Over the past 20 years, RC residents have watched countless cow pastures transform into brand-new residential and commercial construction. As the city grew, so did interest from families. Here they could find a turnkey home as low as $500,000, within the well-regarded Cordova-Folsom Unified School District surrounded by beautiful parks and businesses perfect for growing children. 

The city of Rancho Cordova is all-in on expanding its list of master-planned communities. In late 2023 alone it had a list of six development projects, the largest of which being Rio Del Oro where more than 12,000 attached and detached homes were developed northeast of Sunrise Boulevard and Douglas Road. These communities typically feature 3-bedroom homes on decently sized lots with access to great amenities like a clubhouse and pool. The only part you might not be excited about is the HOA dues. Every rose has its thorn, right?

When the kids aren’t attending their well-rated schools, they can connect with the outdoors at one of the area’s plentiful parks – the most popular of which is the [Hagan Community Park](http://crpd.com/parks/hagan-community-park/). Or, take the fun indoors at Wacky Tacky, K1 Racing, or Sac Town Family Fun. Admittedly, there is a lack of nightlife in Rancho Cordova, but that won’t matter to your 13-year-old. 

It’s a question that plagues every would-be Rancho Cordova resident: do we want the old or the new part of town? Each has its distinct perception. The more recently developed areas feature brand-new master-planned neighborhoods with either newly constructed commercial areas and schools or some sparse land that developers intend to bring to life one day. Most of these new developments reside south of the 50, the main freeway that bisects the city. 

The older parts of town, north of 50, have mixed reviews. Because it’s been around longer, it does have more commercial areas, like the main shopping area along Folsom Road. However, it also has a history of crime. According to locals, crime in the “older” part of town stood out as the greatest deterrent for those considering settling down in RC. However, as we mentioned, a lot has changed over the last 20 years. In the early 2000s, the city established its police force. According to the Rancho Cordova Police Department’s website, violent and property crimes have decreased by more than 65% in under two decades. 

Furthermore, other residents who have been around awhile reject the notion that everything above 50 is sketchy. There are well-established, small, peaceful neighborhoods in that area as well, they argue. Houses in such neighborhoods go for around the same price as the new builds south of 50. So, when working with your real estate agent, it’s important to know what your top priorities are. Most families moving to Rancho Cordova opt for the “new” part of town because of the clean modern homes and school district zoning (some sections of town outside of these master-planned communities are not zoned for the Cordova-Folsom Unified School District). 

Great Place to Grow (Up)

LookyLOO Review of Rancho Cordova

One of the greatest perks of living in Rancho Cordova is its proximity to places you’ll want to visit.  First, your access to nature is pretty outstanding. Running right through the city in all its glory is the American River. It offers residents endless recreation opportunities ranging from fishing and rafting to swimming and picnics with a view. The American River Trail winds alongside miles of the river and through [Hagan Community Park](https://crpd.com/parks/hagan-community-park/), and is a popular attraction for bikers and runners. Only 20 minutes away you’ll discover Folsom Lake, a great spot for fishing, mountain biking, and more. Another nearby body of water you might have heard of is Lake Tahoe. You can take the whole family for a weekend getaway to this famous oasis that sits only 2 hours from your front door.

As far as parks go, you’ve got plenty to choose from. Start with [Hagan Community Park](http://crpd.com/parks/hagan-community-park/), where you can fish in the pond, ride bikes, or jump in the American River. If you love the outdoors but hiking, biking, and boating aren’t your thing, then maybe you’ll be excited to learn about the [Granite Arch Climbing Center](https://granitearch.com/) located in the heart of RC along Folsom Boulevard. Here, 20,000 square feet of wall space is a great challenge for beginners and advanced climbers alike. Visitors can enjoy indoor top roping, an outdoor bouldering park, and some of North America’s “most natural indoor rock.” 

For the kids, Rancho Cordova offers tons of family-friendly entertainment. Take a Go Kart ride at K1 Racing, throw a birthday party amongst the indoor playgrounds of [**Wacky Tacky**](https://wackytacky.net/rancho/index.php), learn new things in the Sacramento Children’s Museum, or visit the [Sac Town Family Fun](https://www.sactownfamilyfun.com/) complex complete with an escape room, virtual reality arcade, glow-in-the-dark mini golf course, and more. Your. Options. Are. Endless.

