It’s no secret Roseville is one of the best choices in the Sacramento area to raise a family. 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 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 and year-round 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 on 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. 

The one big downside to the area? 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 traffic and back-ups getting on and off the freeway. It’s helpful to learn the backroads to get where you’re going in town during rush hour.


Family Fun

LookyLOO Review of Roseville

Here, you can find a wide range of neighborhood-driven 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 finds 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 car, take advantage of the city’s large list of parks & 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 is that 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. 

We highly recommend visiting Roseville and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.


Something for Everyone

Lifestyle 

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 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 in preschool -8th grade. 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 

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

laureddit22
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Very very safe. Lots to do! Within Roseville there’s top golf, a water park (Sunsplash), lots of golf courses, a good amount of tennis and pickleball courts, Folsom Lake (entrances in nearby granite bay), and lots of shopping/other suburbia things. If you want to take a few jaunts out of town, Sacramento is about 30 minutes away and midtown is great for walking around and checking out art galleries, restaurants, cocktail bars, and lots of breweries. If you’re into hiking or biking, auburn (about 20 mins north) has some amazing trails and is a very cute town! They also have some good breweries and restaurants.

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

Reviews of Roseville from Locals

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

**marksthe1**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

We moved to the area about six years ago and got an apartment in Rocklin for a year before buying a house in Roseville near Woodcreek High School. My husband and I were/are both teachers. I didn’t get a full time teaching job until a few years after we moved but I subbed in 6 districts (mostly high school) for a while which really let me get a feel for the area. West Park high school wasn’t open yet, but I loved subbing at Woodcreek, Granite Bay, and Oakmont (which I later worked full time at for several years before leaving teaching). I also liked Antelope High (RJUHSD). Lincoln High has unique classes such as animal husbandry and a rodeo which is neat, but also a very different demographic and feel(more diverse and lower income). My husband works at Springview MS in Rocklin and one thing we both noticed is that the kids at the Rocklin schools weren’t as nice- having the “right” clothes and material possessions seemed much more important there. I have no experience in Loomis. The drama departments at West Park and Granite Bay are both spectacular (if that’s of any interest). 

**accuratebear**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

We moved from Roseville to Lincoln a couple years ago. We got in before home rates went up though, but I would still say Lincoln is far cheaper than Roseville. It's not as developed, but it's growing more than Rocklin and Roseville. PGE is the only major downside of Lincoln compared to Roseville though. Also, I wouldn't say it's far. We go to church and have the majority of our friends in Blue Oaks area and it's only about a 10 minute drive.

Rocklin does have the best schools though, with one of the highest rated school districts in the nation, but all areas have great charters as well. Lincoln also has some new schools where the campuses are nice (Twelve Bridges and JAA Lincoln).

But we loved Roseville. If you can afford it, I would recommend there. Other areas are nice or have fancier homes, but if being close to family is priority, then Roseville would be your best bet. The Blue Oaks area is one of the newest in Roseville as well, with new restaurants, coffee, grocery stores, etc still going up all over.

laureddit22
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Very very safe. Lots to do! Within Roseville there’s top golf, a water park (Sunsplash), lots of golf courses, a good amount of tennis and pickleball courts, Folsom Lake (entrances in nearby granite bay), and lots of shopping/other suburbia things. If you want to take a few jaunts out of town, Sacramento is about 30 minutes away and midtown is great for walking around and checking out art galleries, restaurants, cocktail bars, and lots of breweries. If you’re into hiking or biking, auburn (about 20 mins north) has some amazing trails and is a very cute town! They also have some good breweries and restaurants.

Roseville, California

Grinders

Looklyloo Score: 91

Reviews

What's it like to live in Roseville?