Concord, California

Downtown Concord is not as built out as neighboring Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek so its far less a hot spot for young professionals or couples but there is a growing set of living options here. Some comes 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.

The Dana Estates neighborhood is a great spot for young families or retirees looking for a tight community. Housing prices are more reasonable than in some other neighborhoods, with primarily single-family single-story ranch style homes. Many have been updated, remodeled and expanded but if you can get your hands on one pre-update its a good value with a median price of $745k.
It’s a relatively short two-mile commute to a BART stop and downtown and the neighborhood has one of the largest community pools and parks in the area, Gehringer Park and Swim Club, which families flock to in the summer heat.

Dana Estates is notable for its Neighborhood Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to improving community activities, supporting locals in ensuring safe streets and making sure the neighborhood has a unified voice in working with the city of Concord on community needs.
Finally, neighborhoods like Dana Estates that are near the undeveloped former Concord Naval Weapons Station, are viewed as a great choice for what is coming in the future. The master plan for the 5,000 acres of undeveloped land include a green belt adjacent to Dana Estates and a large park and open space, basically in your backyard.

Another interesting option in Concord is Clayton Valley Highlands. It has a great mix of homes built in the 50’s and 60’s with much bigger yards than other neighborhoods. Which makes it great for kids and doggos to get some rec time in the yard. Given the homes were built just after WWII means it’s not a cookie-cutter development neighborhood and that variety of small and larger homes just makes it a more interesting place to live. You also get the biggest swing in pricing, with smaller homes in the 600k’s and larger in the high $800/$900k’s.

Crystal ranch is a high-end development nestled in the hills of Mount Diablo. It is one of the true luxury neighborhoods that give locals a sense of being removed from the city and living in a quiet, protected space with large homes, big yards and tons of community amenities. This includes parks and plenty of outdoor trail hiking and biking, a beautiful community pool and clubhouse, and most importantly to many some of the best public schools in the area. Homes are in the $1.2m to $1.5m+ range so expect some sticker shock.