Value is a great selling point for Martinez. Not only do you get a greater value in your home, but you also have pretty great natural areas and an evolving downtown area to entertain you on the weekends. For those who love to get outside, you can drive in almost any direction to find your escape. Bordered to the north by the Carquinez Straight, residents can unwind kayaking or walking along the trails through the Martinez Marina and multiple waterfront parks. Oh, and did we mention that the water means the weather here can be as much as 10-20 degrees cooler than in other parts of the Eastbay interior? That’s a big deal. Bordered to the southwest by [Briones Regional Park](https://staypleasanthill.com/blog/guide-to-briones-regional-park/), residents are never too far from this park’s 6,255 acres of scenic hiking trails, camping and picnic areas and archery range. 

This access to nature is fitting for the city that John Muir, the “Father of the National Park System,” called home. The [John Muir National Historic Site](https://www.nps.gov/jomu/planyourvisit/directions.htm) is here, just two miles south in Alhambra Valley, offering free tours of his home. 

Martinez is also a hidden gem for live music in the Eastbay, a night out downtown means walking along cute, early 1900s brick buildings that house great bars, antique shops, and new breweries hosting live entertainment. Looking for family fun? The city hosts several events, parades, and festivals throughout the year to keep your calendar full (because that’s what your busy parents need, more to do).

Not everyone knows that the Bay Area is home to five historic oil refineries. Martinez itself is home to two refineries in its northern section (north of Highway 4). The concentration of refineries in Contra Costa County, of which Martinez is a part, has worsened air quality, impacting the health of residents and [disproportionately disadvantaged communities and communities of color](https://www.spur.org/news/2017-02-08/how-can-bay-areas-aging-oil-refineries-meet-californias-new-climate-goals#:~:text=The%20Bay%20Area%20is%20home,of%20California%27s%20total%20refining%20capacity.). When crude oil is refined into gasoline and jet fuel, the process can release compounds that smell like oily rags, rotten eggs, or rotten cabbage. These smells have been noted downwind of the refineries when there are flare-ups, but not every part of Martinez is impacted by this. Residents desiring to avoid the worst of the air quality issues live south of Highway 4. That being said, modern regulations have greatly improved conditions, and monitors shut down refinery operations if the air quality is impacted, making living closer to the refineries much more tolerable than when they first opened decades ago. 



Value

LookyLOO Review of Martinez

Martinez has a rich history dating back to before California had its statehood. It was home to John Muir who played a vital role in beginning the national park system in the U.S., and bartender Jerry Thomas who is said to have invented the martini. 

Today, Martinez offers a diverse array of neighborhoods to fit many lifestyles – everything from a walkable and charming downtown area to larger homes set on luscious green pastures. The entertainment options are ranging too. The city offers weekly events (often in partnership with its growing list of restaurants, brewery, and shop owners), miles of walking trails within some 16 parks, and even state-of-the-art bocci ball courts. Didn’t see that coming, did you? 

Some parts of Martinez feel like a small town while other parts feel like the true suburbs. Many families have lived here for generations and cherish that there’s always a little league game or other family-oriented event where they can see and chat with their neighbors and friends. Contributing to the small-town vibes are the town’s four annual parades: Little League, Fourth of July, Homecoming, and Light (around the holidays). 

Residents also enjoy easy access to neighboring towns’ amenities, but they do so by car as public transportation is kind of average here. For those who do need to commute, freeways border and bisect the city, making Martinez an appealing home base for those who work in other parts of the Bay Area. It’s worth noting that as you move further out from the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, there’s a visible downtick in crime and homelessness. The same is true in Martinez. However, certain areas within the city do experience a higher crime rate and have a greater unhoused population than other East Bay cities like Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek. 

To see what locals get up to for fun in Martinez check out the [calendar of events](https://downtownmartinez.org/community-event-calendar). 

We highly recommend visiting Martinez 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.


Small Town + Suburban

Lifestyle 

The public schools are rated “A-” by [Niche.com](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/martinez-unified-school-district-ca/). The [Martinez Unified School District](https://www.martinezusd.net/) (MUSC) consists of five elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and an adult education program. It serves the majority of Martinez, Alhambra Valley, Mountain View, Vine Hill, and portions of Reliez Valley. One elementary school within Martinez is part of a neighboring district, so students assigned to that school will complete middle and high school in nearby Pleasant Hill, which also is rated “A-” on Niche.com. The one middle school in MUSC is [Martinez Junior High School](https://mjhs.martinezusd.net/) (6th-8th) which offers both honors and advanced courses as well as popular electives in art, music, and physical education. The high school, [Alhambra High School](https://ahs.martinezusd.net/) (9th-12th), helps students become more well-rounded with offerings ranging from advanced placement courses to career technical education to a variety of extracurriculars.

There are also some very highly rated private schools like the [Bentley School](https://www.bentleyschool.org/), [Carondelet High School](https://www.carondeleths.org/), and the [Salesian College Preparatory](https://www.salesian.com/) within driving distance. Within the city, you’ll find [St. Catherine of Siena School](https://www.stcatherinesacademy.org/) (TK-8th) and [Vicente Martinez High School](https://vmhs.martinezusd.net/), an alternative high school. 