Now, for the adults. As we mentioned, Rancho Cordova scores poorly for nightlife, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a spot to sit back and unwind. Home to just shy of 10 breweries (our favorite is [Movement Brewing](http://www.movementbrewingco.com/)), a drive-in movie theater, and the beautiful [Jensen Botanical Garden](https://www.carmichaelpark.com/jensen-botanical-garden), you can find something to fill your afternoon or evening. For food, residents look to local staples like the [Mimosa House](https://mimosahouseca.com/breakfast-menu) and [Brookfield](https://brookrest.com/) for breakfast or a decent list of American and ethnic eateries with 4+ stars for lunch and dinner. Most of your shopping needs can be satisfied along Folsom Road. You’ve got a Safeway, KP International Market, Costo, and Sprouts all within 10 minutes of one another. And if needed, the amenities and cultural attractions of Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Folsom (and the fan-favorite [Folsom Premium Outlets](https://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/folsom) ) aren’t too far away. 

We avoided it as long as possible, but now it's time to talk about work. If you save lives for a living, chances are you’ll be able to keep your commute under 20 minutes if you work at any of the nearby hospitals like the UC Davis Hospital. If you’re a mere mortal like the rest of us, you may need to drive further for work. The good news? Sacramento is an easy 20 minutes away. Not to mention it's a straight shot (you won’t be dealing with other towns’ traffic on your way). You wouldn’t want to commute to San Francisco, obviously, but it’s nice to know that its sights, sounds, and smells are only 2.5 hours away. If you haven’t guessed already, you will need a vehicle if you want to live in Rancho Cordova. It’s close to major freeways, but public transportation cannot get you everywhere you need to go.


Brews + Beautiful Places

Lifestyle 

Most homes with the Rancho Cordova zip code are zoned for the [Folsom-Cordova Unified School District](https://www.fcusd.org/). This district serves about 21,000 students via its 21 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, one charter school, and seven alternative schools. [Niche.com gives the district an “A” rating](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/folsom-cordova-unified-school-district-ca/), highlighting the district’s well above average academics, teachers, diversity, college prep and sports. 

It’s worth noting that although it is considered the best school district in Sacramento County, the majority of the top-ranking schools in this district are within Folsom City (check out the map on [this page](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/folsom-cordova-unified-school-district-ca/)). The two schools rated “A” within Rancho Cordova are [Mather Heights Elementary School](https://www.fcusd.org/Page/24) and [Riverview STEM Elementary School](https://www.fcusd.org/rve). Both the middle school and Cordova High School have “B” ratings. But hey, a B isn’t bad in our book.

For private options, residents benefit from being so close to Sacramento. Within Rancho Cordova, you’ll find “A+” rated St. John Vianney Catholic School (PK-8th), and beyond you’ll find Folsom’s Folsom Preparatory School (K-5) and Sacramento’s countless star pupils including Sacramento Country Day School (PK-12), Christian Brothers High School (9-12) and Jesuit High School (9-12). 


Above Average

Schools

According to real estate agents in the Sacramento area, people want to know where the new builds are. We can confidently say that Rancho Cordova is one answer to that question. If you appreciate the turnkey home, high-end finishes, pristine landscaping and well-maintained amenities that an HOA can provide, then we highly recommend checking out the master-planned communities being built here. Check out a current list of [**in-progress developments here**](https://www.cityofranchocordova.org/departments/community-development/planning/major-developments-and-projects).


Up and Coming

Why You Should Move Here Now

**fuzzmcmunn**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I grew up in RC near the river. It was fairly safe and I had a great time with good neighbors and nice kids to play with.

We were safe, I could ride my bike and go on walks by myself, we didn’t have break ins or anything. The houses can be kind of small. My parents backs up to the parkway. Many of the same neighbors are still there.

There’s definitely parts of it that looks sketch but it’s not ghetto and I’ve never had problems grocery shopping or anything.

To be fair, I haven’t lived there is 10+ years but when I go home it’s still very similar.

For more reviews of what living in Rancho Cordova is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/rancho-cordova/reviews).



Reviews of Rancho Cordova from Locals

[**Anatolia Village**](https://anatoliahoa.org/) is a master-planned neighborhood that offers residents modern amenities within a comfortable suburban community. The neighborhood sits in the southern part of Rancho Cordova, between Sunrise Boulevard on the west and the new Rancho Cordova Parkway on the east; and from Douglas Road on the north to the greenbelt on the south. This very popular spot for families boasts well-maintained parks, walking trails, an enviable clubhouse and great schools. 

