West Sacramento

West Sacramento is a separate city from Sacramento, situated just across the river. Southport makes up the western city's southern half and is known for suburban living on the edges of rural Yolo County. "It's still got a sort of small, hometown feel," says Edgar Barajas, a lifelong Southport resident and local Realtor with Lyons Realty. "I grew up here and have seen the area develop, but it never commercialized in the way other areas in Sacramento did." Some of the biggest Southport events, Barajas explains, are neighborly youth sports games and local gatherings along the river to watch Rowing Club races. With the attractions of West Sac just north, downtown Sacramento right across the river, and Yolo wine country to the south, Southport distinguished itself as a quieter residential area with numerous nearby attractions. Homes in Southport are generally newer than those in surrounding areas, with a median building year of 2005. Some homes have Craftsman influences, and many have a Mediterranean feel with tiled roofs and stucco siding. There's a mix of tightly planned suburban neighborhoods and more rural homes with larger lots further south. Those homes that sit in neat suburban subdivisions can have a more cookie-cutter feel but offer updated modern amenities. These properties start around $500,000 for 2-bedroom homes and get up to $800,000 for 4-bedroom homes with backyard pools. Homes in the more rural areas of Southport begin around $400,000 for properties with less than 1,000 sq.ft. and get up to over $1 million for luxury properties with several sprawling acres. Southport is part of the Washington Unified School District, which serves all of West Sacramento. In Southport, kindergarten through eighth-grade schools vary depending on location. The highest rated is on the west side, Bridgeway Island Elementary School, which gets an A-minus grade from Niche. All Southport kids are zoned for River City High School, also rated A-minus. The high school is known for its Career and Technical Education program, offering specialty courses in engineering, agriscience and computer science. One of the most popular ways to get outdoors in Southport is along the water, with the Port of West Sacramento to the north. Several clubs, including rowing and sailing, enjoy the still waters around the port for maritime activities. "Fishing is big here, too," Barajas adds. Locals can walk along the riverside levees and enjoy the sweeping Delta breezes, and over at the Bridgeway Lakes Community Park, kids love to cool off at the seasonal splash pad. And many other green spaces are scattered throughout the residential streets, known for their kid's play areas, sports courts and dog parks, as well as an overall level of cleanliness that comes from their family-friendly suburban setting. Southport has few shopping or dining opportunities within the neighborhood. A commercial strip sits around the Jefferson and Lake Washington intersection with a Target, Nugget Market and Lowe's, surrounded by several chain eateries. There's a pizza place, a sushi place and a quaint little British-themed neighborhood bar, but for most everything else, locals take a trip into West Sac proper or downtown Sacramento. "That's the big complaint here, that we don't have the traditional sit-down restaurants or big stores," Barajas says. "But I see it as a good thing — I'd rather head out of the neighborhood sometimes than have big crowds coming here all the time." Bus lines run throughout Southport, connected with all of West Sac and downtown Sacramento, but most residents find it easier to drive, given the distance to nearby attractions. West Sac is 3 miles away, a popular spot to catch a baseball game at Sutter Health Park or spend an evening at the family-friendly brewery The Barn. Downtown Sacramento, with its dining options and big employers, is 7 miles away. The trip into Sacramento's center can get up to a 30-minute journey with rush hour traffic. Those in Southport also enjoy easy access to the wineries and tasting rooms of southern Yolo County. One downside of living in West Sacramento instead of Sacramento is the difference in electricity bills. West Sacramento is served by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), whereas Sacramento residents are served by Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). The PG&E electricity rates are often significantly higher than SMUD rates. Southport is currently part of the FEMA Flood Zone X, which indicates only a moderate risk for flooding, so additional insurance is not required. However, West Sacramento strongly recommends that all residents have flood insurance, and the city offers federally subsidized options. The city is currently working to build and strengthen levees to keep Southport from being upgraded to a more severe FEMA flood risk. The flood protection plan is slated to be completed in 2025.