Livermore is a great suburban city with a decent downtown to give families a sense of action and community that classic suburbs are missing. Its special sauce though may be that it sits on the outer edge of the cities that are commutable by train - a short drive to BART (or car) to Oakland/SF/Berkeley, it also has a strong science/engineering business community that is more like the tech hubs to the west than the agricultural cities to the east. While it sits on the edge of the western Bay Area, it also offers incredibly easy access to the outdoors to the east. You’re two hours from Yosemite and three to Lake Tahoe. You’re also living on the border of Henry Coe State Park to the south and Mt Diablo to the north. You’re surrounded by some of the most stunning outdoor experiences in the country at the same time you’re part of an economic engine driving modern industry. 

Since you are on the outer edge of the Bay Area tech hubs if you have to drive to work and you aren’t working in Livermore then you’re going to suffer. The freeways here are packed and even though many are working from home that does not seem to have reduced the traffic volume much. Your best solution is to work and live along the BART train line (Livermore is just a few miles from the Dublin/Pleasanton stop), work from home, or make sure your job is in Livermore. 



The Edge of Both Worlds

LookyLOO Review of Livermore

While Livermore is largely a family-centric town it does have some younger residents who work at Livermore Labs and frequent the local pubs and restaurants. It’s not a big scene and most locals recommend living in Oakland if you’re looking to party a bit and you can take the train to work. 

For families, Livermore is a great place to raise the kiddos. There are a wide variety of neighborhoods, from luxury to more modest home options. The schools are excellent and there are year-round community activities, downtown and in the many parks around the town. As was noted, you are surrounded by State Parks, mountains short drives to National Parks, and some of the best skiing in the country. While many of your days will be filled with school activities, little league, soccer clubs, swimming in the many community pools, and enjoying the restaurants and pubs downtown, much of life here happens on weekends exploring the great wide world in the countryside of California. 

To see what locals get up to for fun in Livermore check out the [calendar of events](https://www.livermoredowntown.com/events/calendar).

We highly recommend visiting Livermore 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 

Livermore is one of the great science and technology hubs in the country as a result of being the home of Lawrence Livermore National Lab - a national power in nuclear deterrence, climate and energy security, and general national defense technology. Livermore has historically been a “company town” with plenty of locals working at the Lab. Sandia National Laboratory is also here, supplementing Lawrence Livermore with more government research and development jobs. Many other locals commute to tech jobs to the west or work in the healthcare or education systems of the city and county. 


Worklife

If you want to live near the science and tech hubs of the Bay Area but also be right on the edge of some of the most outstanding outdoor experiences in California then put Livermore on your short list. It’s less expensive than plenty of the cities to the west as an added bonus. 


Why You Should Move Here Now? 

**ohyoudodoyou**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Livermore is lovely. We just bought our first home there after bouncing around the East bay, southern CA and several other states the past decade. It feels… peaceful. There doesn’t appear to be much (if any) political BS of any flavor. The downtown is quaint and the streets are clean. There seems to be almost no homelessness or crime that plagues almost all of the Bay Area and any major city these days. My take is that since Livermore is one of the last remaining Ag towns in the bay and a company town for the labs and aviation industry the community is made up of folks that kind of have it together, and not because they got rich from some bubble or are generationally wealthy. I might be talking out of my ass but it just seems like regular intelligent and skilled adults live there and raise their kids. We went to a Starbucks in town last Sunday and a pack of teenagers had parked their skateboards and scooters outside the door with no locks. They opened the door for us and called my husband sir. I am wondering where all the bodies are hidden…

For more reviews of what living in Livermore is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/livermore/reviews).

Commuting

Reviews of Livermore from Locals 

The Historic District of Downtown is interesting because it has beautiful large homes from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s mixed in with condos/townhomes and cozy bungalows. You get immediate access to the social scene of Downtown but walk-friendly blocks and massive shade-trees. You also get easy walks and bike-rides to excellent public schools. For young professionals or retirees who want to live amidst the action this is the place. For families who want a lifestyle that includes both suburban amenities and downtown play this is where you should start your search. 


