It’s no secret Roseville is one of the top places around Sacramento to raise a family. Sure, the schools are top-notch (learn more about those in our Schools section below), but it’s so much more than that. There is an impressive list of amenities and activities available within city limits that will appeal to the whole family– yes, parents, that means you’ll love them too. 

First, winters here are short, so exploring the great outdoors is a popular pastime. Within the city, you and your family have more than 70 parks to choose from as well as several nearby walking trails like the [**Miners Ravine Trail**](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/miners-ravine-trail) and [**Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail**](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/american-river-bike-trail-jedediah-smith-memorial-trail). For fishing, boating and swimming, look no further than the beauty of Folsom Lake just 9 miles to the east in Central Valley. Also a short drive away are the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, meaning you and the kids won’t have to be cooped up in the car too long to visit some of the best places in the state.

So there’s all that, and we haven’t even gotten to the man-made entertainment available. On a balmy summer day, stay cool and smile big enjoying one of [**Golfland Sunsplash’s**](https://www.golfland.com/roseville/) many water slides, race tracks and arcade games. Keep it casual with a game at TopGolf or take the more serious athletes in the family to one of the 30 golf courses in and around Roseville. Or, if your kids are older and you’re looking for more culturally-rich experiences, your family might enjoy the [**Maidu Museum and Historic Site**](https://www.roseville.ca.us/government/departments/library/maidu_museum_historic_site) or the [**Blue Line Arts Gallery**](https://www.bluelinearts.org/). 

Even when it comes to simple tasks like getting your shopping done or squeezing in a date night, the businesses of Roseville have families in mind. For example, the Westfield Galleria, the second-largest mall in the state, offers childcare options for when parents need that extra support.

Last but not least, no one likes to think about it, but if an adventure goes awry, it doesn’t hurt that your kids will have access to two Level II trauma hospitals, [**Sutter Roseville**](https://www.sutterhealth.org/srmc) and [**Kaiser Permanente**](https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/facilities/roseville-medical-center-100331), open 24 hours a day right in your backyard. 


Family Fun

The Best Thing About Roseville?

We’ll start with the complaints about powerlines, because that one was unique enough to make us stop for a minute. Yes, all cities have power lines, but one real estate agent noted that apparently several homes have power lines running right through their backyards – yuck. The bright side (no pun intended)? Because Roseville city owns and manages all their own utilities, costs are about 10% lower here than the national average. 

Okay, on to the biggie…traffic. The two freeways that pass through the city are Interstate 80 and California 65. Freeway access can be an amazing thing, but it does lead to plenty of through-traffic and back-ups getting on and off the freeway. It’s possible to just be trying to get to the other side of town but the traffic from folks going to and from the freeways makes you late. Living here, it’s helpful to learn the backroads to get where you’re going in town during rush hour. 


Traffic vs. Powerlines

The Worst Thing About Roseville?

Here you can find a wide range of lifestyles. Divided into three sections, Central, West and East Roseville all have their distinct character. You can find a neighborhood that is walkable to nearby restaurants and downtown events (like Cherry Glen + Folsom neighborhood), or more up-and-coming neighborhoods (like Westpark) where new schools, businesses and restaurants are popping up regularly to fill out the area's growing list of amenities and activities. Everyone from young professionals to retirees find their niche in Roseville. 

Let’s start by talking about what’s available at your doorstep. In Roseville, you’ve got a bunch of entertainment options to choose from. Think everything from theme-park-style activities at the [**Golfland Sunsplash**](https://www.golfland.com/roseville/) to more refined experiences like the beautiful 18-hole golf course at [**Woodcreek Golf Club**](http://www.golfroseville.com/). Outdoor enthusiasts have the 8+ miles [**Miners Ravine Trail**](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/miners-ravine-trail) while sports enthusiasts have plenty of facilities and fields to choose from like [**Mahany Park and Fitness Center**](https://www.roseville.ca.us/government/departments/parks/parks_places/mahany_park). And don’t worry, we didn’t forget about those of you looking for a flavor-packed restaurant, art gallery or high-end shop, you’ll find more than you can consume within the city's various malls and hubs, like Westfield Galleria (the second largest mall in California) or everyone’s favorite sushi bar: [**Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar**](https://mikunisushi.com/locations/roseville/). 

