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Willis Acres

Willis Acres

Suburban Neighborhood in Sacramento, California

Sacramento County 95815, 95838

$356,986 Average Value
$321 Average Price per Sq Ft
1 Home For Sale

Midcentury suburb with lots of rental and investment properties

In Willis Acres, a small suburb 5 miles north of downtown Sacramento, midcentury ranch-style homes and bungalows with fenced-in lawns are in various stages of repair and renovation, attracting some house-flippers and landlords converting single-family homes into rentals. Still, the rate of change has been very slow and, like much of North Sacramento, city institutions haven't been in any rush to develop economic resources on this side of town. “It's an older community that hasn't been invested in in quite some time,” says Nicki Kalteis, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker. Though residents here are removed from major shopping centers and area highways, they can easily walk to the neighborhood market and Johnston Park, which has a public pool. The local St. Paul’s Church of God in Christ is a pillar of the community, partnering with an emergency housing shelter next door, which serves folks ages 18-24.

Ranch-style homes and bungalows in various stages of renovation

Ranch-style homes and bungalows from the 1950s sit close together along sidewalk-lined streets, their square front yards often bordered by chicken-wire or wrought-iron fences, and dotted with the occasional cypress, palm or oak tree. Most properties have three or four bedrooms, and feature either attached one-car garages or covered carports. Covered front porches with a few chairs are common, where locals can enjoy some shade during the area's hot summers. “You’ll definitely see a lot of tree-lined streets, shade for the houses and curb appeal,” says Ashlynn Fresques, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker. Some homes are in better condition than others, and depending on how recently they've been remodeled, their prices range from $200,000 to $450,000. More than half of residents rent their homes from property owners.
Homes in Willis Acres range from $200,000 to $450,000.
Homes in Willis Acres range from $200,000 to $450,000.
Ranch style homes are common in Willis Acres.
Ranch style homes are common in Willis Acres.
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Public pool, playgrounds and playing fields at Johnston Park

The 25-acre Johnston Park sits on the neighborhood’s south side, within walking distance for most residents. The park’s community pool is a popular feature in the summer when temperatures regularly rise above 90 degrees. There're also basketball courts and soccer fields where kids play pick-up games and two different playgrounds for toddlers and older kids. Local organizations Del Paso Heights Growers Alliance and Green Tech Edu planted 48 new trees here in 2020, adding more shade as the trees mature. Steelhead Creek borders the neighborhood on the west, while Arcade Creek forms the northern border. Locals can cross over Steelhead Creek on El Camino Avenue, just south, to reach East Levee Road, a multi-use trail for hiking and biking on the west side of the creek.
Willis Acres residents can practice their jump shot at Johnston Park.
Willis Acres residents can practice their jump shot at Johnston Park.
Escape the summer heat with a dip in the pool at Johnston Park.
Escape the summer heat with a dip in the pool at Johnston Park.
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Career academies and athletics at Grant Union High School

Fairbanks Elementary, which earns a C-minus from Niche, has a dance team that meets weekly and performs at school events, including the annual spring carnival in May. The C-rated Rio Tierra Junior High offers computer science and digital media literacy electives. The B-rated Grant Union High School houses specialized Health Sports and Criminal Justice Academies, which aim to prepare students for higher education. The school’s football program is an extracurricular highlight for students, producing over a dozen NFL players over the years.
Grant Union High School is the Home of the Pacers.
Grant Union High School is the Home of the Pacers.
Rio Terra Junior High School is in the Northgate neighborhood of California.
Rio Terra Junior High School is in the Northgate neighborhood of California.
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Annual Taste of Sacramento event on Del Paso Boulevard

A few miles south of Willis Acres, the Taste of North Sacramento is held outdoors each September, along Del Paso Boulevard. This annual event features menu tastings from local restaurants, as well as live music and a silent auction; proceeds go to the Friends of North Sacramento-Hagginwood Library, a local nonprofit.

Bike lanes and bus stops on Norwood Avenue

State Route 160 is about 2 miles south, and leads 3 miles south to downtown Sacramento. Interstate 80 is 2 miles north via the eastside Norwood Avenue, and Interstate 5 is 4 miles west via West El Camino Avenue. Though the neighborhood is secluded from most area through-traffic, it's bordered on the west by train tracks; both passenger trains, which stop at the Amtrak station downtown, and industrial lines pass by intermittently throughout the day. Norwood Avenue is lined with Sacramento Regional Transit bus stops and bike lanes, and T & Y Market and Johnston Park are within walking distance of many local homes. Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center is 5 miles east, while Sacramento International Airport is 12 miles north.
Willis Acres is connected by bike trails.
Willis Acres is connected by bike trails.
Cyclist will love the trails in Willis Acres.
Cyclist will love the trails in Willis Acres.
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Local market and taco stand within walking distance

There's a small shopping plaza on the neighborhood’s east side. Here, T & Y Market sells groceries and fresh produce, including Asian imports. Taqueria Sanchez, a locally owned taco stand, is known for its authentic Mexican food. Asian Café, next to T & Y Market, serves flavorful Lao and Thai food in a casual setting. More dining and grocery stores, including Costco and Trader Joe's, can be found about 2 miles south on Del Paso Boulevard.
Taqueria Sanchez is nearby Willis Acres for tasty tacos.
Taqueria Sanchez is nearby Willis Acres for tasty tacos.
T&Y Market is an international market with products and flavors from around the globe.
T&Y Market is an international market with products and flavors from around the globe.
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Potential flood risk from Arcade Creek

Arcade Creek, which runs along the neighborhood’s north border, is bordered by levees that divert most excess water during storms. Still, there is potential for a levee breach, especially during heavy rainfall. In case of a breach, most Willis Acres residents, especially those towards the north, will be asked to evacuate. Locals can sign up for flood alerts through the Sacramento County website. Notably, flood insurance is required for those in designated high-risk flood zones, and most policies have a 30-day waiting period before they take effect.
Andi Sink
Written By
Andi Sink
Kiet Tat
Photography Contributed By
Kiet Tat
Daniel Quattro
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Daniel Quattro

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

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Ana Alvarez, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Sacramento International

21 min drive

Bus

Norwood Ave & Lindley Dr (Sb)

Bus

Norwood Ave & Las Palmas Ave (Sb)

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Willis Acres US
Homicide 5 4
Sexual Assault 5 4
Assault with Weapon 6 4
Robbery 5 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 6 4
Larceny 3 4
Crime Score 5 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Willis Acres Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$372,000
Median Sale Price
$370,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$370,500
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$666,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
12
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
3%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$321

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
358
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Median Year Built
1954
Months of Supply
1.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,142
Significantly below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,804
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,227

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Ana Alvarez, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
1,805
Median Age
35
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
28.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10.3%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$54,261
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$91,197

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
75.4%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
11.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0%
% Population in Labor Force
69.8%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
18''
Average Winter Low Temperature
39°F
Average Summer High Temperature
92°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

46 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

40 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

29 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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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
Willis Acres