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Downtown Lafayette

Downtown Lafayette

$1,416,782 Average Value
$991 Average Price per Sq Ft
39 Homes For Sale

Laid-back living in the East Bay

Downtown Lafayette is the centerpiece of its namesake city, home to a community of around 25,000 east of the Oakland Hills. Elevated eateries, grocery stores and shopping malls fringe upscale enclaves of summer homes and cottages. This charming neighborhood in the hills is a true East Bay getaway. “It’s just the sweetest, cutest downtown. It’s got great restaurants and shopping, but it still has that small-town feel,” says Realtor Erin Martin of Compass Real Estate, a top Lafayette seller. Downtown Lafayette has a resort-like atmosphere that’s becoming increasingly popular as a commuter destination for young professionals seeking laid-back lifestyles outside the confines of bigger Bay Area cities.

Downtown Lafayette is an area with all the conveniences of town and the beauty of nature.
Downtown Lafayette is an area with all the conveniences of town and the beauty of nature.
Downtown Lafayette's Mt. Diablo Boulevard is a main thoroughfare for residents.
Downtown Lafayette's Mt. Diablo Boulevard is a main thoroughfare for residents.
Downtown Lafayette's La Fiesta Square is full of shops and restaurants.
Downtown Lafayette's La Fiesta Square is full of shops and restaurants.
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Classic and contemporary dining in Downtown Lafayette

Lafayette’s downtown corridor draws people from all over the region who are looking for shopping or a night out. Retail chains mix with local shops like First Mile Cycle Works. Dining options are equally as diverse here, where locals can reserve a table at Reve Bistro, a classic French restaurant known for repeat appearances on Bay Area “best of” lists and in the Michelin Guide. Postino is the go-to for hearty Italian cooking, and The Hideout is a New American favorite. For groceries, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Safeway are convenient, as well as Diablo Foods, a family-owned, independent grocer selling locally sourced, specialty produce.

The Hideout Kitchen in Downtown Lafayette serves seasonal comfort cuisine.
The Hideout Kitchen in Downtown Lafayette serves seasonal comfort cuisine.
Postino, a farm-to-table Italian restaurant is in an historic building in Downtown Lafayette.
Postino, a farm-to-table Italian restaurant is in an historic building in Downtown Lafayette.
La Châtaigne in Downtown Lafayette is a cute french boulangerie.
La Châtaigne in Downtown Lafayette is a cute french boulangerie.
Diablo Foods in Downtown Lafayette is a family-owned grocer with locally sourced food for you.
Diablo Foods in Downtown Lafayette is a family-owned grocer with locally sourced food for you.
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A-rated schools in Contra Costa County

Public schools in Lafayette are a major attraction for young families who want to relocate to the city. Students can attend Lafayette Elementary School, an A-rated Bay Area institution where students consistently rank among the best in the state in standardized testing. M.H. Stanley Middle School also receives an A rating and is the No. 10 public middle school in Contra Costa County. Kids can finish their studies at A-plus-rated Acalanes High School, which has been recognized as a California Distinguished School for its academic excellence. Over 95% of graduates continue to post-secondary education.

Lafayette Elementary School is a small school with 509 students and 22 teaachers.
Lafayette Elementary School is a small school with 509 students and 22 teaachers.
The campus of Acalanes High School in Lafayette is settled in a valley between rolling hills.
The campus of Acalanes High School in Lafayette is settled in a valley between rolling hills.
Inside the Lafayette Library is like an architectural work of art with a modern design.
Inside the Lafayette Library is like an architectural work of art with a modern design.
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Small summer cottages and spacious modern Arts and Crafts

Apartments comprise a large portion of this well-positioned community, built up around the retail-dense areas of town. Quiet corridors with single-family homes stretch away from the downtown strip in Craftsman styles, ranch homes and split-levels dating to the 1950s and 60s. Many have been updated and renovated with modern amenities. “There are lots of summer cottages for people looking to escape the fog of the city,” Martin says. It's common for front yards to have brushy hedges and mature trees. Even farther from downtown, the streets curve and climb upward into the woodsy countryside, accommodating spacious homes on larger lots. Prices can range from $800,000 for a modest condo to more than $1.5 million for a single-family ranch style with hilltop views.

The cute cottages in the Downtown Lafayette area are colorful and well-maintained.
The cute cottages in the Downtown Lafayette area are colorful and well-maintained.
Craftsman-style homes in Downtown Lafayette are the newest addition to the neighborhood.
Craftsman-style homes in Downtown Lafayette are the newest addition to the neighborhood.
Further from main street, the homes and lots of Downtown Lafayette become larger and woodsy.
Further from main street, the homes and lots of Downtown Lafayette become larger and woodsy.
The main homestyle in Downtown Lafayette is ranch houses. Most are updated and modern.
The main homestyle in Downtown Lafayette is ranch houses. Most are updated and modern.
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Fish, hike or paddle at Lafayette Reservoir

Brook Street Park is a daily getaway for many, a compact natural pocket with a playground tucked away beneath leafy tree canopies. Downtown Lafayette locals can also spend an afternoon paddling a canoe at the Lafayette Reservoir, a forested recreational area with a fishing pier and trails that twist and turn along the water’s edge. The mountainous nature preserves at Briones Regional Park are minutes away, where hikers take on the bristly, brush-laden valleys and steep, grassy hilltops that tower above the horizon.