As for leaving the city – we’re looking at you commuters and weekend warriors – Roseville has excellent access to freeways and good public transport options. You’ve got the 80 and the 65 freeways that both go through the city. If you don’t feel like driving your own car, take advantage of the city’s large list of park & rides that allow you to utilize the Roseville Transit commuter bus program that’ll get you from Roseville to downtown Sacramento in roughly 30-45 minutes depending on the time of day. If you’re looking to escape on the weekend, the iconic Lake Tahoe nestled within the Sierra Nevada Mountains is an easy 2-hour drive to the northeast. 

Also worth noting, residents appreciate the ethnic, economic and cultural diversity of the area. Young professionals, married couples, families and retirees all live here. While it is majority White/Caucasian, there are also large Asian, Hispanic and Ukrainian populations here. 


Something for Everyone

Lifestyle of Roseville

Residents say the most important part about picking a neighborhood in Roseville is figuring out if the schools they’re zoned for are part of the Roseville City School District/Roseville Joint Union High School District or instead a neighboring district like Dry Creek School District, the former being preferred for parents that are attracted to the city’s top-rated public schools. Determining this can be trickier than you think because as the city grows, some houses don’t actually feed into the closest school district as officials work to prevent overcrowding in classrooms. 

The [**Roseville City School District**](https://www.rcsdk8.org/) has 21 schools serving 12,000 students grades preschool -8th. The [**Roseville Joint Union High School District**](https://www.rjuhsd.us/) has 8 high schools. According to [**Greatschools.org**](https://www.greatschools.org/california/roseville/#districts), the city itself is served by five total school districts with a total of 92 schools spread amongst them. Do you see what we mean by being extra careful about which district the home you’re considering is zoned for? Honestly, even we’re slightly confused.

While Niche.com and Greatschools.org can’t quite agree on which schools in the area are the best, we’ll name a few standouts that you can’t argue with. [**Granite Bay High School**](https://www.rjuhsd.us/granitebay) is part of the [**Roseville Joint Union High School District**](https://www.rjuhsd.us/), the top school district in Placer County. It offers advanced placement classes and even a competitive robotics team. For younger students, [**Blue Oaks Elementary School**](https://blueoaks.rcsdk8.org/) might be the best ranked K-5 school in the city and is a California Distinguished School. All in all, schools here are reputable, nurturing and academically challenging.

For private offerings, you might consider the Sacramento Waldorf School, a K-12 that’s ranked #2 for private schools in the Sacramento area according to [**Niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/sacramento-waldorf-school-fair-oaks-ca/). Ranked #2 for top Christian schools in the Sacramento area is [**Freedom Christian School**](https://www.niche.com/k12/freedom-christian-school-fair-oaks-ca/). 


Great Schools, Be Wary of Zoning

Schools in Roseville

Roseville is regarded as one of the best places to live around Sacramento, and for good reason. It straddles small town and large city living, with a large assortment of parks, cafes and restaurants. With relatively easy access to Sacramento and the Sierra Nevadas, as well as plenty of amenities within city limits, not to mention the top-rated schools, the area is routinely a seller’s market meaning houses are in high demand. If you want to get in on this before the market becomes even hotter, we suggest beginning to look now.


Top Rated in the Area

Why You Should Move Here Now

Highland Reserve sits in Central Roseville. The neighborhood’s first homes were built in 1994, and today the neighborhood’s 2,000 or so homes give the area a suburban feel with plenty of space to spread out. As with almost all the neighborhoods in Roseville, Highland Reserve is home to excellent public schools including three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. There are no private schools directly within this neighborhood. 

Many families and young professionals call this area home. Home values here average around $628,967. They range typically from 3- to 5-bedrooms with sizes ranging from 1500 to 3100 square feet. 

