Aurora, one of Modesto's most storied neighborhoods, is a short walk from illustrious retail districts and expansive community green spaces like Graceada Park. In 1907, the Women's Improvement Club developed Graceada Park, the oldest park in the city. The two men who funded its construction named the site after their wives, Grace and Ada.
Stone walkways lead to the front doorstep of Tudor-inspired cottages. Close to downtown, these homes make Aurora feel like a storybook village with whimsical gardens. Ivy-covered walls and fences offer seclusion as the sun sets on these city dwellings. Flower gardens and shrubs flank the brick property paths, while oak and pine trees shade the cul-de-sacs. Aurora also features architectural styles like Colonial Revivals, Spanish Revivals, craftsman bungalows and remodeled midcentury styles. Homes typically range from $350,000 to $900,000. Private five-bedroom homes with in-ground pools can cost as much as $1.2 million. A three-bedroom cottage can be sold for between $450,000 and $750,000, while a house with four or more bedrooms can cost between $550,000 and $900,000. "The area developed from downtown as the city was growing north. Aurora is an old subdivision name from when those neighborhoods were originally built. As the city expanded, you had more neighborhoods with historic homes," says Catrina Girard, a Modesto native who has lived north of downtown her whole life and a Real Estate Agent at The Girard Group. "Modesto remains a centralized place in northern California with a lot to offer. This is just a growing agricultural community with family-based values and a long history."
Needham Street separates the acclaimed entertainment venues and upscale restaurants from Aurora. The State Theatre is a vintage cinema built in the 1930s. Artists perform on the checkered stage at the Prospect Theater Project, a local theater company on K Street. The Gallo Arts Center hosts symphonic performances, off-Broadway shows and musical performances on I Street, only a mile south. Camp 4 Wine Café has charcuterie boards on display with paninis and craft beer in a rustic and industrial-looking pub. TNK Vegan Café serves smoothies, tea and Chinese food with patio seating in the California sun. Locals can pick up groceries at the O'Brien's Market, a family owned supermarket on Roseburg Avenue. Smart & Final Extra! is a warehouse supermarket on H Street.
Roseburg Square, a market-style plaza on Roseburg Avenue, provides yoga studios, fitness centers and frozen yogurt shops in a hidden retail hub, which was previously a 1970s petting zoo. Aurora's eastern border, McHenry Avenue, offers a commercial district teeming with supermarkets, clothing stores and restaurants only a mile north at the McHenry Village Shopping Center.
Concert in the Park is one of Modesto's oldest traditions, with live music on the lawn of Graceada Park every Thursday evening in the summer. In August, the Modstock Music Festival hosts 80 bands across four stages in Graceada Park. At Porchfest, over 120 bands play in different neighborhoods on the porches of bungalows as the community gathers around in support. The American Graffiti Festival & Car Show is the year's biggest event by far. Classic cars cruise from 10th Street to McHenry Avenue in a weekend-long festival, which features food vendors and live music on the campus of Modesto Junior College.
The Modesto City Elementary School and Modesto City School Districts serve students in Modesto. Kids can start school at Enslen Elementary, which earns a C-plus overall grade from Niche and provides before and after-school activities through the Expanded Learning Plan. Seventh-grade students can move on to Roosevelt Junior High School, which has a C grade and offers free tutoring four days a week in a designated classroom. Grace M. Davis High receives a B-minus grade, where students can earn transferable college credit through dual enrollment at Modesto Junior College, less than a mile away on College Avenue.
Three city parks connect at the south end of Aurora. At Graceada Park, tennis and pickleball courts await in a popular green space with tall trees around a community pool and splash pad for cooling off on a hot summer day. Live music takes the stage at the Mancini Bowl, an amphitheater with concerts on the lawn during the summer. Elk Park has everything a furry companion needs, with doggie water fountains and large shade trees in a bed of wood chips. In Enslen Park, little league teams play at Jeremy Affeldt Baseball Field, and Boy Scout troops have meetings at the clubhouse. Residents can also traverse the Virginia Corridor Trail, a four-mile paved greenway for biking or jogging, and it connects some of the nearby pocket parks.
Aurora is a walkable and bike-friendly neighborhood with public transportation options. Six bus stops for the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) system are located along Orangeburg Avenue, and four more are scattered around Roseburg and College Avenue. Less than 2 miles from Downtown Modesto, Aurora is 30 miles south of Stockton and 74 miles south of Sacramento. State Route 99, the “Golden State Highway,” takes traffic north to both cities. Residents can reach a new destination by hopping on a plane at the Sacramento International Airport, 88 miles north. San Francisco is only 90 miles west on state Route 132.
Aaron Unger
Simplified Realty
(209) 255-5824
37 Total Sales
1 in Aurora
$384,895 Price
Jessica Barrios
Barrios Realty Consultants
(209) 566-0846
117 Total Sales
3 in Aurora
$510K - $630K Price Range
Kristopher Losole
PMZ Real Estate
(209) 719-3737
118 Total Sales
3 in Aurora
$320K - $490K Price Range
Walter Garrett
eXp Realty of California Inc.
(209) 638-7741
25 Total Sales
1 in Aurora
$410,000 Price
Daniel Grant
(707) 244-7217
9 Total Sales
1 in Aurora
$430,000 Price
Ben Bazar
RE/MAX Executive
(209) 497-5769
83 Total Sales
1 in Aurora
$410,000 Price
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
On average, homes in Aurora, Modesto sell after 130 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Aurora, Modesto over the last 12 months is $195,000, down 30% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
$699,888
Welcome to 1344 Magnolia Ave, Modesto! Nestled in the highly sought-after Modesto College area, this spacious home offers 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in the main house, spanning nearly 2600 square feet. The home boasts with separate family, living, and dining rooms, creating a perfect flow for both relaxation and entertainment. The property also features a charming studio ADU in the back,
Pete Diryawush J.Peter Realtors
$1,299,900
Discover a timeless retreat in the heart of Modesto's sought-after College neighborhood at 930 Sycamore Avenue. This distinguished corner-lot residence seamlessly unites classic charm with modern refinement, offering over 3,500 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space, including a versatile finished basement. Step inside to find inviting interiors that balance warmth and
Catrina Girard Valley Sotheby's International Realty
$799,000
Nestled in one of Modesto's most prestigious neighborhoods, 944 Brady Avenue is a stunningly updated residence that blends timeless elegance with modern sophistication. From the moment you arrive, you'll be captivated by the home's fresh stucco color coat and meticulously landscaped grounds, designed to evoke a serene, park-like ambiance. Step inside to discover a beautifully reimagined interior
$439,990
Great investment property in Modesto!! Prime location very close to Modesto Jr. College with two houses next to one another both located on the street. This could be a great rental property for you, or even live in one and rent out the other. Very desirable area!!
Greg Scudder PMZ Real Estate
$899,000
Step into timeless elegance with this impeccably maintained home where vintage charm meets modern pride of ownership. Built in 1933 and rich in character, the home showcases original architectural details, thoughtful updates and a warm inviting atmosphere. Formal living room with arched wood ceilings and polished wood flooring, fireplace offers charm of a traditional hearth with the convenience
Dineen Sisson RE/MAX Executive
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
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Mix of urban and rural living between an artsy downtown and rural farmland