Brentwood, California

Brentwood Hills is in the northeastern part of the city and is beloved for its beautiful views of the surrounding hills. The “rural” vibe of the neighborhood means you get bigger homes than most neighborhoods and much larger lots for your kiddos and doggos to play. The median price for a home here is $850k+

In addition to the big lots you also get lots of green spaces here with several parks in the neighborhood including: Veteran's Park and Pioneer Park. Veteran’s offers volleyball, bocce, playgrounds for the kiddos, a skate park and best of all, a water park to cool off in during the hot summer months. Depending where in the Hills you live you’re zoned for either Ron Nunn Elementary or J Douglas Adams Elementary, both A-rated schools.

Downtown is the commercial and cultural center of the city and for a small town it really punches above its weight. Small-town centers often didn’t survive the advent of big box stores and loss of populations in the decline of family farms but Brentwood made it through and as a result the downtown area is truly a mainstreet marvel. There are tons of shops, restaurants, pubs and entertainment spots (movies/music etc.) and new upscale apartment buildings like The Silvergate that offer walkability to nights and weekends “out on the town”.

Apple Hill Estates is a gated community in the western part of the city. It is known for luxury homes, well guarded streets and beautiful views of the surrounding hills. It has an outstanding reputation for a tight community and locals celebrate the friendliness of the neighbors and how safe they feel letting their kids play in the open spaces and parks. The amenities in the neighborhood are spectacular, with a community pool and club house, tennis courts, basketball courts and plenty of community events. Interestingly the neighborhood is also home to several vineyards and wineries, which maintains that rural feeling and an opportunity to grab a glass when you’re feeling up for it. Homes in the neighborhood are pricier than others and have a median price of $1.1+m.

Shadow Lakes is a golf course community in the southeastern part of the city. The 800 or so homes here sit at the base of Mt. Diablo and as such have beautiful views of the mountain. In addition to the views there are several wonderful parks, lakes and walking trails, making this neighborhood perhaps the most spectacular outdoor spot in the city.

One of those outdoor experiences offered is the Shadow Lakes Golf Club. A spectacular championship golf course available to locals and the general public and offering not only the golf but a beautiful event venue for local community gatherings. Shadow Lakes is home to and zoned for excellent schools including Pioneer Elementary and Adams Middle School. The homes in Shadow Lakes have a median home price of $950k.