One of the greatest perks of this neighborhood is its great location. It’s easy to find things to do because you’re less than a mile from the mall and the [**Fountains Shopping Center**](https://www.fountainsatroseville.com/). It’s easy to socialize at the area's array of restaurants, bars and stores. Also home to [**Smart Axe**](https://www.thesmartaxe.com/smart-axe-roseville/) (axe throwing…if you haven’t tried it yet, you need to) and Top Golf, it's easy to plan a date night or friend hang. With easy access to freeways, a drive southwest to Sacramento or northwest to Lake Tahoe for a weekend getaway are quite doable. 

Young Professionals, DINKS, Families

Highland Reserve

Woodcreek Oaks is a highly sought after neighborhood in Roseville particularly due to it being home to [**Woodcreek High School**](https://www.rjuhsd.us/woodcreek) (9-12), a top school in the district that is rated 8/10 by greatschools.org. Here children also attend [**Silverado Middle School**](https://sm.drycreek.k12.ca.us/) (6-8) and either [**Quail Glen Elementary School**](https://qg.drycreek.k12.ca.us/) (K-5) or [**Coyote Ridge Elementary School**](https://cr.drycreek.k12.ca.us/) (K-5). For private options, you have Trinity Christian Academy, a well regarded K-12 school.

The neighborhood also features nearby [Woodcreek Golf Club](http://www.golfroseville.com/) with it’s 18-hole course that just happens to be the only lighted one in the whole city. Then there’s Mahany Park and Fitness Center that also provides residents with ways to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. The average home value in Woodcreek Oaks is $597,695 and they range in style from contemporary to bungalow to ranch. Single-family homes are typically 2- and 3- bedrooms beginning around 900 square feet. 


Families

Woodcreek Oaks

This 55+ community offers residents a healthy and active community lifestyle. The neighborhood amenities include a clubhouse  with a fitness center, indoor pool, outdoor pool and sports courts. It also features the 9-hole Sierra Pines golf course and 18-hole Timber Creeks course. The Timbers Restaurant and Lounge offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and is most popular on Thursday nights when the special is prime rib. You’re also adjacent to the Westpark neighborhood and its growing list of restaurants, coffee shops and parks. Residents enjoy driving their golf carts along the neighborhood’s many trails. Average home price in Sun City is $596,597.


Retirees

Sun City

Stoneridge has something for everyone. You can find homes ranging from 3- to 7-bedrooms and 1,300 to more than 6,000 square feet. The earliest homes here were built in 2001, so you’re likely to find beautiful traditional and modern home styles at an average home value of $809,472. This does make it on the pricier end of homes available in Roseville. On the top of the hill sits [**Stone Ridge Elementary School**](https://stoneridge.rcsdk8.org/), rated [**“A” by Niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/stoneridge-elementary-school-roseville-ca/), right within walking distance of most houses. 

There are definitely ways to get outside and enjoy the weather in Stoneridge. Recently built Harry [**Crab Park**](https://www.roseville.ca.us/government/departments/parks/parks_places/crabb_park) offers a playground, pickleball courts, a zipline and sports fields. The 8.8 mile out-and-back [**Miners Ravine Trail**](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/miners-ravine-trail) is popular with walkers, cyclists and runners. You can access the trail from multiple points in the neighborhood and it can take you either into Granite Bay or all the way to downtown Roseville. If you prefer to do your workouts indoors, there’s also a newly built Lifetime Fitness. Another huge perk worth mentioning is that [**Golfland Sunsplash**](https://www.golfland.com/roseville/) is nearby, making award-winning miniature golf and exciting waterslides an easy weekend activity for the family.

Zooming out, Stoneridge sits in East Roseville, where all the neighborhoods feel unique and charming due to their more established nature. Neighborhoods here are zoned for some of the top schools in the area and there are plenty of parks nearby. East Roseville is also home to Nixtaco, a “farm-to-taco” style Mexican restaurant that has received Michelin [**Bib Gourmand**](https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/california/roseville/restaurant/nixtaco). This prestigious designation is awarded to restaurants that serve high-quality food for a pocket-friendly price.

