historic Victorians. Condo-style townhouses are also popular downtown housing options, often including added amenities such as connecting green spaces and weekly landscaping along the community grounds. These townhouses are primarily concentrated close to the Hayward BART Station, a major convenience for local commuters. Townhouse prices range from $650,000 to $800,000, while single-family homes range from $700,000 and can go as high as $1.3 million for a larger, four-bedroom property that has been recently renovated. Residents can take part in numerous downtown annual events. Light Up the Season brings the community together for a winter-themed holiday lighting ceremony at the Hayward City Hall, followed by children’s games and festive activities. Hayward’s Latin Jazz Festival is a favorite annual event. It takes place in August and features multiple stages of live jazz performances along the downtown streets. The Third Thursday Summer Street Party is another popular resident get-together featuring live music, a hot rod and classic cars show, local food vendors and a beer and wine garden. Residents can head to the Hayward Heritage Plaza for a vast open green space, perfect for picnicking, along with paved walking trails. On Mission Boulevard, the Children’s Park at Giuliani Plaza offers a huge children’s playground with play structures built for various age levels. On the way from one of downtown’s main shopping or dining sectors, locals can stop at the Julio Bras Portuguese Centennial Park. This historically rich site is designed with Portuguese emblems that commemorate the early Portuguese settlers in the area. It also offers numerous sitting areas where residents can rest and enjoy the park’s quiet surroundings. Students can attend East Avenue Elementary School, which gets a C-plus from Niche, followed by the C-rated Bret Harte Middle School, conveniently located within walking distance of most downtown homes. The B-rated Hayward High School has high state-wide rankings in athletics and diversity and offers an AVID program, which is a rigorous college-readiness program. Downtown offers multiple public transportation options, including numerous bus stops along the central city streets and the Hayward BART Station, located on Montogomery Avenue. The neighborhood also sits at the intersection of Route 92 and Route 238, which lead into major interstates, offering a quick route for traveling or commuting around East Bay and beyond. The San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is also located near downtown, allowing quick access to San Mateo and other destinations around the San Francisco Peninsula.

Fairview is right in the middle of it all. An unincorporated part of Hayward, this neighborhood has Hayward to the west and Castro Valley to the north. Its quiet nature, beautiful views and proximity to major Bay Area cities make it the place to discover something new. Fairview residents have many places to cook out, go for a swim or explore the local flora and fauna. They can visit San Felipe Community Park with its basketball court, a playground, barbecues and picnic tables. The Don Castro Regional Recreational Area remains popular with locals for several reasons. The clear waters of the swim lagoon make it a seasonal favorite with locals. Hikers can enjoy the area’s access to the Pacific Ridge Trail, Chabot to Garin Trail and the trails of the Five Canyons Open Space. Residents can volunteer and learn more about local wildlife at the Sulphur Creek Nature Center. Trips to dine out or shop can be made right outside the neighborhood in Hayward. For example, Wakamatsu is a cozy, hole-in-the-wall Japanese eatery with an extensive sushi menu. Grocery trips can be made to big-box stores like Safeway for essentials or local retailer Green Valley Produce for fresh fruits and veggies. Residents can shop at small businesses like Weirdo Skateboard for gear to hit the skatepark and Eco Thrift, a space for secondhand treasures. For familiar dining and shopping brands, the Southland Mall in Hayward provides plenty of options. Homebuyers can find a mix of Craftsman and split-levels. “The homes in Fairview are a mix of older and new homes," says Francesca Davila, a local and Realtor with Evolve Real Estate. Some are even designed with a rural feel in mind, resulting in barn-like structures on "nice large lots with a couple acres for livestock." Homes in the area tend to remain on the market for a while, selling after an average of 25 days. Prices begin around $650,000 on the lower end for a home with three bedrooms and one-and-a-half baths. On the higher end, homes can cost around $1.7 million for more spacious properties with four bedrooms and extra baths. These are also the residences that are more likely to come with an attractive bonus feature. “There’s amazing bay views at the top,” Davila says. School-age children may attend schools in the Hayward Unified School District. Fairview Elementary School and Bret Harte Middle School both received C-plus ratings from Niche. Hayward High School was given a B-rating and has many school-hours programs for students including AVID, ESL and Engineering Pathway. Public transportation is available via Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART.) Fairview is also within a 50-mile radius of several Bay Area municipalities. Oakland is roughly 21 miles northwest, San Francisco is 30 miles west and San Jose is 41 miles to the south. Driving to these cities often requires hopping on Interstate-580, a major roadway in the area. Residents looking to make their flights can head over to local airport Hayward Executive Airport or Oakland International Airport, which is a twelve-mile drive.

