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Ever think about moving to California? If so, Oakland is a great choice for a city. Nicknamed “The Town,” it offers something for everyone, from retirees to growing families, singles, and young professionals looking to make their name in business.
Oakland is just over the San Francisco Bay, bringing you everything from Instagram-worthy views of the water and city and some of the best food you’ll ever eat to a creative and diverse culture of people that will make you feel immediately at home.
So, if you hope to move, read on for a list of the best neighborhoods in Oakland, California. We hope this helps make your search for a perfect place to live a little easier.
The best neighborhoods in Oakland
With 116 to choose from, how could you possibly narrow down your choice for the best neighborhoods in Oakland? Well, friend, we’re here to help. If you have a family, the big factors to consider are the quality of education and crime in the area.
After all, you want your kids to have a great place to go to school and still know they’re safe outdoors. Right?
And if you’re moving to Oakland for work or as a single person who wants to network, you might be more drawn to living right in the hustle and bustle of Oakland, where you have a better probability of finding people with similar interests.
Whether you’re looking for a great neighborhood to move your family to or a trendy neighborhood to move to alone, we’ve got you covered.
Best neighborhoods in Oakland for families
The city of Oakland is a wonderful place to raise a family. Admittedly, as with any city, there are some parts of the city that are best to avoid due to a higher-than-average crime rating.
However, there are many beautiful, safe parts of Oakland as well, which boast a high quality of living for families of all sizes. So, don’t be put off if anyone tells you that Oakland is unsafe. There are so many neighborhoods that are family-friendly, diverse, and a perfect place for you to move to!
Some of your best options include Rockridge, Montclair, Glenview, Crooker Highland, Fairview Park, and Piedmont Avenue. Below, we’ll share a few of our favorites in more detail:
Rockridge
Starting off the list of the best neighborhoods in Oakland for growing families is Rockridge, a quaint neighborhood of 12,850 people in Alameda County. Rockridge has great public schools with high academic ratings, so if you’re looking for a good place for your kids to go, you’ll have plenty of options in Rockridge.
The neighborhood is near Berkeley High School, Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier, Willard Middle School, Jefferson Elementary School, and Martin Luther King Middle School, among others. It’s also near many private schools rated an A+, including the College Preparatory School, Head-Royce School, Bentley School, and Bishop O’Dowd High School.
So, school aside, what else makes Rockridge a great place for families?
That means that all your basic amenities are available in Rockridge, from clothing stores to food marts and coffee shops. Not to mention, you get the luxury of being in close proximity to public transportation, so you can travel wherever and whenever you need.
If you choose to move to Rockridge, expect to find a median home value of $1,228,141. The median rent is $2,097.
Montclair
Like Rockridge, Montclair comes up frequently as a top up-and-coming neighborhood in Oakland. With a population of 8,805 people, this neighborhood is the perfect size for a growing family looking to put down some roots.
About 87% of people own their home in Montclair. The median home value is $1,268,722. However, if you’re not ready for a mortgage yet, don’t worry. There are many beautiful styles of homes to rent, and you’ll be looking at a median rent of $2,340.
There are multiple highly rated public schools in the Montclair area, including Piedmont High School, Piedmont Middle School, Havens Elementary School, and AIMS College Prep Middle School. If you prefer the private school avenue, there are also many options to choose from, including Maybeck High School.
Not only are there great schools in Montclair, but you’ll also love the quiet, laid-back atmosphere. The neighborhood also has multiple places to eat and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with your friends. (Our personal favorites are Sophie’s Cuppa Tea, Yellow Door, and Paddington Cafe.)
Glenview
While Montclair is a great neighborhood in Oakland, many people like that there is a little more happening in Glenview, but there’s still a good level of quietness that a family requires. One person on Reddit says, “[It’s] a little less of a sleepy vibe but still a very nice area.”
Glenville has 7,529 people and is often called one of the “best neighborhoods to raise a family in Oakland.” You can buy a home for a median home value of $1,088,191 or pay a median rent of $1,626.
There are many great public schools for people who live in Glenview, including Piedmont High School, Piedmont Middle School, and Millennium High Alternative School. In addition to the College Preparatory School and Head-Royce School, you can choose from many private schools if you prefer that option. That includes the Quarry Lane School, Bentley School, etc.
If you’re looking for something to do in Glenville, you can explore Oak Glen Park, take a swim at the Lions Pool, or stop at one of the many delicious eateries in the neighborhood. (Don’t forget to add Marzano, Bellanico Restaurant & Wine Bar, and Sushi Park to your list!)
Best neighborhoods in Oakland for young professionals and singles
Did you know that Oakland has been named #25 on the list of the “best cities for young professionals in America?” You heard that right! So, whether you work in manufacturing and food production, tech, or the arts, you’re sure to find Oakland just the right place to live (and not too far from your work!).
(Fun fact: if you do work in the arts, there’s a good chance you’ll meet like-minded people in Oakland, as the city “has more artists, designers, and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America.”)
When moving to Oakland as a young professional or unmarried person, some of the best neighborhoods to consider are Caballo Hills, Glen Highlands, Woodminster, and Lakeshore. We also can’t forget these two top picks:
Downtown
Naturally, if you’re looking to move up the ladder in your organization or even meet people, you want to be where things are happening. And that means Downtown Oakland. Just over 10,881 people live in the Downtown neighborhood, which is rated an A+ for nightlife and diversity.
You’ll notice that the majority of people rent Downtown, which can make it easy to commute to work–wherever that might be. The median rent is $1,659, and the median home value is lower than expected ($679,874), which is higher than the national average but less than other parts of Oakland.
If you choose to move to Downtown Oakland (AKA the Central Business District), get ready to jump into a fun, vibrant, fast-paced scene and meet people from all over.
Downtown, you have countless bars, coffee shops, and restaurants, all within walking distance from some of the most beautiful apartments you’ve ever seen (with stunning views of the city!).
Temescal
If you look at any Oakland safe neighborhoods map, you’ll likely find Temescal on it. Temescal is a trendy, top-10 neighborhood in Oakland and one of the most desirable neighborhoods for millennials and other young professionals living in Oakland, according to recent research. (It’s also one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city!)
Most people in Temescal rent, and you’ll be happy to know that the median rent is $1,745. (If you decide to buy a home, the median home value is $957,279.)
So, rent aside, what else makes Temescal so in demand? Well, for starters, it has a vibrant nightlife scene that can make it easy to meet new people.
There are tons of bars and restaurants to drop by after a long day of work, including but not limited to the Avenue, Jaguar Karaoke, Temescal Brewing, The Kingfish Pub & Cafe, and North Light.
Get help moving to Oakland
You’re planning a local move or long-distance move to Oakland, CA, and we can help with that. Our local Oakland movers can handle all of the logistics of your move, including when to move, what routes to take, loading up your belongings onto a moving truck, delivering those belongings from point A to B, and many more tasks. We also help coordinate moves for nearby cities such as San Francisco and San Jose should you be interested!
Need help moving to one of the best neighborhoods in Oakland? Book a move online today with Bellhop.
Need to move last minute? We can help too!
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