Pleasant Hill is indeed a pleasant place. We wouldn’t be surprised if somewhere in this article we accidentally refer to is at Pleasantville (not anything like the movie, we promise). Residents report feeling safe, enjoy easy access to nature, and benefit from a strong sense of community and good schools, all within a reasonable drive of big city amenities. 

Safety is a priority for many who choose to move and raise their families in Pleasant Hill. There is a visible and strong police presence here (read: you feel perfectly fine walking home at night). A walkable and cute downtown area and shopping centers like [The Verdana](https://shoptheveranda.com/) offer a collection of restaurants, stores, coffee shops, and entertainment options. Plus a [full calendar](https://staypleasanthill.com/events/) of local festivals and community events where you’re likely to run into your neighbors to enhance the small-town vibe.

You may not get ocean views like other parts of the Bay Area, but the view of Mt. Diablo ain’t bad either. Nature lovers need not look far for things to do. Enjoy great access to parks like the popular [Briones Regional Park](https://staypleasanthill.com/blog/guide-to-briones-regional-park/) just 3 miles away where hikers (and their pups!) can enjoy 6,255 acres containing scenic hiking trails, camping and picnic areas and even an archery range. Or, hop on your bike or horse to explore the [Contra Costa Canal Trail](https://www.ebparks.org/trails/interpark/contra-costa-canal), a secure off-road pathway connecting the cities of Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek and Concord. Want to go bigger? Only 1 hour to the west is Muir Woods National Monument with its iconic redwoods, and 3 hours to the east lies Yosemite – yes, the Yosemite – and the infamous Half Dome skyline. Other weekend getaway options include Lake Tahoe and [Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570). 

When you live close to vibrant, culturally diverse meccas like Oakland and San Francisco, it can be difficult not to directly compare them to your suburb’s characteristics and offerings. This leads to mixed reviews from residents on whether PH is relatively culturally and economically diverse or not. But one thing most residents can all agree on? There is a real lack of good ethnic food options.

The cost of housing is a growing downside of life in Pleasant Hill? Prospective residents realize quickly that you have to pay a “Pleasant Hill premium” of about $200,000 above what you might dole out for the same house in surrounding cities (although some, like Walnut Creek, will be 20% more than Pleasant Hill). 


It’s Just…Pleasant

LookyLOO Review of Pleasant Hill

The exceptional schools, abundance of outdoor spaces, and local events like farmers markets and outdoor concerts offer families a well-rounded and community-oriented lifestyle. If you want to know your neighbors and care about volunteering within your community, you’ll fit right in in Pleasant Hill. Residents remark on the opportunities for adults especially children to invest in and give back to their community, like on the annual Community Service Day. 

It’s worth mentioning again that living surrounded by trees, parks, mountain views and some of the country’s most iconic parks and preserves is just one part of what makes Pleasant Hill so pleasant. Niche.com gave the city an “A” in Outdoor Activities, Health & Fitness, Weather and Diversity. Closely followed by an “A-” for Good for Families, Schools, and Nightlife, and a “B+” for Commute.

While life here is certainly slower than in Oakland and San Fran, residents do have dining and entertainment options, including the popular night-out spot [**Jack’s Taps**](https://www.ilovejacks.com/). And for those who need or want to commute into the city, it’s about a thirty-minute drive to Oakland from your serene suburban streets. Or, hop on BART and get to San Francisco in just over an hour.


Community-Oriented

Lifestyle 

[Mount Diablo Unified School District](https://www.mdusd.org/), [Martinez Unified School District](https://www.martinezusd.net/) and [Acalanes Union High School District](https://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/) all serve the Pleasant Hill region. If they’d like, students can go all the way from preschool through one of the best community colleges in the county - [Diablo Valley College](https://www.dvc.edu/) -  without leaving the city. The 23 public elementary, 14 public middle, and 11 public high schools in Pleasant Hill have an overall “A-” rating by [Niche.com](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/acalanes-union-high-school-district-ca/). Acalanes Union High School District stands out in particular and has been named one of the top 15 school districts in California. In addition to strong academic opportunities, children within the community also benefit from quality sports leagues, like the PHMSA, which help them cultivate new friendships and strengthen community ties. Private school options in the area are also plentiful, the most distinguished being [The College Preparatory School](https://www.college-prep.org/) in Oakland.


A- is Basically an A

Schools 

Like other prime suburbs, Pleasant Hill is extremely popular with families bailing on the big cities looking for good schools, chill lifestyle, and the possibility of buying or renting a home big enough for the kiddos. Pleasant Hill has also made strides in building out a downtown and as that effort expands and the downtown area becomes more of a thing, the city will only get more popular. If you want in, you should get in now.


Hot Housing Market, Downtown Development

Why You Should Move Here Now

**Vast-Source1656**
10d ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

We moved to pleasant hill 3 years ago from Oakland. It’s been an adjustment but overall a positive one. Our kids are 7 and 2, and the move was driven by a desire to give them more space, better education options and better kid focused activities.

My kids both love it. Pools, sports, parks are miles better. It’s clean and safe (although to be fair we never felt unsafe in Oakland). Our main concern was lack of diversity, but our kids schools/daycares are very diverse it turns out. People are friendly, access to outdoors activities is better.

As an adult I miss living in Oakland. I also miss living in SF before we had any kids… but life changes and priorities change with it. Mostly I miss being 29…

For more reviews of what living in Pleasant Hill is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/pleasant-hill/reviews).