Despite its name, Fairway Park is actually closer to a mountain town than a golf club community — although there’s plenty of excitement to be found at the local course. Sitting just 5 miles from downtown Hayward and less than 15 miles from the Oakland International Airport, this small East Bay community offers a suburban experience with the rugged allure of the undeveloped Hayward Hills just over the horizon. “Fairway Park mostly attracts young professionals and families because it’s close to decent public schools, area regional parks and Cal State East Bay,” says Rich Fleming, a Realtor with Realty ONE Group Future and a longtime resident of the Bay Area. “But if you’re into historic homes or being right near a lot of services, this probably isn’t the neighborhood for you.” Midcentury architecture reigns supreme here, and although the neighborhood does provide proximity to major highways and public transportation, shopping and dining options are a bit scarce this close to the hills. And like many other East Bay communities, there’s an ever-present threat of earthquakes along the Hayward Fault Zone. Still, Fairway Park has become an attractive spot for those seeking suburban comfort with a rural backdrop. Covering more than 5,800 acres, the adjoining Garin and Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks provide endless opportunities for outdoor recreation steps away from Fairway Park’s homes. Hikers, bikers and equestrians enjoy exploring more than 35 miles of rugged trails, although adventurers should keep an eye out for area closures after large storms — after being pummeled by rain in 2023, the park’s Dry Creek Garden is closed until the 2025 season, and a few popular trails are undergoing repairs. In September, the community gathers to celebrate the region’s history with the Garin Apple Festival, paying homage to the park’s former orchards. Mission Hills of Hayward Golf Course and Driving Range has been a fixture of the community since 1999, offering a 9-hole layout bordered by homes. Resident duffers will receive a 10% discount on green fees, while anyone can enjoy the on-site café. Twin Bridges Park sits right next door, offering space for playdates, basketball practice and shady picnics. Once home to the local elementary school, Bidwell Park is set to receive a huge makeover in 2025, with plans for a central community center well underway. Until then, kids can sign up for private swim lessons at Treeview Swim Club. Fairway Park is filled with a collection of midcentury ranch-style homes in both traditional wide and L-shaped layouts. Averaging 1,500 square feet, these properties tend to sell between $900,000 and $1.5 million, although smaller homes can list closer to $700,000. Homes across Mission Boulevard are often the largest and most expensive, boasting hillside views and easy access to rustic trails in Garin Regional and Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks. Luxury townhouses are also available in Atlas at Mission Village, which features million-dollar Energy Star-certified units. Split between the Hayward Unified School District and the New Haven Unified School District, Fairway Park has multiple schools within walking distance. Students in the Hayward district can attend Treeview Elementary, Chavez Middle and Tennyson High, which score grades of C, C-minus and C-plus on Niche, respectively. Students in the New Haven district can attend Hillview Crest Elementary and César Chávez Middle, which both score grades of B-minus or better. In high school, interested students can participate in competitive career pathway programs like the Electronic Media Academy at James Logan High, which boasts an A on Niche. Mission Hills Middle provides a nearby private school option for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. Fairway Park Shopping Center sits at the heart of the community, offering everything from a Grocery Outlet to fast-food favorites to fitness centers. Diners can grab a booth for brunch at Amy’s Grill & Café or pick up something sweet from family-owned Fairway Park Donuts. Additional shops and grocery stores are available in Hayward’s nearby industrial sector, which sits along the Interstate 880 corridor. Fairway Park sits between I-880 and Mission Boulevard, making it an ideal homestead for commuters making the daily 25-mile trip to Silicon Valley. AC Transit and the nearby South Hayward BART Station also provide public transportation options across the Bay Area.

