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Moving to Oakland is an incredible idea as it is a one-of-a-kind city that gives you a taste of the Pacific Ocean and beautiful views of the hills. With parks, shopping, zoos, and more, Oakland is one of those places where families thrive.
And we’re here for it!
Now, we know that there are some neighborhoods in Oakland to steer clear of, but most cities are like that. And the good news is that there are many safe neighborhoods in Oakland, which are good for both kids and dogs.
So, worry less, and know that Oakland is a great place to raise your kids. Let’s chat about some of the best neighborhoods for families in Oakland to help you figure out where to buy or rent a home.
The 5 best neighborhoods for families in Oakland
Here are the best neighborhoods for families in Oakland:
Montclair
One of the overall best neighborhoods in Oakland to buy a house
If you venture to the western part of the Oakland Hills, that’s where you’ll find Montclair. It’s a nice neighborhood with a warm, easygoing vibe, and when you live there, it’ll feel like you’re in a peaceful small town, even though you’re in the city.
The neighborhood offers hundreds of stores, restaurants, and other amenities, with plenty of outdoor activities to boot. (Just wait until you see the trails!) And last but not least, it has the incredible Montclair Village Shopping Center, which provides everything you need.
Below is more information about this Oakland neighborhood:
Cost of Housing: $1,268,722 (median home value) or $2,340 (median rent)
Schools: Montclair Elementary School, Thornhill Elementary School, Montera Middle School, Piedmont High School, Piedmont Middle School, Havens Elementary School, AIMS College Prep Middle School, and Maybeck High School
Parks Nearby: Montclair Park, Shepherd Canyon Park, Montclair Recreation Center, and Montclair Railroad Trail
Family-Friendly Activities: Museum of Children’s Arts, Urban Adventure Camps, Montclair Community Play Center (MCPC), Children’s Fairyland, Adventure Time Montclair, and Oakland Public Library: Montclair Branch
Best Restaurants: Sophie’s Cuppa Tea, Montclair Egg Shop, Crogan’s Montclair, Yellow Door, Paddington Cafe, Daughter Thai Kitchen, Kakui Sushi, Himalayan Curry House, Flippers Gourmet Burgers, and Cybelle’s Pizza
Rockridge
One of the safest neighborhoods in Oakland
You’ll see Rockridge on most Oakland neighborhood guides for the best neighborhoods for families in Oakland. This beautiful neighborhood is south of Berkeley and west if you’re coming from the Oakland Hills area. It’s adorned by big, beautiful homes and bungalows built back in the early to mid-‘90s.
A great thing about Rockridge is that it’s near BART, meaning that you can catch a ride to other parts of the city without having to drive yourself. How can you say no to this level of convenience? (Spoiler alert: you can’t!)
Another nice thing about Rockridge is its atmosphere. When you live there, it’ll be like living in a tiny town, as it’s generally quiet and relaxed. However, don’t let that deter you if you like to get out and have fun, as the neighborhood is also home to College Avenue (with tons of shopping, coffee shops, etc.) to keep you entertained. Also, the food is out of this world.
Here are some more details about Rockridge:
Cost of Housing: $1,228,141 (median home value) or $2,097 (median rent)
Schools: Rockridge Montessori School, Chabot Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Aurora School, Claremont Middle School, Willard Middle School, Martin Luther King Middle School, Oakland Technical High School, Oakland International High School, College Preparatory School, Head-Royce School, Bentley School, and Bishop O’Dowd High School
Parks Nearby: Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt, Chabot Recreation Center, Ayala Park, Ostrander Park, Colby Park, and Bushrod Park
Family-Friendly Activities: Kids Play Zone, Chabot Space & Science Center, Gymboree Play & Music (Oakland), and Morcom Rose Garden
Best Restaurants: Rockridge Cafe, Kitchen Story Oakland, Yimm Oakland, A16, Ramen Shop, Belotti Ristorante E Bottega, Zachary’s Chicago Pizza, and Millenium
Crocker Highlands
One of the most family-oriented neighborhoods in Oakland
Crocker Highlands is surrounded by Piedmont, Glenview, Trestle Glen, and Grand Lake. The neighborhood is all about the community, and there are plenty of places to mingle with other families, especially at the playgrounds.
The neighborhood also offers multiple daycares, preschools, and more, which rate highly on the scale of “best schools in Oakland.” So, if you have little ones who will need a place to go between 9 to 5, Crocker Highlands has you covered.