Students at Lafayette Elementary School love the new play structures in the play area.
Students at Lafayette Elementary School love the new play structures in the play area.
The Lafayette Reservoir is a popular spot for residents to get in a great hike.
The Lafayette Reservoir is a popular spot for residents to get in a great hike.
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Home of the largest art and wine festival in the Lamorinda

The Art and Wine Festival is one of Downtown Lafayette’s top annual events, 27 years running. It’s the largest outdoor festival in the greater Lamorinda area, featuring hundreds of art vendors, four stages for live music and lots of local provisions. Downtown Lafayette is also home to the Lafayette Library, where locals visit for events like the popular Craft Buffet or check out the current exhibition at the public art gallery.

Hop on the BART

“It has the walkability people like about city life,” Martin says. Many locals travel to and from social gatherings and days at the office on foot or bike, with the help of Downtown Lafayette’s sidewalk-lined streets and biking infrastructure on the main roads. City buses make frequent stops along Mt. Diablo Boulevard, and commuters can also catch the BART train at Lafayette Station, to just about anywhere in the region, from San Francisco to San Jose. Route 24 is also nearby, which runs through the Caldecott Tunnel, beneath the Oakland Hills and straight into Oakland.

Lafayette BART station is next to downtown and in walking distance form many of the homes.
Lafayette BART station is next to downtown and in walking distance form many of the homes.
Downtown Lafayette is served by the County Connection bus line.
Downtown Lafayette is served by the County Connection bus line.
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Caeleigh Griffin
Written By
Caeleigh Griffin
Anne Kohler
Photography Contributed By
Anne Kohler
Ellie Brown
Video By
Ellie Brown

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Metro Oakland International

30 min drive

Subway

Lafayette Station

Bus

Moraga Rd And O'conner Dr

Bus

Mt Diablo Blvd And Moraga Rd

Bus

Moraga Rd And Mt Diablo Blvd

Bus

Moraga Rd And Brook St

Reviews

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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Downtown Lafayette US
Homicide 3 4
Sexual Assault 3 4
Assault with Weapon 3 4
Robbery 3 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
390
Number of Homes for Sale
39
Median Year Built
1979
Months of Supply
16.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,808
Below the national average
1,931
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,916
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,318
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
938
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
8,276

Open Houses

  • Saturday, May 9
    12 - 3pm

    950 Hough Ave Unit 201, Lafayette, CA 94549

    $3,141,390

    • 3 Beds
    • 2.5 Baths
    • 2,137 Sq Ft
    • 950 Hough Ave
    • Unit 201
    • New 6 days ago

    Discover Blue Oak, a collection of 20 exclusive residences designed for those seeking refined living in an exceptional location. Nestled in the heart of downtown Lafayette, this luxurious condominium community offers an unparalleled blend of elegance and urban convenience. Each home is thoughtfully crafted with sophisticated and elegant interiors that set a new benchmark of luxury condominium

    Kim Sanner Enkasa Homes

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  • Saturday, May 9
    12 - 3pm

    950 Hough Ave Unit 202, Lafayette, CA 94549

    $2,291,389

    • 3 Beds
    • 2.5 Baths
    • 1,469 Sq Ft
    • 950 Hough Ave
    • Unit 202
    • New 6 days ago

    Discover Blue Oak, a collection of 20 exclusive residences designed for those seeking refined living in an exceptional location. Nestled in the heart of downtown Lafayette, this luxurious condominium community offers an unparalleled blend of elegance and urban convenience. Each home is thoughtfully crafted with sophisticated and elegant interiors that set a new benchmark of luxury condominium

    Kim Sanner Enkasa Homes

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  • Saturday, May 9
    2 - 4pm

    80 Woodbury Highlands Place Unit 16, Lafayette, CA 94549

    $898,000

    • 2 Beds
    • 2.5 Baths
    • 1,126 Sq Ft
    • 80 Woodbury Highlands Place
    • Unit 16
    • New 29 days ago

    This luxury townhouse is in the heart of Lafayette, just minutes from BART, the Lafayette Reservoir, and Lafayette’s fine dining and shopping. The unit is approximately 1,126 square feet over two floors in dazzling white, with two bedrooms, two and one-half baths, and a private, attached garage offering EV charging. Enter into the open-concept Great Room on the first floor; the dining area,

    Ann Newton Cane Golden Gate Sotheby's Int'l Re

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Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Rental Home Trends

Number of Homes for Rent
1
Median Rent
$6,440
Median Single Family Home Rent
$2,845
Median Townhouse Rent
$3,600
Median 2 Bedroom Townhouse Rent
$4,200
Median Condo Rent
$3,818
Median 2 Bedroom Condo Rent
$3,818

Demographics

Total Population
3,743
Median Age
42
Population Density
16 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$147,999
Significantly above the national average
$79,597
Average Household Income
$176,429

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
97.1%
College Graduates
78.8%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
41.4%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
17''
Average Winter Low Temperature
42°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Fairly friendly

Bike Score®

40 / 100

Moderately friendly

Walk Score®

60 / 100

Moderately friendly

Transit Score®

70 / 100
Source: Local Logic
Sources: Local Logic

Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Nearby Neighborhoods

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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Downtown Lafayette
Kelly Crawford
Vanguard Properties
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