Looking for wide open spaces? Up until World War II, ranching was Castro Valley’s primary industry. A housing boom followed the war, subdividing much of the ranch land. Interestingly, because Castro Valley is unincorporated, the lack of centralized planning for the area’s population growth resulted in a mismatched patchwork of housing options. You can almost literally find any kind of style to fit your needs. There are mansions on ranch land, trailer parks, gated communities, and more traditional and established neighborhoods. The west and central parts of town are where you’ll find most of the older and very diverse styles. Two-bed and one-bath homes sit on the same block as four-bedroom and three bath homes. Then on the east side, you’ll find your more modern planned housing communities. 

While it’s not all ranch houses today, the peaceful and quiet rhythm of the past lives on here. Residents enjoy great access to outdoor spaces and in some parts, both ridge and bay views. It cannot be described as the “hub” for really anything, but it is where folks come to settle down. To complement the slower pace of life, Castro Valley boasts well-regarded schools and a prime location within the East Bay. It’s easy enough to see why more and more families are taking a closer look at CVs.

Please keep in mind that one person’s “peaceful” is another person’s “boring.” More on that in the next section.

“Fast” is not a word you’d associate with peaceful and quiet Castro Valley…unless you’re talking about fast food.

If you’re imagining this Oakland suburb to reflect the impressive cuisine options in nearby San Francisco, this one might hurt a little. Castro Valley is home to not one, but sometimes two of each of the most popular fast food chains in the country. In other words, drive-thru dining makes up the majority of your go-out options. So if you’re a foodie, we’re sorry but also don’t give up on Castro Valley yet. We can confirm there IS a Trader Joe’s. 

While lack of food options is the top drawback on most residents’ lists, locals do have their go-to spots. Most mentioned was the [**Southern Comfort Kitchen**](http://www.socokitchen.net/) where Californians can get their fill of authentic southern fixins prepared by three brothers from New Orleans (when you go, we recommend the shrimp and grits). For sushi lovers, we have [Tancho Japanese Restaurant](https://www.tanchojapaneserestaurant.com/) and for those with a weakness for southeast Asian cuisine, you’ll be frequenting Phad Thai Cuisine and [Top Thai Cuisine](http://www.topthaicv.com/dinner.pdf).

But don’t forget dessert. [Yogurt Deluxe](https://www.yogurtdeluxe.com/) is there for when you’re being good about following your new health plan and Milk & Cookie Bar https://milkandcookiebar.com/ and [Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard](https://www.ritasice.com/location/ritas-of-castro-valley-ca/) are there for days when you “deserve it.” 



Peace & Quiet

LookyLOO Review of Castro Valley

Did we mention Castro Valley is unincorporated? It’s the fifth largest unincorporated area in California and is managed by Alameda County. This can mean a few things. One pro is that without localized government and services, there are potentially fewer taxes. One con is that there isn’t a centrally located public safety presence, but residents note that they feel comfortable walking around at night and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol have great response times.

And like we said, the lack of centralized planning resulted in a range of housing styles. Prospective transplants can find anything from ranch and horse properties to custom homes within newer subdivisions. The wide range of options does mean a wide range of prices (think $600,000 to $2+ million). While the median home price sits at $1.2 million, local realtors argue that you can expect to get a two-bedroom and one-bathroom starter home for $750-900,000 (as of late 2023). In terms of renting, a one-bedroom will be about $1,900 and a two-bedroom will be about $2,400 according to Zillow. 

Castro Valley is as ethnically diverse as its housing options are varied. Its primarily [**upper middle-class population demographics**](https://datausa.io/profile/geo/castro-valley-ca ) are White (Non-Hispanic) (39.5%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (28.2%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (9.56%), White (Hispanic) (8.85%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (5.08%). 

Unless you work in [**healthcare**](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-location/facility/castro-valley-urgent-care)  or are fully remote, you’ll get to experience the joys and drawbacks of driving to and from Castro Valley. In terms of location within the Bay Area, Castro Valley scores highly. It’s just 25 miles east of San Francisco and 30 minutes away from most major hubs like SF, the Mid-Peninsula, and Silicon Valley. Oakland is even closer, just 20 minutes away. If sitting in rush hour traffic isn’t your thing, Castro Valley also has a BART station. The downside of having great access to Highway 880 and 580 is all the through traffic. Commuters who live elsewhere will often use Castro Valley backroads to avoid back-ups on the main freeways, causing surprisingly bad traffic jams that logically shouldn’t be there with a town of CV’s population size. 

But let’s forget about work for a minute and focus on recreation. You can trust us when we say CV is lacking in nightlife, food, and entertainment options but those who love the great outdoors won’t mind. The area’s eastern border is the Lake Chabot Regional Park where residents can rent boats, picnic, hike, and more. You can mountain bike to Oakland, walk the 10-mile loop around the lake, or test your luck at catching bass, catfish, trout, or carp. Also to the east of Castro Valley, [**Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area**](https://www.ebparks.org/parks/cull-canyon) offers swimming, hiking, dog areas, and more. 

