People often refer to the Bay Area as Northern California, but Redding is in the heart of true Northern California, over 160 miles north of Sacramento. This city of 100,000 is the largest in Shasta County. However, its relatively remote location makes it feel like a small town. People don't move out here for conventional reasons like commuting or home prices. What makes Redding special is the natural scenery. It's built along the Sacramento River, surrounded by peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range and millions of acres of national forests. Mount Shasta — one of the largest mountains in the county — is a fixture of the Redding skyline. "You've got hiking trails everywhere, the Sacramento River, Shasta Lake and skiing on Shasta Mountain; there's just so much to do," says Realtor Richard Howe with Better Homes & Gardens Realty, who's lived in Redding since 1976. Residents can walk to downtown Redding by sidewalk, river trail or pedestrian bridge. Downtown Redding sits at the bend in the river and has become the heart of the city with a recent revitalization transforming it into a pedestrian-friendly main street for businesses and restaurants. "It took years of vision and advocacy from community members to bring it back to a true main street," says Blake Fisher, main street coordinator with Viva Downtown Redding. This theme of community investment can be seen across the city, from its top-rated schools to its maintained natural spaces.
Market Street is Downtown Reddings main restaurant and shopping paradise.
Parents catch up with friend's as children play at Fantasy Fountain in Alta Mesa.
Residents can play beach volleyball by the railroad bridge at Lake Redding Park.
Benton Tract residents can take the Sacramento River Trail to get to Sundial Bridge.
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River trails through the city and mountain lakes up the road
Redding is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, with trails and river activities in the city and mountain lakes a few miles up the road. Locals use the river with such frequency that Redding is known as the unofficial kayaking capital of the world. The Sacramento River Trail runs along each side of the river's tree-studded banks. It's paved for comfortable hiking and biking, and walkers can cross from side to side on pedestrian bridges starting in Benton Tract , Lake Redding and Lakeview . The Sundial Bridge — a glass walking bridge resembling a giant sundial — is visible from miles away. It connects each side of Turtle Bay Exploration Park, a 300-acre ecological preserve in the middle of the city. The main part of the park is a few blocks east of downtown. It includes an educational museum and acres of wooded riverfront space with natural trails. Across the river, there are botanical gardens and hillside hiking trails overlooking downtown.
Temperatures can average over 100 degrees in July and August, so residents usually head to a nearby mountain lake to cool off. Whiskeytown Lake is 10 miles west on California Highway 299. Its proximity makes it popular for day trips of boating or hiking around its shores. Shasta Lake — one of the region's most popular outdoor destinations — is just over 15 miles up Interstate 5. It's technically the largest reservoir in California. It's renowned for boating and fishing, and hikers can traverse miles of surrounding mountain trails and caverns.
Caldwell Park in Benton Tract is near the river.
The Swasey Recreational Area is a popular destination for hiking in Centerville.
Sacramento River Trail has paved trails for exploring the river near Downtown Redding.
The Sacramento River trail provides an excellent space for residents bike and scooter.
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Redding's revitalized downtown
The revitalization of downtown Redding has brought new life to its commercial, culinary and cultural scenes. The new development spans a few blocks between California Street and Pine Street, where a mall used to sit. Market Street became the main artery and the foundation for the new development. New buildings with spaces for local businesses, restaurants, shops and apartments were built along Market and its cross streets. The city implemented an innovative design for the new streets. "They're called complete streets, which means the roads are narrowed, the sidewalks are widened and there are no curbs," says Fisher. "So, the entire street is usable for events, and there's nothing in the way of pedestrians and bikers." Shoppers and diners can walk to different eateries and boutiques, including the tasting room for New Clairvaux Vineyards, which won the Golden Bear Best in Show for multiple wines at the 2024 California State Fair. The newest addition to Market Street will be the Redding Public Market, which will bring together restaurants, bars and breweries from all over the city.
Downtown Redding is part of the Redding Cultural District. "We're one of 14 recognized by the state as a thriving cultural district, and ours is the largest in California," says Fisher. The district includes galleries, museums and outdoor spaces around the city. The downtown revamp brought back a crown jewel of the district, the Cascade Theatre. Originally opened in 1935, this art deco theater had been neglected after spending years as one of the premier performance halls in Northern California. Like downtown, it is now restored to its former glory and hosts a regular lineup of shows and musical artists.
Kutras is conveniently located by downtown Redding and the Sacramento River.
Downtown Redding is a short walk from Garden Tract.
Benton Tract is a short five minute drive from Downtown Redding.
New Clairvaux Tasting Room and other dining options are only five minutes away from Kutras.
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Threat of wildfires and low to moderate crime
Summer is fire season in this region of North California, where the abundant forests can double as fuel for fires. Many are contained to small brush fires, but others can grow into devastating wildfires. The 2018 Carr Fire left a lasting mark on Redding, burning 270 homes on the city's west side. This was just a portion of the 230,000 acres that it burned across Shasta County. In some residential areas, homes neighbor barren hillsides where only charred trees remain. It's important for residents to have an established evacuation plan in preparation for fires of this size. The city encourages residents to prevent future disasters by removing combustible brush from the perimeter of homes to keep fires from spreading into residential communities.
According to reported data from the Redding Police Department, the city's violent crime offenses have gradually lowered since 2010. In 2022, they reported 588 violent crimes, compared to 655 in 2017, 5 years prior. With little outside traffic, many areas of Redding have notably low crime. Offenses tend to be focused in the industrial areas along the interstate.
Work at large hospitals or drive on I-5
Redding is the largest city for miles around, so it's home to the region's primary healthcare facilities. Mercy Medical Center is the largest and it's a couple of miles from downtown, while Shasta Regional Medical Center is right in downtown. Employees can take the bus, walk or drive. Interstate 5 runs through the city, so commuters can easily hop on if they need to make the 160-mile trip south to Sacramento. Redding Regional Airport is just outside of the city, about 10 mile southeast of downtown. It offers flights to major West Coast hubs like Los Angeles and Seattle.
Home prices less than California median
Redding is a more affordable option for people who want to be in California without paying premium prices. While the cost of living in California is above the national median, the cost of living in Redding is below it. The median home price is around $400,000, far less than the state median. Central neighborhoods like Magnolia and Garden Tract offer a large stock of mid-1900s homes, and newer developments tend to be focused in Wyndham and Quartz Hill .
Large ranch-style homes in Alta Mesa cost between $600,000 to $700,000.
Large homes line the Sacramento River in Bonnyview.
Long driveways and large lot sizes are common in Centerville.
Most homes in Downtown Redding can be found south of the commercial heart of the city.
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Excellence at Redding Elementary, Shasta Union Districts
Rated a B-plus by Niche and encompassing 11 schools, Redding Elementary School District focuses on dual language immersion and technology integration. Older students will be in the A-rated Shasta Union High School District, where field trips might bring them to a bike trail or local lake. They’ll also be able to take technical education courses, prepping them for college and a future career. Toward Redding’s eastern hills, Simpson University is a private university accredited since 1969, and a football team was just added in 2024.
The blacktop and playground at Cypress Elementary in Redding is a lot of fun for students.
Sequoia Middle School in Redding prepare students for their future.
Shasta High School is a highly rated school in Redding.
St. Joseph School is a private Catholic school in Redding that serves grade K-8.
On average, homes in Redding, CA sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Redding, CA over the last 12 months is $399,900, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
17 year real estate veteran right here in Redding California. As an owner of commercial and investment properties Todd knows the ins and outs of property ownership. He focus mainly on client relationships to make sure client's real estate needs are met in every transaction.
He's a hard working family man selling California one at a time.
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