Well Above Average

Schools

Martinez wasn’t always like this. It didn’t always have cute breweries, higher value homes and an attractive public school system. But over the past several years, the area has seen a resurgence. Join the wave of families and young professionals moving to Martinez who are adding new energy and momentum to this city’s designation as a hidden gem within the East Bay.


You Can Call It A Comeback

Why You Should Move Here Now

**FML_4reals**
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love living in Martinez. I am south of hwy 4 near hidden lakes park, so a basically a suburb of the suburb but usually go to downtown Martinez 1-2 times/week. It definitely has a small town vibe with the antique shops, coffee shops, breweries, and a few decent restaurants. Where I live is quiet & safe but I am close enough to bigger cities if I wanted to go to dinner in Walnut Creek or Oakland it would be easy enough. Martinez has great access to parks & nature, with miles of trails in Briones, the waterfront area, and even hidden lakes park is nice. There is definitely a strong sense of community with lots of festivals, like the zombie beer crawl, the martini shake off, wine stroll, art fairs, pride celebration and beaver festival. Pretty sure they are still closing off Main Street to traffic on Friday nights and have live music playing in the streets. The refinery has not been an issue for me. Martinez is a great place to live.

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


Reviews of Martinez from Locals

As we’ve mentioned, Martinez has a rich history and its downtown area reflects it. Buildings were built in the early 1900’s and show off a historic charm and flare. At the heart of the city, these shops, restaurants and historic buildings offer a popular destination for locals and tourists. Residents living in the downtown neighborhood pride themselves on their older historic homes and enjoy easy walkable access to downtown amenities and the city’s many events and festivals. Homes and condos in Downtown have a median price of $660k. Rentals are available here for condos/apartments. 


Young Professionals/DINKs/Families

Downtown

Alhambra Valley attracts residents looking to spread out a bit more amongst the beauty of the surrounding hills. Here larger homes sit on larger pieces of land. It’s located in the western part of Martinez. The median home price in the neighborhood is $1.17m. The homes in the neighborhood are typically ranch, cottages or new construction/upgrades. One huge feature of the neighborhood are the amazing pines and oaks that line the blocks and surround the homes, providing nice shade during the warm months. 

Families

Alhambra Valley

In Hidden Valley you’ll find a mixture of single-family homes and townhouses. It is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and parks and sits on the east side of town. [**Hidden Valley** Park](https://www.cityofmartinez.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/26/205#:~:text=Hidden%20Valley%20Park%20%C2%B7%20Baseball/Softball%20Field(s)%20%C2%B7,%C2%B7%20Restrooms%20%C2%B7%20Tennis%20Court(s)%20%C2%B7%20Walkways/Trails.) is a local favorite and a gem for the neighborhood. It's several acres, filled with baseball/softball fields, tennis courts, trails for hiking and biking, playgrounds, exercise course and tons of open spaces for picnics and general play for the kiddos and doggos. Homes in Hidden Valley come with a median price of $864k and most recent sales have averaged $643k. 


Hidden Valley

The name Vine Hill offers a subtle nod to this neighborhood’s tree-lined streets. It sits proximate to parks and schools in the southern part of Martinez. Homes here range from small bungalows to larger custom homes and have a median price of $630k. The homes are typically 3-4 bedrooms and are surrounded with mature shade trees to keep the heat down to a minimum. Palm trees mix in with the fluffy pines and elms and locals take advantage of the shade for nightly and weekend walks throughout the neighborhood. 


Vine Hill

Martinez

**Anonymous**
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

95% of the residents don’t see or hear the refinery. We’ve lived in town for over 30yrs and have yet to smell anything from the refinery. It’s a one middle and high school town, great schools and still has that small town feel. Having said that, depending where you move you may be in FEMA’s flood plane requiring flood insurance. Fire insurance is a growing problem as well depending on your location. Downtown has a nice selection of restaurants, bars and a nice farmer’s market every Sunday. It can get hot during the summer but the fog usually rolls in at night and cools things off. It’s been a great town to raise kids. I’d caution you to be aware of Seeno built homes, they have a known reputation of poor build quality.

**jogong1976**
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉🦉

It's a great city. The downtown has been revitalized in a way I never believed the old guard would let happen. The crime rate is below that of Concord, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek, most likely because of the heavy police presence with MPD, the CC County Sheriff's Dept and CHP having headquarters there. It's got a quiet, small town vibe that you really can't find in other parts of the Bay. The community is very pro-active with local events and supporting local schools and businesses.

**FML_4reals**
9mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love living in Martinez. I am south of hwy 4 near hidden lakes park, so a basically a suburb of the suburb but usually go to downtown Martinez 1-2 times/week. It definitely has a small town vibe with the antique shops, coffee shops, breweries, and a few decent restaurants. Where I live is quiet & safe but I am close enough to bigger cities if I wanted to go to dinner in Walnut Creek or Oakland it would be easy enough. Martinez has great access to parks & nature, with miles of trails in Briones, the waterfront area, and even hidden lakes park is nice. There is definitely a strong sense of community with lots of festivals, like the zombie beer crawl, the martini shake off, wine stroll, art fairs, pride celebration and beaver festival. Pretty sure they are still closing off Main Street to traffic on Friday nights and have live music playing in the streets. The refinery has not been an issue for me. Martinez is a great place to live.

Martinez, California

Home to John Muir and the Martini

Looklyloo Score: 90

Reviews

What's it like to live in Martinez?