$458,308Average Value$223Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
Santa Nella is in San Joaquin Valley, right off Interstate 5
Santa Nella, in rural San Joaquin Valley, is located between Los Angeles and Sacramento, which are linked by a nearly 400-mile stretch of Interstate 5. In addition to the interstate, Santa Nella has convenient access to state Routes 33 and 152. Businesses off I-5 include lodging establishments, truck stops and other transportation-related services. "It's like a small artery, and so centrally located and convenient with the highways," says Katrina Sousa, a Realtor with PMZ Real Estate. There also are residential pockets set away from the busy roads. "Santa Nella is very small, with hometown-type living. It's a place to settle down if you are looking for a quiet, family oriented life. There isn't a lot of turnaround out here," Sousa says. The population is approximately 1,700, according to U.S. Census estimates.
Santa Nella is an oasis for travelers along I-5 and Highway Thirty-Three.
Open space backs several Santa Nella blocks for added breathing room.
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The area has history as a travelers' waypoint on El Camino Viejo
The area has been a stopping place for travelers since the 19th century when it was called Rancho de Centinella. The name Santa Nella comes from a mispronunciation of that Spanish name. At the time, the main route was El Camino Viejo, Spanish for "The Old Road." Later, it was replaced by highways. In the 1970s, Vince Evans, a rancher and restauranteur, helped develop Santa Nella into a "service town" to capitalize on the desirable location.
Hotels and other amenities are available to travelers in Santa Nella.
Gas and snacks are close at hand near Santa Nella’s interchange.
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Santa Nella is car-dependent, and many people commute
The community is car-dependent and neighboring cities Gustine and Los Banos are within a 12-mile drive. "People here are mostly commuters or truck drivers or have just come to obtain affordable housing. Because of where Santa Nella is located, soon after you go over the hills on the way to the Bay Area, wages go up. I've known chefs who worked in San Franciso but lived in Santa Nella. And that's a commute of two hours or more," Sousa says. Closer cities include Merced, Modesto, Hollister and Gilroy, which are all roughly 40 miles away.
Memorial Hospital Los Banos is one of the closest medical facilities. Though there are airports in Los Banos and Gustine, they are used for general aviation. It's about 45 miles to the Merced Yosemite Regional Airport, where Advanced Air offers passenger flights to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Santa Nella is known as a stopping point for travelers along the I-5 corridor.
Thoughtful layouts keep traffic light across Santa Nella.
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A concentration of residential streets away from commercial areas
The residential streets, some of which have sidewalks, are concentrated south of Bayview Road and west of Santa Nella Boulevard, which is a section of SR-33. Many homes, including those with contemporary or Spanish-influenced architecture, were built in the 1990s to 2010s. Prices typically range from about $400,000 to $650,000. Mobile and manufactured homes are $90,000 to $170,000. Among these, the oldest are mobile homes dating to the 1960s; the newest are manufactured homes from the 2020s.
For those seeking more space, there are larger lots south of SR-152. "These 1-acre parcels were developed with the idea of people having beautiful custom homes and even keeping livestock," Sousa says. Properties in proximity to the Delta-Mendota Canal aqueduct, the San Luis Creek and other waterways may be subject to flooding.
Homes blend with hillsides on the edge of Santa Nella.
Spanish-style homes with driveways and large front lawns line Santa Nella's residential streets.
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The iconic Pea Soup Andersen's and other Santa Nella businesses
As exit off I-5, Santa Nella has its share of fast food and gas station convenience stores, though there's also a grocery store, the Santa Nella Food Center. A unique dining option is Pea Soup Andersen's, a restaurant opened in 1976 by Evans. It serves over 2 million bowls of pea soup each year and is hard to miss due to the traditional Danish-style architecture, including a 77-foot windmill. The Hotel Mission de Oro, in this case notable for Spanish architecture, has a fine-dining restaurant, The Kitchen at the Mission, which includes the Mission Lounge for drinks. A greenhouse, operated since 2024, provides farm-to-table produce for the restaurant. Live music, movie nights in the courtyard and holiday celebrations are among the events at the Mission.
People go to nearby communities for more shopping and dining. "If you live in Santa Nella, you are going to Los Banos to shop. You have Walmart when you enter town from that side," Sousa says. There are also other big-box stores, supermarkets and a Premiere Cinemas movie theater.
Pea Soup Andersen has a gift shop that sells rustic Danish memorabilia.
Mission‑inspired architecture defines Hotel Mission de Oro in Santa Nella.
A vintage‑styled dining room adds nostalgic charm to Santa Nella stops like Pea Soup Andersen's.
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Public education through the Gustine Unified School District
The Gustine Unified School District serves the area with schools like Romero Elementary School, which earns a C-plus grade from Niche. Gustine Middle School earns a C-minus grade, and Gustine High School receives a C-plus. The high school is known for the Gustine Rotary Basketball Tournament, the longest-running high school basketball tournament in California.
Santa Nella residents start their education at Romero Elementary School.
Kids move on to Gustine Middle School in Gustine.
Gustine High School has a sprawling, mission-style campus.
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Outdoor recreational opportunities in the surrounding areas
Though Santa Nella lacks community parks, there are plenty of options for outdoor recreation in the area. Toward the south, there's a pier on the Delta-Mendota Canal where people go fishing. A couple of miles west of the pier is O'Neill Forebay, a reservoir with a wildlife area, beaches and campgrounds. The adjacent San Luis Reservoir is about twice the size of the forebay. Boating, board sailing, fishing and hiking are common pastimes at the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area.
Santa Nella residents can fish on the Delta-Mendota Canal.
Santa Nella residents can fish around the rocky shoreline at the O'Neill Forebay Reservoir.
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Nearby communities hold well-attended annual festivals
Gustine has annual celebrations like the Our Lady of Miracles Festa, which is inspired by the area's large population of Portuguese Americans. The multiday cultural event attracts approximately 20,000 attendees each September. The Los Banos Tomato Festival in October, which also draws crowds.
Written By
Robin Silberman
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Perrius
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Martin Villanueva,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Santa Nella, CA sell after 56 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Santa Nella, CA over the last 12 months is $650,000, up 15% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Beautiful low maintenance house with a nice yard and 3 car garage, close to shopping, schools and transportation, ready for a new family. Located minutes from highway.
A MUST-SEE HOME YES, I SAID IT TWICE!! This stunning property speaks for itself once you step inside, there's a high chance you'll fall in love with this warm and welcoming family nest! Super clean and truly move-in ready, this 4-bedroom home offers a perfect blend of comfort and low-maintenance living. The spacious backyard is fully paved with brick and concrete, creating an ideal setting for
This well-maintained 3-bedroom, 2-bath mobile home is located in the desirable Santa Nella Park, offering a great opportunity for commuters and first-time buyers. Just minutes from Highway 33, it provides quick access to nearby cities, shopping, and local businesses. Inside, you'll find a spacious layout with plenty of natural light, a functional kitchen, and the convenience of an indoor
Jennifer Villada-CabreraColdwell Banker Kaljian & Associates
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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.