If you’re not into outdoor activities, but you don’t mind drinking in beautiful views, perhaps you’d prefer to pair the region’s nice weather with a little wine tasting. Visit a few local wineries before continuing the fun further east on the region’s popular [**Livermore Valley Wine Trail**](https://visittrivalley.com/activities-and-things-to-do/wine-trails-concept/).

We highly recommend visiting Castro Valley and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](https://expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.


Lifestyle 

Castro Valley may not have a city council, but it does have a local school district. And a good one at that. [The Castro Valley Unified School District](https://www.cv.k12.ca.us/) (CVUSD) serves 9,000 students via its nine elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. Additionally, it offers the [Castro Valley Virtual Academy](https://virtualacademy.cv.k12.ca.us/), where students grades K-12 can enjoy a fully online education. 

CVUSD has an overall “A” rating on [Niche.com](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/castro-valley-unified-school-district-ca/) and [Greatschools.org](https://www.greatschools.org/california/castro-valley/castro-valley-unified-school-district) reports 86% of schools in this district are either average or above average in quality, with the majority being above average. The district is praised for its academics, teachers, diversity, and in particular, its college prep. Within CVUSD, [Jensen Ranch Elementary School](https://jensenranch.cv.k12.ca.us/) (K-5) gets a gold star for its excellent equity practices, above-average academics, and well above average test scores. It even offers a Spanish dual immersion program, is rated 9/10 on Greatschools.org, and received an “A” from Niche.com. Castro Valley High School also received a 9/10 rating from Greatschools.org and an “A” rating on Niche.com. It ranks far above the state average in terms of preparing students for college and beyond.

But if you’re a parent looking at moving to Castro Valley, don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. Like other surrounding areas, the zoning can be tricky. A good general rule is that any property south of the 580 will be zoned for Hayward Unified School District, despite having a Castro Valley postal code. In other words, if you’re moving here primarily for the schools, do your research before signing on the dotted line.

You can forget about zoning if you’re looking at the long list of top-tier private schools in and around Castro Valley. The College Preparatory School (9-12) in Oakland, Head-Royce School (K-12) in Oakland, The Quarry Lane School (PK-12) in Dublin, and Redwood Christian Schools (PK-12) in Castro Valley are particularly well-rated and located pretty close. Also, not a private school but certainly worth mentioning, in nearby Oakland the Yu Ming Charter School is regarded as the best charter elementary school in all of the San Francisco Bay Area. 

All that said, whether they’re in public school, private school, or being homeschooled, all children (and adults!) will benefit greatly from the [Castro Valley Library](https://aclibrary.org/locations/CSV/). 


Rated Highly

Schools 

When families move to Castro Valley, they’re here to stay – at least until the little ones are off to college. This means low turnover and therefore low inventory. Not to mention, like almost everywhere else, that median home price is only getting scarier. We recommend starting to look for homes now and not giving up when you’re outbid on the first few Castro Valley homes you fall in love with. 


Rising Popularity

Why You Should Move Here Now

**snarfuzzle**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I live in CV. I didn't really know much about it before moving here, but do consider it a hidden gem as well. It's a suburb and doesn't have a lively nightlife, but with its own BART station and Bay Fair station nearby, access to SF/Oakland is pretty easy. It's central location is great to get around Bay Area and to Tri-Valley. Some traffic on the interchange during rush hour but that happens with a lot of freeways. One of the best school districts in the East Bay which is great for kids and for property value. We have a Trader Joe's and some solid restaurants, but I wish there were some better restaurant options. 

For more reviews of what living in Castro Valley is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/castro-valley/reviews).


Reviews of Castro Valley from Locals

Briar Ridge and Green Ridge sit side by side directly east of [**Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area**](https://www.ebparks.org/parks/cull-canyon) . Driving up the hill into these neighborhoods feels like going into the mountains. Briar Ridge’s shingle-style siding of the townhome complex as you drive up into the neighborhood evokes that relaxed and laid back mountain vibe. At the start of the neighborhood you’ll find two- and three-bedroom townhomes with enclosed garages ranging from $600,000 to $700,000 that are great for first time home buyers. Further up the hill the housing transitions to single-family homes pricing in around $1.2 million that sit on lots larger than what you’d get in newer developments. 

Green Ridge stands out for its single-family, [**Eichler homes**](https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/what-are-eichler-homes/). Eicher homes embody modern design with open concepts, contemporary aesthetics, floor to ceiling windows, concrete slab floors and large airy rooms. Like Briar Ridge, these homes sit on larger lots and offer striking views and lots of open green space. Here homes will consistently price at more than $1 million.

