Brentwood is a suburban city on the far eastern reaches of the San Francisco Bay Area, known for its natural recreation and agricultural heritage. The city has grown exponentially in the 21st century, doubling its population between 2000 and 2010 and seeing a 25% growth over the next 10 years. Now home to approximately 65,000 people, Brentwood is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Bay Area, but it doesn’t feel that way to locals. “Brentwood still has a small-town feeling, and it has some of the top schools in the area. It has a thriving downtown with restaurants, taverns, boutiques and other small businesses,” says James Britto, a manager at Bay Area Properties and lifelong Brentwood resident. “We still have family-run u-pick orchards. We’re best known for our Brentwood yellow corn.” Located on the fertile Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Brentwood has a long history of agriculture, growing corn, cherries and other fruits. Thousands of acres of farmland have been turned into housing and other developments. However, agriculture is still a large part of the local economy, with agri-tourism farms opening for cherry-picking each year. Other significant regional employers are in nearby cities like Antioch, Pittsburg and Concord. Brentwood is located on California State Route 4, offering an easy commute to those cities. Bay Area Rapid Transit has a stop in Antioch, offering public transportation into the heart of the region.
See a movie at the Delta Theater in the City of Brentwood Ca.
There are many entertainment options in the City of Brentwood.
Enjoy one of Many City of Brentwood parks.
Wine tasting is partly why the City of Brentwood thrives.
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Local shops in Downtown Brentwood and chains moving into the outskirts
Brentwood has a mix of shopping and dining options, ranging from established local cafes to brand-new chains. Downtown Brentwood features stucco buildings with Mexican restaurants, taprooms and clothing boutiques. The Delta Theater shows first-run movies in a locally owned venue with a retro neon sign. Downtown is also the location of the Brentwood Farmers Market, taking place on Saturday mornings year-round. The market brings in vendors from around the region, who sell produce, meat, and baked goods. The Streets of Brentwood is another shopping destination. Located along Highway 4, this open-air mall has stores like Barnes & Noble, DSW, Talbots, an AMC movie theater, and many local and major chain restaurants. Lone Tree Plaza in the city’s northwest corner has stores like Kohl’s, The Home Depot and Trader Joe’s. The city is getting a Costco in 2025; the store will become one of the largest employers in town and will anchor the Innovation District, a mixed-use development with room for over 4,000,000 square feet of commercial space and up to 2,000 residential units.
Sushi time at Chelsea Fusion in The City Brentwood is a culinary treat.
The City of Brentwood has a array of dining options.
Boutique shops are dotted throughout The City Brentwood.
Sprouts in The City Brentwood is brimming with fresh produce.
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Recreation options in and around Brentwood
Brentwood has 242 acres of parks and nearly 100 facilities. Veterans Park on Balfour Road has playgrounds, picnic areas and open grass fields. The park is next to the Brentwood Family Aquatic Complex and the Brentwood Skate Park. Sunset Park Athletic Complex is a hub for sports, with six baseball and softball fields and multiple soccer fields. Runners and cyclists have plenty of room for exercise, with over 19 miles of trails throughout the area, including the Marsh Creek Trail and the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail. City Park hosts special events throughout the year, like Concerts in the Park, the annual Christmas tree lighting and a Juneteenth celebration. Brentwood is close to state and regional recreation sites like Mt. Diablo State Park, about 40 miles away. The main attraction here is the namesake mountain, which sits at 3,849 feet and is surrounded by low valleys and rolling hills, offering sweeping views of the Bay Area. Los Vaqueros Reservoir & Watershed is an 18,500-acre recreation site about 8 miles south of the city. It has several hiking trails and a 1,900-acre lake for fishing and boat rentals.
Agri-tourism farms near Brentwood are mainly located east of the city and include spots like Nunn Better Farms, Diablo Cherries and Maggiore Cherry Ranch. These farms allow locals to stroll through the cherry orchards and pick their own fruit when it’s in season. Some also have pumpkin patches and include typical fall activities like corn mazes and hayrides.
Residents enjoy the local sand volleyball courts.
