Situated at the foot of the Oakland Hills in the Amador Valley, the city of Pleasanton offers upper-end suburban living in the East Bay’s outer reaches. Although it’s a trek from San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the city has built a reputation for top-notch public schools, high-paying tech jobs and a lively and historic downtown district. That said, housing prices in this city of nearly 80,000 tend to be higher compared to nearby Bay Area suburbs. “Why do people pay so much to live here? It’s the schools. It has an outstanding school district,” says Realtor Bernard Laffer of Realty World Complete Services, a longtime Pleasanton resident.
The city wasn’t always as pleasant as its name suggests. During the California gold rush, it was known as “The Most Desperate Town in the West” because it was a favorite hideout for bandits, cattle robbers and desperados on the lam from local law enforcement. “It was one of the wildest towns on the west coast. But the cowboy mentality is long gone,” Laffer says.
Foothill-Pleasanton offers the perfect blend of suburban living with hillside views.
Enjoy Downtown Pleasanton’s walkable streets, perfect for dining, shopping, and entertainment.
Recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, Amador Valley High excels in academics.
Tech giants in Pleasanton provide competitive salaries and career growth in the Tri-Valley.
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A walkable, historic downtown district
A walk down Main Street in downtown Pleasanton delights with bustling restaurants and locally-owned shops. The district’s historic buildings date back to the city’s earliest days with picturesque examples of Italianate, Colonial Revival and Queen Anne style architecture. Downtown is easy on the eyes, and even easier on the palate: upscale dining, street food, cozy coffee shops and a Michelin reviewed restaurant are just a sampling of the city’s culinary offerings. Community events are a frequent occurrence, with everything from a weekly farmer’s market to the occasional block party and bar crawl. Outside Main Street, local shopping plazas feature a range of big box stores, chain restaurants and major grocery chains.
Pleasanton is home to the Alameda County Fairgrounds, and has hosted the Alameda County Fair since 1912. It’s also the site of the oldest one-mile horseracing track in the United States, where races have been taking place since 1858. The county fair takes place every year in June and July. Locals and visitors from all over the region flock to the fairgrounds flashing lights, carnival rides, games, livestock races and food vendors. It’s topped off with an elaborate fireworks and drone show to celebrate the 4th of July.
Shop fresh and local at Downtown Pleasanton’s vibrant Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning.
Primm Boutique located in Downtown Pleasanton is a woman owned and operated cozy boutique.
You can relax and have fun at the same time at the Alameda County Fair.
Experience heart-stopping tricks at the BMX Bike Fest in Downtown Pleasanton.
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Community parks, mountain hikes
Parks and open spaces are also a major draw. The city sits just east of forested ridges and protected nature preserves that extend out towards Oakland and Castro Valley. There's easy access to hiking, biking and natural scenery at Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park and Augustin Bernal Park, which occupy the steep ridges and valleys just off Interstate 680. Within the city, there are dozens of community parks and more than 60 miles of trails that wind through suburban greenery. Residents can hit the links at one of six golf courses, four of which are private clubs. The East Bay is known for its Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters, so there’s ample time for outdoor activities, especially during the spring and fall.
Residents can explore the natural beauty of Pleasanton on the Castleridge Trail.
Pleasanton Golf Center offers scenic fairways perfect for golfers of all skill levels.
Dog walkers love Bernal Community Park’s open spaces and pet-friendly trails in Pleasanton.
Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park overlooks Pleasanton and the Livermore Valley from the west.
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Top-rated Bay Area schools
The Pleasanton Unified School District offers some of the best schools in the Bay Area. The district earns an A-plus rating from Niche, and many of its schools have been recognized with California Distinguished Schools and National Blue Ribbon awards. Those seeking an alternative to public schools can consider the Stratford School’s Pleasanton branch, an A-plus rated private elementary school.
A hub for white-collar and tech jobs
Pleasanton was just a blip on the map until around the 1980s, when several large business parks were constructed in the city. Since then, it’s become a major regional office hub that’s home to the corporate headquarters for Safeway, Workday and Simpson Manufacturing, and has offices for tech companies like Oracle and Cisco.
Oracle’s Pleasanton headquarters anchors innovation in the heart of the Tri-Valley tech hub.
Pleasanton’s Workday headquarters drives global innovation with local Tri-Valley charm.
Safeway’s Pleasanton headquarters anchors a legacy of grocery innovation in the Tri-Valley.
Cisco’s Pleasanton location blends technology leadership with a prime Bay Area setting.
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Steep home prices in the East Bay
The median home price in Pleasanton is $1.7 million, reflecting the sky-high housing costs of living in the Bay Area. The city offers a wide mix of home styles, from upper-end single-family homes to condos and apartments. The area surrounding downtown features older housing stock, including early 20th-century bungalows and Craftsman-style homes. Contemporary homes with large floor plans are most common elsewhere in the city. Wildfires are a reality in the East Bay, and homeowners are encouraged to clear brush and obtain fire insurance.
Uniformity homes style creates a visually appealing neighborhood in Valley Trails.
Craftsman style homes in Valley Trails are characterized by their natural materials.
You’ll find late 19th and early 20th century homes and Queen Anne Victorians in Pleasanton.
Pleasanton boasts large contemporary homes with spacious layouts and modern designs.
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Low crime rates
Pleasanton has very low violent crime and property crime rates, according to FBI stats. In December 2023, for instance, the city’s violent crime rate was 44 per every 100,000 residents, putting it about 79% lower than the statewide average and 95% lower than the national average. The city’s police department launched a new program in 2022 aimed at limiting interactions between uniformed police officers and residents experiencing acute mental health issues. The program sends licensed mental health workers alongside non-uniformed officers to help those experiencing a mental health crisis.
Getting around Pleasanton and beyond
Pleasanton’s East Bay locale puts it around 30 miles from Oakland, 35 miles from Silicon Valley and 40 miles from San Francisco. There are several highways that skirt the edges of Pleasanton: Interstates 580 and 680 and State Route 84. The city offers a door-to-door bus system for senior residents, while regular bus lines are operated by Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority. Pleasanton has an Amtrak Station, a BART station and an ACE rail stop, offering rail service throughout the Bay Area and up and down the California coast.
Genie's passion for the Santa Cruz region and her job can make anyone’s move in and out of Santa Cruz county seem like a breeze. Smitten by the natural beauty of Santa Cruz and its diverse and accepting community, Genie encourages everyone to move to the area in which she was born and raised. “It's interesting to see how Santa Cruz has evolved over the years,” says Genie, “it has shifted from being a tourist hotspot and a retirement community to being a place where people move to build a life and a career.” She believes that the county’s location between the ocean and the mountains is what attracts people, especially those working at Silicon Valley’s tech companies, to choose and settle down in the area. “It’s amazing to see how accessible fun is in Santa Cruz,” she says, “one minute you’d be at work, and the next you are surfing or biking, in your own neighborhood!”Genie comes from a family of realtors. Her father was the one who encouraged her to get into the business, and the one who taught her most of what she knows about the business, especially the art of negotiating. With his years of experience, he knew how to bring a willing buyer and a willing seller together and how to seal a deal, and so does his daughter. “The best part about this job is seeing a happy client,” says Genie, “each client is unique and each property is unique, so finding the right type of 'unique' for my clients is what keeps me going.” This extra-special realtor does more than just help her clients find their dream home, she helps them settle down too. What matters to her is that, once a customer moves to the county for good, they don’t have any trouble integrating into the community. She’ll hook her clients up with clubs and communities o
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