Showcasing a variety of housing styles, sizes and prices, Glen Eden is a massive residential garden on the southern end of Hayward. Although the community is surrounded by industrial areas on the coast of the East Bay, it retains a youthful suburban spirit with walkable schools and bike-friendly streets. “Glen Eden is a bit of a rarity in Hayward, as rather than new construction, it mostly has established starter homes,” says Rich Fleming, a Realtor with Realty ONE Group Future and a longtime resident of the Bay Area. The combination of affordable prices and nearby educational options makes Glen Eden particularly attractive to families, although commuters will find the neighborhood just as convenient. With a CAP Index crime score of 3 out of 10, Glen Eden is on the safer side for Hayward, and abundant speed bumps ensure drivers slow down on residential streets. Located at the confluence of West Tennyson Road and Interstate 580, St. Rose Hospital offers both employment and health care opportunities, while nearby shopping centers mean residents are never far from a weekly grocery trip or dinner on the go. With more variety than most Hayward neighborhoods, Glen Eden opens doors for buyers at many different price points, making it a sought-after community in the East Bay. Glen Eden is split into several distinct tracts, offering buyers a range of styles and sizes to choose from. Mobile home communities like the all-ages Pueblo Springs provide the cheapest option without sacrificing amenities like a clubhouse and pool, while townhouse complexes like Glen Eden Gardens are an ecosystem of their own with paved trails and sidewalks connecting dozens of buildings. Many of the detached homes surrounding Penke Park have distinct, Spanish-inspired red barrel-tile roofs and average about $900,000 for 1,500-square-foot four-bedroom properties. Larger builds can sometimes command prices just over a million, but buyers can expect most single-family properties to sell between $800,000 and $900,000, while spacious townhouses tend to sell closer to $700,000. Glen Eden residents don’t have to go far for outdoor recreation, whether it’s a pickup game at neighborhood spots like Penke Park or a hike through the marshland at the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve. Neighbors gather for casual tennis matches and picnics at Mt. Eden Park, which surrounds an early 20th-century mansion built by one of Hayward’s establishing families, while Palma Ceia Park is a popular stop for playdates in the afternoon. About 5 miles away, the Garin and Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks provide more than 5,800 acres of open space and 35 miles of rustic trails beloved by hikers, bikers and equestrians alike. After major storms, adventurers should keep an eye on the city’s website for trail closures, as sections of the park will be under construction until 2025. As part of the Hayward Unified School District, students can attend Lorin A. Eden Elementary or Palma Ceia Elementary, which both sit within walking distance and score grades of C-plus on Niche. After attending Ochoa Middle, which scores a B-minus on Niche, students can move on to Mt. Eden High, which scores a B on Niche and offers concurrent enrollment courses with the nearby Chabot College. Students interested in STEAM topics can enroll at Impact Academy of Arts and Technology, a sixth through 12th grade public charter school that sits right beside Mount Eden Park. At the corner of Tennyson Road and Hesperian Boulevard, shoppers will find a convenient Foodmaxx grocery store and a host of casual eateries like Subway and the retro Dairy Bell Freeze. Local joints include the nearby Volcano Island restaurant, which specializes in Korean fried chicken. For even more retail, restaurant and grocery options, shoppers can head to the nearby Southland Mall or the Eden Shores Costco. Commuters in Glen Eden have easy access to the South Hayward BART Station, local AC Transit buses, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge and Interstate 880, which offers a nearly seamless (although sometimes congested) 25-mile route to Silicon Valley.