ABOUT THE AREA

Contra Costa County Communities:

·         San Ramon

San Ramon a suburban city located approximately 36 miles east of San Francisco.  Situated in the San Francisco East Bay metropolitan area known as the “Tri Valley” it has approximately 72,000 residents.  Incorporated in 1983, San Ramon sits between the communities of Dublin (Alameda County) and Danville. 

In 2010, the United States Census reported the median income per family is approximately $132,000.

Schools that serve San Ramon are in the San Ramon Unified School District, one of the highest rated school districts in California.

Corporations located in San Ramon are:  Chevron International Headquarters, the West Coast operation of AT & T, 24 hour Fitness and Robert Half International, to name a few.
 

·         Danville

Danville is a suburban town of approximately 42,000 residents located 35 miles east of San Francisco in what is considered the Tri Valley area of the East Bay.  Incorporated in 1982, the community is ranked as one of the most expensive zip codes in the United States.  (Based on the 2010 Census). 

Schools in Danville are served by the San Ramon Unified School District, one of the highest rated districts in California. 

·         Alamo

Alamo is an unincorporated community approximately 28 miles east of San Francisco in what is considered the Tri Valley area of the San Francisco East Bay. 

Schools in Alamo are served by the San Ramon Unified School District, one of the highest rated districts in California.

The community sits at the northern end of the San Ramon Valley, nestled between the two coast ranges of the Las Trampas Ridge to the west and the Diablo Range to the east.

·        Walnut Creek

Located 25 miles north east of San Francisco this city has approximately 65,000 residents and is the hub for anyone wishing to travel to Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose. 

Served by Interstate 680 going North or South, California Highway 24 and the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART), Walnut Creek enjoys the distinction of being the 20th highest income per capita of communities in the United States.

This community has a bustling downtown shopping and restaurant district as well as construction of multi-unit housing.  Located downtown, the Lesher Regional  Center for the Arts is a live theatre venue with multiple theatres. 

Also, downtown, Walnut Creek hosts a weekly farmers’ market, as well as a number of events and festivals throughout the year.

Five school districts serve Walnut Creek;

Mount Diablo Unified School District

Walnut Creek School District

Acalanes Union High School District

San Ramon Unified School District and

Lafayette School District 
 

·         Pleasant Hill

With a population of approximately 34,000, Pleasant Hill is adjacent to the cities of Walnut Creek, Martinez, Concord and Lafayette. 

Home to John F. Kennedy University, Diablo College and  the community sits next to Interstate 680 which makes it easily accessible for travel to Sacramento, San Jose or San Francisco. 

Pleasant Hill is also served by the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) which makes travel into San Francisco and other communities served by BART easily accessible. 

·         Lafayette

Located in the rolling hills of the Las Trampas Range, Lafayette is a bedroom community with approximately 24,000 residents and sits on the California Highway 24 corridor which travels east and west between Interstate 580 and the city of Oakland.  It is served by the Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART).  It is part of the three communities known locally as “Lamorinda” – Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.

Known for excellent schools, this community is served by the Acalanes Union School District.  Residents here have a median income of more than $150,000 per household which is nearly triple the national average and more than double the state average. 
 

·         Orinda

Orinda is located just east of the Caldicott Tunnel, a major artery on California Highway 24 which connects Walnut Creek to Berkeley, Oakland and the highways that serve as access to San Francisco.  It is part of the three communities known locally as “Lamorinda” – Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.

Voted the second “friendliest town” by Forbes Magazine in 2010, Orinda has approximately 18,000 residents.  It has a rustic landscape and due to its proximity to major highways is the home of affluent suburban professionals who work in Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek and San Francisco.

School Districts that serve this community are:

o   Orinda Union School District

o   Acalanes Union High School District 
 


Alameda County Communities:

·         Pleasanton

Pleasanton is located approximately 25 miles east of Oakland and has a population of approximately 70,000 (per 2010 U.S. Census).  It is a suburb in the area known as the East Bay of the San Francisco metropolitan area. 

The community is home to the Alameda County Fairgrounds and hosts the Alameda County Fair every year around the July 4th Independence Day Holiday. 

Originally a farm community, In 2014, Pleasanton was voted the 4th best city to live in of the top 50 cities in the United States based on a study by USA Today.

The Bay Area Regional Transit (BART) system serves Pleasanton with service into San Francisco.
 

·         Dublin

Dublin is adjacent to Pleasanton and is known as the second fastest growing city in California. It is bordered by Interstate 580 to the north and is also served by the Bay Area Regional Transit (BART) system.

Located approximately 25 miles east of Oakland it has a population of approximately 50,000 people based on 2013 records.  It is a San Francisco suburb and is located in the area known as the East Bay. 

·         Livermore

Livermore is located approximately 30 miles east and south of San Francisco and is home to the Lawrence Livermore National and Sandia National Laboratories.   The community is located in the Livermore Valley, part of the Tri-Valley area located in the East Bay of San Francisco. 

Approximately 85,000 residents live in Livermore.  The town has a redeveloped downtown and is the home of the Livermore Valley Wine region.
 

·         Castro Valley

Castro Valley is the 5th most populated unincorporated community in California with approximately 62,000 residents.  Located 26 miles south east of San Francisco this community is primarily a bedroom community. 

Served by Interstate 580 and the Bay Area Transit Agency it has a Mediterranean climate and is closest to the cities of San Ramon (Contra Costa County) and Dublin/Pleasanton (Alameda County).