If you don’t require your suburban city to have an active downtown but do need it to have beautiful homes, decent-sized yards, tree-lined blocks, great parks, incredibly safe streets, and amazing public schools then put San Ramon on your short-list to check out. Living in San Ramon is pretty dreamy (albeit a bit boring if you won’t take trips into Danville or other major cities in the area) and parents just rave about what it was like for them to raise their kiddos here. 

The biggest complaint you’ll hear about San Ramon is that it’s missing an active commercial district. For fun, you have to commute a bit to Danville or Walnut Creek for a night’s out. There is a City Center outdoor mall that has restaurants and there are plans for growth in a commercial district but in the meantime, you’re driving a bit to find a bar, music, or a good cafe.

Family 'Burbs

LookyLOO Review of San Ramon

Not shockingly, the lifestyle of San Ramon is built around families. Amazing little leagues (all sports not just baseball) offer year-round sporting options and several [great parks](https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Things+To+Do+With+Kids&find_loc=San+Ramon%2C+CA), including one that is fire-truck themed, one that has a musical theme (along with basketball courts, baseball/soccer fields and tennis/pickleball courts), and one that has a beautiful Olympic sized pool and Aquatic Park. There are also wonderful [hiking and camping trails](https://www.alltrails.com/us/california/san-ramon) in the Las Trampas Wilderness Preserve and Bishop Ranch Preserve, so both the kiddos and the grownups enjoy the outdoor lifestyle here. 

To see what locals get up to for fun in San Ramon check out the [calendar of events](https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/calendar).

We highly recommend visiting San Ramon 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.


Lifestyle 

San Ramon has the highest-rated schools in the county, grading A+ on [niche.com](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/san-ramon-valley-unified-school-district-ca/). Every school in the city scores an A or an A+ as well so you don’t need to carefully dissect the neighborhoods to be sure you pick a home in the district with excellent schools. In addition to the core academics rated highly, the district schools also have a great reputation for programs in the art, music, theater, and sports programs. If schools are your highest priority for the family and you can pay the price for the homes then San Ramon is your spot. 


Schools 

If you live in a big city and have had it with the real or perceived chaos of that place and you want to completely immerse you and your kiddos in the quiet of a true suburban oasis then San Ramon can offer that. 


Suburbia

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**gwsteve43**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

San Ramon is a great city! It’s a pretty typical boring suburb, so don’t expect a raucous or exciting night life, but there’s lots of great amenities. In general no bart station parking lot is 100% safe. Particularly at night break ins can and do happen. That said I have lived here ten years and never been a victim of any crime. Probably the worst part about living here is that it can be pretty expensive but otherwise it’s very nice!

For more reviews of what living in San Ramon is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/san-ramon/reviews).


Reviews of San Ramon from Locals

Twin Creeks is right along 680 so convenience is major plus if you commute or just want to get the rest of the Bay Area without a long drive.  Most of the homes are from the 70’s and designed with active families in mind. The neighborhood has crazy amenities to keep the kiddos occupied including: 2 community swimming pools, 6 tennis courts, 2 volleyball courts, 2 basketball courts, 2 playgrounds and a number of parks and miles of hiking/biking trails for general play. If you’re looking for a neighborhood for your kids to bond with other kiddos over outdoor play then for sure put Twin Creeks on your list. 

It’s also really close to the two main outdoor malls, City Center and Diablo Plaza and the Bishop Ranch Preserve so you can find plenty to do close by on days you want to get out of the neighborhood. 

Not for nothing Twin Creeks ranks #1 for best place to raise a family in San Ramon!


Families

Twin Creeks

Dougherty Valley is a master-planned community well-known for its beautiful tree-lined streets and large immaculate homes.  There is plenty for the kiddos to do in the neighborhood with several beautiful parks and outdoor recreation options including: Central Park, Hidden Hills and Coyote Creek Parks. These offer big grounds for walking and hiking trails, sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, event space for community events and festivals throughout the year. Perhaps most importantly (to some) doggo play areas!  The neighborhood has an added bonus of several excellent restaurants and coffee shops, including Peets for you Peetnik fanatics. 


Dougherty Valley

Southern San Ramon is another excellent option for families and for young professionals comfortable with a suburb. Homes come in a bit less pricey and with more diverse sizes and types available for purchase (not a master-planned neighborhood) at a median price of $1.3m but plenty of smaller homes/townhomes well below $1m and some up above $2m. Most of the neighborhood lines the Iron Horse trail meaning walking, hiking and biking is a simple walk outside your door. 

There are four elementary schools, three middles and a great high school in the neighborhood so walking/biking to school is an option for many.  Finally, San Ramon golf club is also in the neighborhood so for those who like to hit the links this is going to be convenient. 


Families/Young Professionals

Southern San Ramon 

San Ramon

**gwsteve43**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

San Ramon is a great city! It’s a pretty typical boring suburb, so don’t expect a raucous or exciting night life, but there’s lots of great amenities. In general no bart station parking lot is 100% safe. Particularly at night break ins can and do happen. That said I have lived here ten years and never been a victim of any crime. Probably the worst part about living here is that it can be pretty expensive but otherwise it’s very nice!

**gstateballer925**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

As someone, who lives in SoCal now, after years of living up there in Pleasanton, I loved San Ramon. I would’ve loved to live there, if I was still in the Bay Area. Such a safe, peaceful area with nice people.

While it’s not the most exciting place to live, there are plenty of restaurants and shops (as well as a gym and movie theatre), if you’re the type to go out, or get bored being at home. Hope you and your family enjoy it!

P.S. The LA area I live in right now is exactly like San Ramon/Danville.

**Dearestdiaries**
10mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

You are going to LOVE LOVE San Ramon and Danville. Neighboring cities. If you can afford Danville, I suggest living there :)

It gives off SoCal Huntington Beach/Newport Beach vibes without the beaches lol

Source: I’m a SoCal girl who moved to the bay for college & never returned because I accepted a job in the East Bay and have been living in Danville since 2017 :)


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