$2,193,764Average Value$849Average Price per Sq Ft36Homes For Sale
“Green Hills, Great Schools” in sunny Lafayette
A sleepy, sunny farming community before World War II, Lafayette is now a thriving city of 25,000 in the East Bay, a 30-minute BART ride to San Francisco. Working professionals and executives commute to Bay Area companies, and when retirees downsize, they often move to high-end condos within Lafayette. Schools are sought after and homes are in high demand in a city where the motto is "Green Hills, Great Schools." Young families flock to Lafayette Trail, where children can ride their bikes to school under a canopy of trees. “It’s kind of idyllic,” says Soraya Golesorkhi, Realtor with Coldwell Banker and a top producer in the East Bay. “How fun is it to ride your bike to school with all your friends?”
Cyclist can take advantage of Lafayette paved bike path.
The Lafayette Elementary provides a comprehensive program that supports all students.
Acalanes High is one of the best California school known for its academic excellence.
Residents of Trails love the many trails and nature that can found close to downtown.
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Distinct neighborhoods include Happy Valley
The average home value in Lafayette is $2.2 million, well above the U.S. average value of $555,000. Four distinct neighborhoods make up the city, with Happy Valley having the largest and most expensive homes. “In Happy Valley the lots tend to be bigger and you have large estates, with not much under $3.5 million. This is where the heads of companies would live,” says Golesorkhi. There is a mix of mid-century and later homes and some new builds, set on private lots that often have views, gardens and swimming pools. The largest estates can be priced over $6 million.
The Reliez Valley neighborhood in the northeast retains some of Lafayette's past rural feel, with pre-war farmhouses mingled amongst mid-century and newer estates. Prices range from about $1 million to $5 million.
Burton Valley has the Lafayette - Moraga trail running through it, heavily traveled by bikers, hikers and dog walkers. “It's kind of like the neighborhoods you would see in Disney movies,” says Golesorkhi. “A real neighborhoody neighborhood.” Mid-century ranch-style homes line the streets on lots under a half acre. Prices range from about $1 million to $3 million. “Young families want to live there. There are smaller homes, but it’s walking distance to Lafayette Trail. That’s what everybody wants.”
Downtown Lafayette is anchored by the Mount Diablo Avenue commercial corridor. Condo buildings just north have two-bedroom units valued around $1 million to $1.3 million. A mix of cottages and larger homes with up to five bedrooms sit south of the corridor. They range from $1 million for the small homes to $4 million for the largest.
Modern farmhouse design blends rustic charm with contemporary elegance in Lafayette.
The modern homes in Lafayette often blend seamlessly with the nature surroundings.
Springdale residents love walking their pups around the quiet neighborhood in Lafayette.
Hillside homes in Secluded Valley offer views of Mt Diablo.
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Schools are among the best, with Acalanes High graded A-plus
Lafayette School District is graded A by Niche. It includes four elementary schools and a middle school. Acalanes High School is graded A-plus and ranked 116th in California by U.S. News. “You’ll find a lot of families move here for the schools,” says Andrea Gordon, a Bay Area Top Producer Realtor with Compass. “They have an excellent reputation and always score high.” Alumni of Acalanes High School include a CEO of Boeing, an assistant Secretary of Defense and a California Supreme Court Justice.
Lafayette Reservoir centers a city rich in green space
Lafayette has its own microclimate away from the fog of San Francisco. The sunny, warm weather brings people outdoors to the 16 miles of trails, six parks with sports fields and playgrounds, and the Lafayette Reservoir, which has facilities for fishing, boating and picnicking. The rolling hills of the 6,000-acre Briones Regional Park are just north of the city, home to deer, coyotes and hawks. Some of the trails are open to horseback riders.
Enjoy a match surrounded by scenic views at Wilder Sports Field near Lafayette.
A pickleball instructor holds private lessons at Lafayette Tennis Club.
Lafayette Reservoir is stocked with trout and catfish, making it a popular spot for fishing.
The Lafayette Ridge Trail is part of the Briones Regional Trails system.
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Cultural scene includes annual festival and Town Hall Theatre Co.
The annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival in September headlines Lafayette’s cultural events. Mount Diablo Boulevard closes for the weekend for it, and downtown fills up with arts and crafts stalls, food, wine and beer vendors, and four stages showcasing blues, Latin jazz and African bands. The nonprofit Concentrations in Jazz hosts a summer jazz workshop. The Lafayette Library and Learning Center invites well-known authors as well as artists, civic leaders and filmmakers in their speakers program. And the Town Hall Theatre Co. presents live presentations in a historic 1914 building. Lafayette also offers several community clubs and organizations — from rugby, soccer and football leagues for youth to garden clubs, Rotary Clubs and the Junior League for adults.
From rural roots to a vibrant community, downtown Lafayette blends history with modernity.
Enjoy local talent at the Lafayette Town Hall Theatre, a cultural gem in the community.
The Lafayette Art & Wine Festival is organized every year in September.
The Lafayette Public Library is an amazing amenity for residents.
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Shopping and dining downtown and in nearby Walnut Creek
Mount Diablo Boulevard in downtown Lafayette is the destination for shopping and dining. RÊVE Bistro is a classic French restaurant decked out with exposed brick and gleaming chandeliers. At Postino, farm-to-table Italian cuisine is served in a historic brick building draped in ivy. For groceries downtown has Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Safeway. “We also have Diablo Foods with a wonderful butcher shop and fish market. You can pretty much find anything you want foodwise,” says Golesorkhi. “And we’re only 10 minutes to world-class shopping in Walnut Creek. In San Francisco, so many places have shut down, but we still have Nordstrom, we have Louis Vuitton and Tiffany’s.”
Reve Bistro is a classic, everyday neighborhood French bistro located in Lafayette.
La Châtaigne, near Happy Valley in Lafayette, has fresh pastries using real French butter.
Locals in Downtown Lafayette enjoy dining outdoors in the beautiful Californian weather.
Tiffany & Co. in Walnut Creek is just a short drive from Lafayette.
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Low crime rates in Lafayette
Both property and violent crime rates are significantly lower in Lafayette than the national and state average. The property crime rate is 68 per 100,000 residents in Lafayette as opposed to 170 per 100,000 nationally. The violent crime rate is 12 per 100,000 residents in Lafayette compared to 119 per 100,000 nationally.
Bike lanes, BART station and Highway 24 ease transportation
Oakland is 13 miles from Lafayette by way of California Route 24, or a 17-minute ride on BART from the downtown station. San Francisco is 22 miles away. Bikers use the Lafayette Trail to get around town, but the city also has designated lanes for them. The city recently improved traffic safety with calming features meant to reduce speeding and improved crosswalks, especially around the schools. Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center is under 5 miles away, and Oakland International Airport is about 22 miles away.
Written By
Carol Parish
Photography Contributed By
Michael Chen
Video By
Jeffrey Knight
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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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Lafayette, CA sell after 28 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Lafayette, CA over the last 12 months is $2,030,000, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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