Built in the mid-2000s, the neighborhood is home to nearly 2,100 single-family detached homes. They are typically 4- to 5-bedrooms at a price point between $600-900,000.

The neighborhood is bordered by multiple green spaces and preserved wetlands including Heron Landing Community Park, Sandpiper Park and Argonaut Park. Residents enjoy hiking and biking the various trails or swimming and playing in the clubhouse’s three pools and gymnasium. Two elementary schools exist within the neighborhood. For errands and shopping, residents have the famous Dutch Bros and Raley’s grocery https://www.raleys.com/stores/raleys-sunrise-rancho-cordova-california/ right there or Sprouts Farmers Market less than 10 minutes away. Most of your commercial shopping will be done about 15 minutes northwest on Folsom Boulevard.


DINKs/Families

Anatolia Village

Coloma Estates sits north of 50 just off of Coloma Road near the [**Sunrise Recreation Area**](http://www.regionalparks.saccounty.net/Parks/Pages/SunriseRecAreasUpperandLower.aspx). 
It is a great neighborhood for first-time home buyers or those looking to downsize. Homes here are both single-family detached and townhouse style. You’ll find 3 bedrooms with one bath and 3 bedrooms with two baths around 1,000 square fit for just under and over $400,000. 

This neighborhood boasts multiple points of access to the American River, making biking, boating and hiking an easily accessible passtime for residents. Not far at all is the [**American River Raft Rentals**](http://www.raftrentals.com/)  where you can rent rafts to go out on the river. 

Some of the nearby schools include Williamson Elementary School (rated B on Niche.com), Riverview STEM Academy (A+ on Niche.com) and The Learning Years Academy preschool. For shopping, there are several groceries and essential stores along Coloma Road plus Folsom Boulevard and its many shops are a short 7 minutes away.


Families/Retirees

Coloma Estates

Canyon at The Ranch is another master-planned community featuring new construction homes. There are single-story and two-story homes available ranging from 1,900 to 2,750 square feet. The largest are five bedrooms with three bathrooms beginning in the lower $600,000s. Interior designs range from Loft to Farmhouse to Classic. 

Residents enjoy proximity to green spaces, preserved wetlands and great amenities . This area is a bit more scant in terms of shopping and essentials. You’ll likely get your groceries a few minutes down the road at [**Raley’s**](https://www.raleys.com/stores/raleys-sunrise-rancho-cordova-california/) or drive a bit farther to Sprouts Farmers Market. Folsom Boulevard with your big box stores is a 15 minute drive away. Schools in the area include two elementary schools in the adjacent neighborhood of Anatolia. 


Families

Canyon at the Ranch

Rancho Cordova

**Lordofjones**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Rancho Cordova
I live here in Mather and I personally love it. The city has spent millions cleaning it up, investing into homeowners to clean up/repair their homes and yards. There are some ghetto parts but those are becoming better with the money the city is investing. I have kids and am not sending them to the schools here until they get better but we have the option for Folsom schools so we are doing that. The parks are great with kids, the river is fantastic to walk everyday and the food scene is becoming decent. I like that I’m in between downtown and Folsom so I can shop/ eat in all the places. I personally am a huge fan of living here and really respect what the city is doing.

**fuzzmcmunn**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I grew up in RC near the river. It was fairly safe and I had a great time with good neighbors and nice kids to play with.

We were safe, I could ride my bike and go on walks by myself, we didn’t have break ins or anything. The houses can be kind of small. My parents backs up to the parkway. Many of the same neighbors are still there.

There’s definitely parts of it that looks sketch but it’s not ghetto and I’ve never had problems grocery shopping or anything.

To be fair, I haven’t lived there is 10+ years but when I go home it’s still very similar.

**mynameisdarrylfish**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

the north side of rancho is the best kept secret in the county. the river is beautiful, the bike trail is amazing if you run or cycle, and it's very quick to get onto the highway for a 15 minute car commute to downtown (OR to take the light rail, which takes ~30 minutes). i live less than a mile walk from the river and less than a mile walk from the light rail station. people just think it's poor and that the high school "isn't good" -- which usually, in my experience, is not what people are really saying when they say that.

**Pro's and Con's of living in Rancho Cordova California | Good and Bad of Rancho Cordova | Sacramento**

Rancho Cordova, California

Where the Houses are New New

Looklyloo Score: 85

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