Also, if you enjoy traditional homes built between the ‘20s and ‘40s, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for here in Crocker Highlands. The neighborhood is renowned for its beautiful homes, which include prairie-style, Craftsman-style, and more.
Below are a few more things to know about Crocker Highlands:
Cost of Housing: $1,551,015 (median home value) or $2,358 (median rent)
Schools: Crocker Highlands Elementary School, Wildwood Elementary School, Havens Elementary School, and Piedmont High School
Parks Nearby: Lower Bottoms Park, Bushrod Park, Piedmont Park, and Dracena Quarry Park
Family-Friendly Activities: Oakland Public Library and Eastmont Town Center
Best Restaurants: Grand Oaks, Diggery Inn, Top Dog, Mijori Japanese Restaurant, Rico Rico Taco, Rockin Crawfish, Chao Thai Cuisine, Comal Next Door, and Shakewell
Glenview
One of the most laid-back neighborhoods in Oakland for families
You might recognize Glenview for its quiet atmosphere and enchanting bungalows just beneath the Oakland Hills. Many people refer to this neighborhood as a more toned-down version of Rockridge, meaning that there’s less going on, so you can really indulge in some peace and quiet. (Of course, if you want to have some fun, head over to Park Boulevard!)
Glenview rates well in terms of family-friendliness, nightlife, and cultural diversity. It also offers multiple activities for families in the neighborhood and nearby, so rest assured that if you choose to live there, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy on the weekends.
Another reason to move to Glenview is the close proximity to Downtown Oakland. It’s only about five miles away, so if you need to commute Downtown during the workweek, you won’t have to be in traffic for long. But just because Glenview is close to Downtown, don’t feel like it’s going to be overly busy there. In fact, it’s far enough away that you can get away from the hustle and bustle but close enough that you can travel there quickly if you need to on any given day. You can also walk around the neighborhood at your leisure–and feel safe doing so.
Here is some more handy information about this neighborhood:
Cost of Housing: $1,088,191 (median home value) or $1,626 (median rent)
Schools: Glenview Elementary School, Redwood Day School, The Renaissance International School, Piedmont High School, Piedmont Middle School, Millennium High Alternative School, Quarry Lane School, and Bentley School
Parks Nearby: Oak Glen Park, Hollywood Triangle Park, Dimond Park, Bridgeview Trailhead, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, and Tilden Regional Park
Family-Friendly Activities: Lions Pool, Wayne & Gladys Valley Children’s Zoo, One Big Love Art Camp, Rotary Nature Center, and The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment
Best Restaurants: Blackberry Bistro, Bellanico Restaurant & Wine Bar, Sushi Park, Marzano, Park Burger, Pastino’s Pizza and Pasta, La Hacienda, Flower Lounge, and Bombera
Fairview Park
One of the best neighborhoods in Oakland, CA, for young families
Families of all sizes can appreciate Fairview Park, Oakland. It comes up as #11 in the “most walkable neighborhoods in Oakland,” making it convenient for those who like to get to work by foot and families who enjoy taking a stroll together during the daytime.
This Alameda County neighborhood, which is close to Berkeley, is highly rated for family-friendliness, nightlife, and diversity, making it a great choice for new families interested in Oakland.
What other perks do you get living in Fairview Park? First, the area has tons of restaurants, which are convenient if you want to bring food home after a long day, and you just don’t feel like cooking. (We get it.)
One person also enjoys that Fairview Park has “easy walking/biking to lots of places, quick commutes to most locations, and great schools.”
Below are more details about life in Fairview Park:
Cost of Housing: $974,983 (median home value) or $1,844 (median rent)
Schools: Peralta Elementary School, Escuela Bilingüe Internacional, and Willard Middle School
Parks Nearby: Fairview Park, Lincoln Park, Bushrod Park, and Don Castro Regional Recreation Area
Family-Friendly Activities: Children’s Fairyland and Oakland Zoo
Best Restaurants: Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Omar’s Pizza & Mediterranean Grill, Raan Thai, In The Drink, Sauced Wood Fired Pizza, and Gina’s Place
Start moving to Oakland today
Oakland is a family-friendly city that would make a great choice for your new home. Knowing the best neighborhoods for families in Oakland, you’re probably already packing your bags. If you need help moving, just reach out to Bellhop, your top rated local movers and long-distance movers in Oakland. Our moving services include delivery, loading, unloading, and the list goes on. Long story short: we’re here to help! We also help coordinate moves for nearby cities such as San Francisco and San Jose should you be interested! Book a move online today.
Need to move last minute? We can help!
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