Reviews of Pleasant Hill from Locals

Probably the most sought-after neighborhood in Pleasant Hill, Poet’s Corner is located in the south end of the city. It is close to Walnut Creek’s downtown area and to the Reliez Valley neighborhood of Lafayette. Parks, schools and shopping are easily accessible in this highly walkable neighborhood and locals note that on any given night all their neighbors are out for a walk with the doggo or kiddos. The median sale price for homes in Poet's Corner is $1.2m and median listing price is $1.6m. There are rental homes that are typically priced around $3.5k per month. Homes in the area are often classic California cottages and beautiful, albeit pricey on a per square foot basis.  

Families

Poet’s Corner

In the northern section of Pleasant Hill lies the Gregory Gardens neighborhood. Popular streets feature popular female names from the 1950’s like Mary Drive, Maureen Lane, Lucille Lane and Ardith Drive. This quaint detail is consistent with the charming mid century rancher style of the homes. Residents also enjoy the nearby [**Pleasant Hill Park**](https://www.pleasanthillrec.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Pleasant-Hill-Park-13) and [**Las Juntas Open Space**](https://www.pleasanthillrec.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Las-Juntas-Open-Space-4). Pleasant Hill Park is an amazing community resource with two pools, softball/baseball field, basketball court, horseshoe pits, community gardens and huge playground and tot areas. Las Juntas is a 7 acre open space with trails and tons of walkable, playable areas for families, and doggos and anyone looking for a breath of nature. The median home price in Gregory Gardens is $1.05m. 


Gregory Gardens

Homes in the northern neighborhood of Valhalla are an eclectic mix ranging from small ranchers to larger newly constructed estates and with a median home price of $1.2m. 

Nearby are the [**Paso Nogal Park**](https://www.pleasanthillrec.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Paso-Nogal-Park-10) and [**Contra Costa Country Club**](https://www.contracostacc.org/) where residents can enjoy a round of golf. Homes in the neighborhood are walkable to the area's primary elementary school, [**Valhalla Elementary**](https://www.contracostacc.org/), and the culture of walking or biking to school is a prominent selling feature of the area. 
This neighborhood is also home to the city's main public high school, [**College Park**](https://cphs.mdusd.org/), and [Diablo Valley Community College](https://www.dvc.edu/). 


Valhalla

Pleasant Hill 

**Accomplished-Eye8211**
10d ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I live in Pleasant Hill. I like it here. I moved here 25 years ago. I'm retired now. No place is perfect.

The city park is great. There's access to good theater. San Francisco is a 35-minute drive at non-commute times for Opera, Broadway shows, Symphony, and museums. Easy transit on BART.

My neighbors say the schools are excellent. They go hiking, biking, etc.

There are good options for shopping. The ethnic dining options are fantastic. When I want something more likely to be found in a bigger city, i drive 15-20 minutes to Berkeley or Oakland. Like a spice shop. Or a great Ethiopian restaurant.

In many ways, living in Pleasant Hill is like living in the hub of Martinez - Concord - Walnut Creek - Lafayette. Aka Diablo Valley. (OK, Lafayette isn't DV.) I'm in those places all the time, and because I live in Central PH, none are more than 5 minutes.

I wouldn't move anywhere permanently initially. I'd try to spend a few days in my target area and then try to rent for six months or a year before I buy. Particularly in the current uncertain times.

**Vast-Source1656**
10d ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

We moved to pleasant hill 3 years ago from Oakland. It’s been an adjustment but overall a positive one. Our kids are 7 and 2, and the move was driven by a desire to give them more space, better education options and better kid focused activities.

My kids both love it. Pools, sports, parks are miles better. It’s clean and safe (although to be fair we never felt unsafe in Oakland). Our main concern was lack of diversity, but our kids schools/daycares are very diverse it turns out. People are friendly, access to outdoors activities is better.

As an adult I miss living in Oakland. I also miss living in SF before we had any kids… but life changes and priorities change with it. Mostly I miss being 29…

**MyNameIsKlay**
10d ago
🦉🦉🦉

I was born and raised in Pleasant Hill and lived 20 of my 35 years here. The school ratings have gotten a bit better over time in the last decade, but just marginally. Growing up, Walnut Creek friends and family always went to better schools, with nicer houses too and it was always a treat to visit downtown WC, Heather Farms, etc on the weekends. The same holds even more true today.

Walnut Creek and Lafayette will always be better in terms of academic rating, and Concord and Martinez have always been slightly below our school ratings. Overall, the grass is always greener and there's always a "next level", but in my opinion, Pleasant Hill is a very safe place to raise your kids with the convenience of highway 24 and 680. If you like walking or biking, you can easily access the Contra Costa Canal Trail and Iron Horse Trail. You also have Briones Regional Park, which is a peaceful space to hike on weekends by yourself or with family.

Historically, I can tell you that Pleasant Hill has always been more desirable due to the ease of commute and distance to San Francisco. If you compare it to Livermore, Pleasant Hill has not been as overpriced due the overflow of the South Bay tech industry. You can see this is evident in the south of the East Bay with tech money flowing into home prices in Fremont => Dublin/Pleasanton => Livermore prices over the years.

Pleasant Hill is a great an affordable, safe place to live. When you look at those 800k homes you mentioned from years ago, those homes are maybe 1M - 1.1M today here, while Livermore's 800k homes are now 1.2M - 1.5M. All of the Bay Area's real estate prices will be directly tied to the tech industry now, but you'll find a lot more financial/banking job workers that commute from out here to the city (or possibly WFH).

Pleasant Hill , California

Small Town Feel, Big City Access

Looklyloo Score: 89