86,433
Population
Sunny Days: 268
52100 Affordability
85100 Schools
35100 Diversity
80100 Safety
Citrus Heights, California
The Heights
The Best Thing About Citrus Heights?
Housing Prices a Short-ish Drive From Tahoe
California can be obscenely expensive for those not used to coastal housing prices. The Sacramento area is cheaper than its counterparts on the coast but Citrus Heights really gets more gentle on the wallet with a median home price hovering around $450k. If you work in the capital or are looking to escape the Bay Area housing crisis and can work from home then Citrus Heights should be on your shortlist. This is really true if you're a lover of the outdoors and the skiing and mountains of the Sierra as Citrus Heights is just an hour from the foothills and just another 45 minutes or so the rest of the way to Tahoe.
The Worst Thing About Citrus Heights?
Quiet - too Quiet
Suburban families get nice homes, blocks, schools and outdoor recreation. However, if you want a suburb with a built-in nightlife this ain’t it. There are a couple casinos and bars/restaurants but if you want to go out you really have to drive the 15 miles to downtown Sacramento. Many suburban cities have purposely built up their commercial districts so locals can have some fun without the big drive but Citrus Heights isn’t one of them (yet!).
Lifestyle of Citrus Heights
Get Some Fresh Air
As noted above the lifestyle of Citrus Heights is pretty much entirely built around families and children. Suburban homes, nice blocks, good schools, and plenty of great parks and sports fields for kiddo play dominate activities. There are plenty of more adventurous outdoor activity spots both in-town and east in the Sierras so if you’re an outdoor person or family you’ll like it here.
Nightlife lifestyle is largely spent making the commute into downtown Sacramento. Not unusual for a suburb to have the in-town lifestyle filled with family fun and then nights out making the 20-30 minute drive to the big city.
Schools of Citrus Heights
Citrus Heights is primarily served by the San Juan Unified School District. This can be a good thing as the district rates a B+ on niche.com.
As with many school districts with this level of ranking, you get varied scores from the many different schools in the district. Which means keep an eye on the neighborhood for the schools it zones for as the scores can range from C’s to A’s depending on your block. There are a number of private and religious schools with very high rankings including St. Mark’s Lutheran among several others.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
Sunrise Tomorrow
In 2021 Citrus Heights approved a plan to redevelop the land the Sunrise Mall occupies. In the words of the Vice Mayor locals should picture a downtown area that has all the convenience and necessities within the community, walkability and a place where you can come and gather. Assuming the coming years deliver on the plan then Citrus Heights will be a much more interesting place to live.
Living in Citrus Heights
Neighborhoods in Citrus Heights
View All
Larchmont Northridge
Families
Larchmont Northridge is a popular neighborhood in Citrus Heights. It’s primarily filled with homes built in the 1970s that are mostly 3-4 bedrooms. The median home price is $520,250 although it is common to find homes just under $500k. The area has a number of excellent parks, with Rusch Park the showcase spot. It’s filled with every kind of sports field and court, including the much-loved pickleball courts and a skate park. It also has a big pool, community center and plenty of picnic spots, BBQs and open green spaces for general play. This truly is the community center of the area and is one factor in driving a tight-knit neighborhood.
Canyon at Mitchell Village
Families
Canyon at Mitchell Village is a master-planned community built to serve families looking for a neighborhood with plenty of amenities and nice, new homes. The neighborhood has plenty of open spaces for grownups, the kiddos and doggos to play. This includes a beautiful park, trails for hiking, biking or just strolling and plenty of picnic areas for family and neighbor hangouts.
It’s also one of the few neighborhoods that is walking distance to the shopping at Sunrise Mall and the Marketplace at Birdcage. Median home prices are in the mid to high 400’s.
Arcade Creek
Families/DINKs/Retirees
One of the great benefits to Citrus Heights is the fact the housing is more affordable than most cities in the area dn throughout Northern California. This is doubly true fo the Arcade Creek, neighborhood where you’ll find a mix of single-family homes and condominiums at a median home price of $344,898.
Arcade Creek Park is one of the real gems of the area. 12 acres of beautiful greenery for general walking and hiking along with basketball courts, children’s play area and open grass fields for soccer and general recreation. There is also a large fenced off-leash doggo park so Fido can get in on the fun. Arcade Creek Park is also the trail head for the Jo Smith Nature Trail a beautiful walk that winds its way over the creek and eventually onto the American River College campus.