There are no HOA dues for the single-family homes in these neighborhoods and with that comes far fewer amenities than other neighborhoods, for example, no recreation center. 

As mentioned, Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is right there and so is Greenridge Park’s amazing views located at the top of the neighborhood. Both of these parks are never super crowded, allowing you to get away from it all while running, walking or picnicking in nature.

For groceries, you have a Safeway five minutes down the road along East Castro Valley Boulevard and gas stations and big store shops within ten minutes along Redwood Road. For little ones, you have the highly rated [**Sunshine Palette Child Care**](http://www.sunshinepalette.com/) just down the road and Marshall Elementary School, Canyon Middle School and others all within 5-10 minutes.


Young Professionals/DINKs/Families

Briar Ridge / Green Ridge

Five Canyons sits on the east side of Castro Valley Boulevard. The neighborhood has newer builds that went up between the 1980’s and 2000s. It is an attractive area and a nice place to raise a family. You’ll be able to find all styles of homes here, ranging from condos and townhomes to single-family homes and even mini mansions. Home prices here are above $1 million and with the price tag comes some attractive amenities. The Five Canyons Recreation Center is great for hosting parties, escaping the summer heat in the pool, relaxing in the jacuzzi or letting the kids play on the playground or sports courts. One perk of the center is it is tucked away, giving it an exclusive feel. 

This neighborhood also has great access to 300 acres of open spaces and plenty of walking trails in parks like Ridge Trail Park and Wildwood Park. The diverse natural landscapes within nearby Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area are a big perk too. 

For shopping, Safeway is a five minute drive away and Trader Joe’s is less than 10. Nearby schools include [**East Avenue Elementary School**](https://eastavenue.husd.us/), [**Northstar School**](https://northstarschool.org/) and [**Hayward Twin Oaks Montessori School**](https://www.haywardtwinoaks.org/). This neighborhood is located south of 580 so you’ll want to do your research on if your home is zoned for Castro Valley or Hayward unified school districts.

It’s important to note too that residents enjoy multiple entry and exit points into the neighborhood which helps to reduce the stress of navigating the area’s traffic jams.


Families/DINKs 

Five Canyons

According to one realtor, Columbia is the best neighborhood in Castro Valley, and it’s reflected in the neighborhood's home prices. Unlike other nice neighborhoods like Five Canyons and Palomares Hills, all homes in Columbia are single-family and detached. They’re typically three- to five-bedrooms built in the 1970s that sell for around $1.7 million. 

This neighborhood is great for families. It has a combination of well-maintained amenities and parks and its open spaces boast ridge views, bay views and a network of walking trails. Columbia Recreation Center amenities include pools, a Jacuzzi and basketball court. It also enjoys close proximity to Cull Canyon Park, which includes beach access.

For shopping, you’ll find all the essentials less than 10 minutes away along Redwood Road, including Safeway, Trader Joe’s gas stations and shops. Schools in the area include [**Vannoy Elementary School**](https://vannoy.cv.k12.ca.us/), [**Creekside Middle School**](https://creekside.cv.k12.ca.us/), [**Canyon Middle School**](https://canyon.cv.k12.ca.us/) and [**Castro Valley High School**](https://cvhs.cv.k12.ca.us/). 


Families

Columbia

Castro Valley

**chancellor_dirks**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Middle class, mostly older citizens and families. There are some really highly-rated primary schools and middle-of-the road middle/high schools. Fairly clean, not a ton of violent crimes (mostly porch pirates and the like). Food mix is mediocre as fast food chains used to make up 3/4 of the dine out options there. It's improved slightly in the past few years.

Not a ton to do in the area outside of Lake Chabot which is really nice. It's sort of in the middle of tri-valley and the rest of east bay so nothings too far away (but also not super close/convenient either).

**snarfuzzle**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I live in CV. I didn't really know much about it before moving here, but do consider it a hidden gem as well. It's a suburb and doesn't have a lively nightlife, but with its own BART station and Bay Fair station nearby, access to SF/Oakland is pretty easy. It's central location is great to get around Bay Area and to Tri-Valley. Some traffic on the interchange during rush hour but that happens with a lot of freeways. One of the best school districts in the East Bay which is great for kids and for property value. We have a Trader Joe's and some solid restaurants, but I wish there were some better restaurant options. 

**noideawhatsimdoing**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

It's a great city. It can get a little congested and the city needs to build up its downtown and add more stores. However there are great neighborhoods here and some of them have killer views. Five canyons, palomares hills, Columbia, proctor area, and up by lake chabot are really nice. 580 and 880 interchange will eat your soul though so be prepared.

Invest in LookyLoo for as little as $100

Castro Valley, California

Beautiful (and a Bit Boring?)

Looklyloo Score: 89