Concord, California
Todos Santos
LookyLOO Review of Concord
It’s hard to make a case for any city in the Bay Area as having affordable housing but the median home price of ~768k in May of 2023 is low for anywhere near a major city in California. Much of the housing stock is older, which accounts in part for the lower prices, but the city is also not as “hot” as neighboring cities like Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek which have more developed city centers. What this means is that you’re next to cities with active city centers that you can visit but you then get to retreat to a quieter, and less expensive community in Concord.
There are cities in the East Bay that people rave about: Alameda, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, etc. Generally, these raves come from locals who appreciate the robust commercial districts that drive active social lives and strong community bonds. Since Concord has a mellower downtown scene, it gets some knocks for being too quiet a place for those who want their city to provide a local cultural and social center.
Lifestyle
Concord is a suburban city that serves families that appreciate the lower cost of housing compared to neighboring cities. Hence a lifestyle that is driven by family activities. Todos Santos Plaza in the downtown district is the community gathering place of Concord. It plays host to summer concerts, a farmer’s market, and events throughout the year. The Plaza also has a public park at its center with picnicking, and a large children’s playground pulling in families during the big events and just for downtown visits.
Outside of downtown the city also has a beautiful community park called Newhall. Locals flock here to hike, and play with their kiddos and doggos, and families and singles also find themselves here for adult and youth soccer leagues. It also has ponds for contemplation and evening bocce and BBQs for those in more festive moods. Concord is also home to the Pixieland Amusement Park and Six Flags/Hurricane Harbor, the Bay Area’s largest water park so while the city can be quiet, there is a ton to do with the kiddos.
To see what locals get up to for fun in Yonkers check out the calendar of events.
We highly recommend visiting Concord and staying in the community in a VRBO 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 as well.
Schools
The Concord school system rates a B+ on niche.com and is called the Mt. Diablo Unified School District for those who go searching and can’t find a Concord, CA district. The consensus among locals about the schools here is that it is hit or miss depending on the school with generally the southern side of the city, which borders Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill offering the best options. These schools perform better in testing but of course, those go hand-in-hand with the more expensive homes. The rise in charter schools has impacted Concord, with Clayton Valley a relatively new charter school, now the highest-ranked public high school in the city. Concord is also home to De La Salle, a well-known parochial high school, with an excellent sports program and an A rating for academics.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
On the rise!
Concord is in development mode, building more restaurants, shopping, and cafes in a growing downtown, and more outdoor rec and activity space in the undeveloped naval station area. It is however, in an earlier stage of this growth relative to neighbors like Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill. What that means is you’re getting in on the ground floor if you buy in to Concord before it grows its commercial districts and outdoor rec areas to match those of other popular Bay Area cities.
Reviews of Concord from Locals
Mammoth_Discussion60
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉
I love living in Concord! There’s a ton of good restaurants, nice walking trails (Lime Ridge & Iron Horse), we have two Bart stations and are a stones throw from Walnut Creek.
There’s people from all walks of life, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses, and just an overall lack of pretentiousness more noticeable in nearby affluent areas.
Granted, concord is pretty big. My advice is to narrow your search down to neighborhoods you like.
But all in all, buying a house in Concord was one of the best decisions I ever made and I’m grateful (almost) every day for being able to live in the Bay Area in a town that I genuinely enjoy.
For context, I live near Treat Blvd and Cowell Rd.
For more reviews of what living in Concord is like from locals, check out The Reviews.
Want to give Concord a shot?
Use our friends at VRBO and Expedia to help get you going!

Living in Concord
Neighborhoods in Concord
View AllDowntown
Young Professionals/DINKs/Retirees
Downtown Concord is not as built out as neighboring Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek so it's far less a hot spot for young professionals or couples but there is a growing set of living options here. Some come from the older homes that were the original housing in the city and some from the newer condo/apartment buildings, like The Grant or Renaissance Square, that have emerged in recent years to support professionals who want to live in a downtown, be near a BART stop, and enjoy a short walk to the bars, restaurants and community opportunities the city offers. As noted above, Concord is in development mode of its downtown so if you want to get in before it gets too pricey this is a good choice.