Veterans Park in the City of Brentwood sits within a quiet neighborhood.
Cycling in The City Brentwood can be enjoyed on the scenic Marsh Creek Trail.
Brentwood has pools and many amenities for residents.
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Higher home prices than neighboring cities, but lower than San Francisco
Housing in Brentwood consists of suburban new traditional homes, often with Spanish and Mediterranean influences like tile roofs and stucco siding. The city has grown drastically over the past few decades, going from just 7,500 residents in 1990 to 65,000 currently. That population growth has brought the need for new housing, and most homes in the city are 21st-century builds. Many subdivisions have taken the place of farmland, causing concern among longtime residents. To mitigate these issues, the city works with nonprofits like the California Farmland Trust to create conservation easements for farms facing the threat of development. The median housing cost in Brentwood is $825,000, up 4% over the past year but relatively stable for the past two years. The city has a higher median price than nearby communities like Antioch and Oakley. However, the median cost is significantly lower than cities like San Francisco, San Jose and Berkeley, and falling interest rates could lead more buyers to look for houses in Brentwood, taking a longer commute for a shot at a lower price. Homes typically sell in 30 days, quicker than the national average of 44 days.
Homes in The City Brentwood were constructed from the 1950s onwards.
You will find tree-lined streets through out The City of Brentwood.
The City of Brentwood homes have various architectural designs.
The City of Brentwood neighborhood offers beautiful scenery.
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Highly rated Brentwood Union, Liberty Union School Districts
Two public school districts serve Brentwood; Brentwood Union School District covers elementary and middle schools, while Liberty Union High School District covers the high schools. Brentwood Union is rated an A-minus by Niche and serves approximately 9,400 students. Liberty Union gets an A rating and serves approximately 8,200 students across three comprehensive high schools and two alternative high schools. Niche rates Liberty Union as one of the top 100 districts in the state. Schools in the city offer career and technical education courses in subjects like automotive technology, journalism, anatomy & physiology and teaching.
Garin Elementary School in the City of Brentwood is a great starter school.
Adams Middle School is a great public school option in the City of Brentwood Ca.
Heritage High School in the City of Brentwood is where students go for higher learning.
Brentwood Montessori School is a great public school option in Brentwood Ca.
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Getting to San Francisco: highways and BART access
Highway 4 offers a route west through the Bay Area. San Francisco is about 55 miles away via Highway 4 and Highway 24. San Jose is about 63 miles away via Interstate 680. There is public transit nearby, but most people drive themselves. "We have a lot of commuters to Oakland, San Francisco and Silicon Valley. We have access to the rapid transit in the next town over, so people utilize that, but we do have a lot of commuters," says Britto. The closest Bay Area Rapid Transit—or BART—station is in nearby Antioch. The station is on the Yellow line, taking riders into San Francisco. It also connects to the Orange and Green lines in Oakland, offering a route to San Jose. The closest hospital is Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center, about 7 miles away. Tri-Delta Transit provides multiple bus routes throughout Brentwood, taking riders around the city and to Oakley and Antioch.
Risk of fires, flooding and earthquakes in the East Bay
Due to its location near wilderness areas and on the river delta, parts of Brentwood are at significant risk of wildfires and flooding. Earthquakes are another risk faced throughout the Bay Area. Contra Costa County is updating its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, working with its cities and agencies like FEMA to identify hazards, develop mitigation actions and conduct public outreach. The county recommends that each household have an emergency preparedness kit and practice emergency plans twice a year.
Brentwood saw an increase in crime in 2023 compared to 2022, but the police chief cautioned that a new reporting system changed how they report crimes, so the data isn’t an exact comparison. The city had 579 violent crimes, a decrease from the previous year. That equals a crime rate of approximately 889 per 100,000 people, higher than the state rate of 503. Brentwood also had 1,477 property crimes in 2023, an increase from the previous year. That equals a rate of 2,267 crimes per 100,000 people, close to the statewide rate of 2,294. The Police Department surveyed the community and found that 80% of respondents feel safe living in Brentwood, and 89% are satisfied with the department.
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