"Pleasanton/Playing in time like an Aeolian melody, goat stars/Bound devil mountains crevasses./Like the fall of an eagle ancient stones cracked,/And rained through pine and bay/Until they exploded with crowns of jays." (- Pleasanton Poet Val Morehouse, "Diablo")
Pleasanton is a city lying in the shadow of Mount Diablo with 71,215 residents. It has the claim to fame of being one of the most expensive places to live in California and--make sure you're sitting down--in the USA. This is a pleasant place to live, just as the name suggests, with historic buildings and a good sense of community. Pleasanton is a white collar community with many people working in management roles. Its location between the San Francisco Bay Area and Central California Valley is perfect for commuting and is close to some of the best wineries in California for those who enjoy a good glass of wine every now and then.
The city of Pleasanton has a very welcoming and organized feel to it
"Pleasanton/Playing in time like an Aeolian melody, goat stars/Bound devil mountains crevasses./Like the fall of an eagle ancient stones cracked,/And rained through pine and bay/Until they exploded with crowns of jays." (- Pleasanton Poet Val Morehouse, "Diablo")
Pleasanton is a city lying in the shadow of Mount Diablo with 71,215 residents. It has the claim to fame of being one of the most expensive places to live in California and--make sure you're sitting down--in the USA. This is a pleasant place to live, just as the name suggests, with historic buildings and a good sense of community. Pleasanton is a white collar community with many people working in management roles. Its location between the San Francisco Bay Area and Central California Valley is perfect for commuting and is close to some of the best wineries in California for those who enjoy a good glass of wine every now and then.
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Moving to Pleasanton
The city of Pleasanton has a very welcoming and organized feel to it. In fact, they are so welcoming to newcomers that there is a list of all the useful numbers you could ever want on the city website especially for newbies--how awfully considerate and kind. From the local newspapers to the garbage and water company -- there it is, so you don’t need to worry. In fact, they even have a Newcomers Club so you can go and introduce yourself to the neighbors; it may be a little awkward, but you get in with the established locals.
Prices are beginning to rise again for Pleasanton real estate and there are a number of homes for sale and for rent in the city. There is employment within the city itself and good commuter routes to Oakland and San Jose. Most people commuting travel around 45 minutes. If you run a home business you need to apply for a permit in Pleasanton. Large employers in Pleasanton include Kaiser Permanente, financial services, clothing retailers, and healthcare.
Neighborhoods
Pleasanton has 14 neighborhoods and each has representation on the city government. It is worth taking a look at them as they are all different with their own characteristics and price tags on the real estate for sale.
East Pleasanton: If you like keeping up with the neighbors then East Pleasanton could be the place for you. This neighborhood has some of the most expensive real estate in California and yet there is a 3% vacancy rate indicating it is highly desirable and cannot keep up with the demand. The neighborhood is full of wealth and is just the place to be if you have in laws to impress or fancy being a bit of a social climber.
Vineyard Avenue/1stStreet: The Vineyard Avenue neighbourhood is more moderately priced for California and attracts families and also retired people. It is known for being quiet and peaceful.. Vineyard Avenue might be moderately priced but is still an area in high demand on the real estate market.$$$
Sunol: If you have a house in Sunol you are living in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the USA. This is an area where money clearly talks and fine property is in demand. This is not a place to look for affordable housing schemes. So who lives here? Sunol is home to high flying executives, management types and senior professionals. Most homes were built between 1970 and 1999 and there also several older houses that date from the 1940s.
Niles Canyon Road/Kilcare Road: The Niles Road neighbourhood has homes that are well above the average California price and are in demand compared to the vacancy rate. People like to live here as there is a 1.5% vacancy rate so demand is high. Most homes were built between the 1970s and 1990s with a few more modern additions. Anyone walking around here will notice the size of homes right away. Professionals and executives live here and it is one of the wealthiest places to live in Pleasanton.
City Centre: Although Pleasanton City Centre is less expensive than other neighborhoods it is still above the US average. These are medium sized houses and apartments and are attractive to families and young professionals. Most were built between 1970 and 1999 with a few in 2000. This is a downtown area convenient for shops and restaurants and is popular. The turnover for real estate and rentals is very fast here as it is such a desirable place to live.
Parkside Drive/Hopyard Road: The Parkside Drive neighborhood is slightly less expensive than other areas of Pleasanton but is still well above the average. Most houses were built from 1970-1999 and there are several that date from 1940-1969 here making it a slightly older neighborhood. People don't tend to move once they get here either, so you could find yourself with very little choice. There are some rental properties here too but these are also above the average for California. This is a neighborhood of larger homes and successful professionals.
Santa Rita Road/Pimlico Drive: The Santa Rita Road and Pimlico Drive neighborhood is one of the less expensive places to live in Pleasanton. While prices are above the USA average, they are about right for California and you can find some good sized homes for sale here. The neighborhood has a real sense of community here and there are people who have lived here forever. Like most of Pleasanton, the homes date from the 1970s to 1990s there are older houses which were built in the 1940s. The area feels more homely and down to earth without constantly having to upstage the neighbors.
Living in Pleasanton
There is no getting away from it, the city of Pleasanton oozes money and recovered oh so easily from the economic downturn. In Pleasanton there are good facilities run by the local government and people generally take a pride in where they live. Or are they just saying, "I can afford to live here"?
Pleasanton has one of the best farmers markets in California and a wide range of good shops and convenience stores. There are lots of community events including the welcome committee for new people. Pleasanton is very ethnically diverse with around 22% of people born outside the USA which adds to the rich culture of the city. People come here for the neighborhoods and as somewhere to bring up a family. With the Diablo National Park on the doorstep and some of the largest cities in California within an hours drive there are great places to spend leisure time too. Pleasanton feels like a city of timeless quality and warm welcomes. In short it feels just -- well, pleasant to be there.