Young Professionals/Families/Retirees

Downtown Historic District

Vinsanto is one of the nicest luxury neighborhoods in Livermore. It has beautiful newer Craftsmen and Cottage style homes, many with pools, and a median price of +2mm. It has the added benefit of being walking distance to great public schools, wineries and downtown. It’s also adjacent to Robertson Park, where many of the kids sports teams play and right next to the rodeo which provides year round recreation. 

Families 

Vinsanto

If you’re craving a bit more rural a vibe, near and amidst the vineyards, then check out the Ponderosa Legacy / Vineyard Gate neighborhood. The area is filled with mostly vast single-family homes, with 4, 5 and 6-bedroom house common. The neighborhood is on the southern edge of the city alongside the vineyards that make up the rural countryside. The homes have large yards, the streets are wide and ideal for bike riding, hiking and play. 

Families

Ponderosa Legacy / Vineyard Gate

Livermore

**Tiredandboredagain**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

We moved from metro Boston to Livermore without visiting about 10 years ago. We were older than you, with kids, so the night life you seek wasn’t a priority. But we love it here. Nice small-town feel, with a great little downtown filled with bars, breweries, and restaurants. Tons of great wineries around also. Many places will have live music on weekends, although, like others have said, you’ll have to go further afield for the electronic, indie, underground scene. Tons of hiking opportunities around here, and in the general Bay Area.

**ohyoudodoyou**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Livermore is lovely. We just bought our first home there after bouncing around the East bay, southern CA and several other states the past decade. It feels… peaceful. There doesn’t appear to be much (if any) political BS of any flavor. The downtown is quaint and the streets are clean. There seems to be almost no homelessness or crime that plagues almost all of the Bay Area and any major city these days. My take is that since Livermore is one of the last remaining Ag towns in the bay and a company town for the labs and aviation industry the community is made up of folks that kind of have it together, and not because they got rich from some bubble or are generationally wealthy. I might be talking out of my ass but it just seems like regular intelligent and skilled adults live there and raise their kids. We went to a Starbucks in town last Sunday and a pack of teenagers had parked their skateboards and scooters outside the door with no locks. They opened the door for us and called my husband sir. I am wondering where all the bodies are hidden…

mrsroebling
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

My husband and I almost exclusively move without visiting cities first and really just let google maps lead us with housing decisions. Just that little bit of context to say: -We have lived here around 6 months now, this is from the perspective of a new resident. It was what I expected and have been more pleasantly surprised than disappointed.

-It was number one priority for us to be able to bike or bus to work (yes to the Lab), living near real city things like museums and music would normally be another priority but in this case would be out of our price point and way too long of a commute.

-if looking out west, you will have the benefit of a reverse commute by car, but that means tricky timing for transit. And yet, when driving west to east we still run into traffic. So I wouldn't go west of dublin/Pleasanton and only live there if the access to Bart to Oakland/SF became a priority. It might be for you.

I personally see no benefits of living anywhere east of the lab in the Tracy-Stockton stretch. We're just not into driving on the highway everyday.

Livermore is great middle ground especially if working at the lab and I think worth any price premium you may notice. I felt shielded from the crazy flooding, but haven't had a full summer here yet to comment on the heat, but from what I've seen we've got good infrastructure and any neighborhood will be comfortable.

**mmmmmyee**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Fremont native that moved to Livermore during pandemic.

It’s hot as balls july->august. And most of june and some of september. The other months are quite nice.

Downtown is undersold imo and really cool to see community things happen regularly.

Crime is not much of a thing in my area (north livermore). Some homeless, but they keep to themselves.

Outside of downtown, it’s a pretty sleepy town. It feels similar to how Fremont was for me growing up for me. Neighbors are a lot of blue collar , white collar and some smarty pants at the LLNL. I like it… Outside of the summer and those 105F+ days. Ugh.

No experience with schools yet. Kiddos are still too small, but pressure does sound not as intense compared to Fremont schools.

Livermore, California

Sci-Fi

Looklyloo Score: 90