Stoneridge

Roseville

**Looking for a review of life in Roseville**


Lived there for many years. It's a good family spot. Easily bikeable and near folsom lake and auburn. Lots of shopping but mostly chains and big brands. Have to go to sac for mom and pop stuff. Schools are good. I've worked for rjuhsd and had had some amazing teachers. Roseville has some pretty top rated high-schools but some aren't as good.

Roseville has a wide range of neighborhoods from extremely nice to pretty rough and everything in between.

Basically it's just a massive suburb. Not a lot of character but nice place to live and near a lot of cool stuff

Edit: wildfires aren't a major concern in Roseville itself but it gets very smoky every year. Low chance your house will burn down though

**Looking for a review of life in Roseville**

I think it depends on what your price point is because Roseville is all over the map as far as economic level. You got old Roseville over by maidu Park and that's generally a much quieter and older neighborhood from the 50s and 60s... But unfortunately those older houses in the neighborhood leaving my new Park area has been subject of flooding for a very long time. They have rebuilt the levees they are multiple times over the years and they do pretty good now, but there's still a lot of flood zones to look out for in the older neighborhoods.

Moving east, you get into some of the retail districts and office parks throughout Douglas Blvd until you get to Taylor road. That's going to border Rocklin but you can go either horizontal direction to get through newer Roseville built within the 2000s to 2010s... You've got to really really lower income Roseville over by denio's on the railroad tracks and you've also got West Roseville which is bordering antelope and all new developments.

Kind of a large pool to choose from.

I consider myself median income and live in Roseville. I have 1960s house in a non flood zone. My wife grew up 13 houses down the street and around the corner a little bit, and has a decent elementary School and park in the neighborhood. It's the kind of neighborhood I leave my car door is unlocked on the street or can leave my mower in front of my garage door with nobody swiping it. Landscape in the neighborhood is decently maintained, and it's a lot of either older probably original owners, or first time home buyers / new family owners.

I personally recommend Roseville for or siding in as well as being close enough to outdoor activities both recreational close by the house as well as ones that require a small drive

**Moving to Roseville**

My family made the move last year from the Bay Area.

Because Roseville covers electricity, garbage, and water (gas is a separate bill to PG&E), the city utilities for my place are just about $200 and the gas is running me about $250 in the winter following PG&E’s price hike here in the new year. Mine is a one-story, though.

I usually seek the contractor based on the job. What kind of work are you looking to get done? My realtor has been an awesome and reliable resource for affordable contractors.

Auburn is 15 minutes away. Folsom lake is also super close. There is plenty outdoors to do up here. Within the city, the ravine trails are paved miles of trail, and the numerous open spaces have trails carved or paved through them. For the kids, there are seemingly hundreds of parks and playgrounds.

My idea of a nightlife is the tabletop gaming group I go to weekly at the Mountain Mike’s on Pleasant Grove, so I might not be the best to speak to what the night life is like here. Lol

Roseville is a suburban community with lots of churches and golf courses and all of the chain stores and restaurants you could hope for.

Hospitals (Sutter and Kaiser) seem to be the primary local employers of note. Most of the people our family meets at parks work for one of them.

Personally, living here feels like living in the fancy neighborhoods of Willow Glen. Beautiful and comfortable, quiet and welcoming.

Pandemic response is a mixed bag. Most businesses have signs stating mandated masks. Inside, no one actively enforces the mandates. Some people practice masks and social distancing. Some don’t. Either way, I have not encountered any conflict or outbursts as a result.

Politically, I would describe it as purple. It is in Placer county, which is a conservative county, and there are quite a few vocal folk here, advertising their political identity regularly on their lawns, trucks, clothing, and parade caravans/protests. A growing percentage of the population is more moderate or left leaning. Most people here are friendly and won’t openly harass you individually for making choices they wouldn’t. The vibe is very respectful of your personal freedom.

Roseville, California

Grinders

Looklyloo Score: 88

We're on it!