Surrounded by vineyards and almond tree orchards, Ceres is a suburban city about 5 miles east of Modesto. Named after the Roman goddess of agriculture, Ceres has a small-town vibe with plenty of restaurants and shops for a comfortable lifestyle in the Central Valley. "There's a lot of room for growth in Ceres, and it is still one of the best deals in the area," says Hiram Kemp, former resident and Real Estate Broker at California Realtors & Management. "You can find a reasonably priced home in a nice neighborhood."
The City of Ceres offers a small town atmosphere.
The downtown area of the City of Ceres is full wall art by local artist.
Agriculture is the heart beat of the City of Ceres.
Almonds are a major commodity in the City of Ceres.
1/4
Spanish-style architecture, palm trees and wine industry
Homes sit on flat lots with fenced-in backyards shaded by palm trees. Mayfield is one of the city's top neighborhoods, with 1970s houses and some of the city's most popular parks. This city's housing stock features Craftsman, ranch and Spanish-style homes with stucco exteriors. The median single-family price in Ceres is $458,000, slightly more than the U.S. median. Prices are also substantially lower than median prices in California.
Wine is one of the area's largest industries. Bronco Wine Company is headquartered in Ceres and employs about 750 people. Bronco also has close ties to E & J Gallo Winery, which has more than 6,000 employees at its Modesto headquarters. Del Monte Foods and Stanislaus Foods also have packaging facilities in Modesto.
Spanish style inspired homes are found throughout the City of Ceres.
Many homes in the City of Ceres neighborhoods feature custom landscaping.
There are many craftsman style homes in the City of Ceres.
Beautifully landscaped yards dot the neighborhood in the City of Ceres.
1/4
Ceres school programs and Central Valley Christian Academy
The Ceres Unified School District has about 14,000 students and earns a B from Niche. The district provides dual language academies and after-school programs that help students succeed. Central Valley Christian Academy is a private school in Ceres. According to Niche, it receives an A-minus and is ranked the best private school in Modesto.
Central Valley Christian in the City of Ceres is where students go for private education.
Walter White Elementary School in the Downtown area in the City of Ceres is a great public school option.
Cesar Chavez Junior High School serves Outer East Stanislaus students near the City of Ceres.
Central Valley High School serves the City of Ceres students.
1/4
Shopping plazas, Walmart and Downtown Ceres
Ceres provides residents with chain retail, shopping centers, and a downtown area with local businesses. The Ceres Gateway Center is the newest retail development, continually expanding businesses near a Walmart Supercenter. Downtown Ceres is the epicenter of this community, with shops, Mexican eateries and Italian restaurants. "They've done a good job beautifying the downtown area," Kemp says.
Walmart in the the City of Ceres Gateway Center is where the locals go to shop.
Have lunch at Taqueria Lagos in the City of Ceres downtown area.
Get a brew at one of the local chains restaurants in the City of Ceres.
Grab some Tai food at Blu Lotus in the City of Ceres.
1/4
Live music and a farmers market
The community gathers on Third Street for the Ceres Farmers Market, which features local vendors with meat, produce and dairy from local farms. The market takes place alongside live music in Whitmore Park on Tuesday evenings during the summer. The Ceres Hot Air Balloon Festival, also known as "Skies the Limit," is an annual celebration in June with hot air balloons, live music and kids' activities at Cedar River Bluff Park. "I've lived here for most of my life, and it just has a small-town feel," Kemp says.
The City of Ceres Concert in the Park Summer series is fun for all ages.
Enjoy the bounce houses at the City of Ceres Hot Air Balloon Festival.
People love to dance at Concert in the Park in the City of Ceres.
Ceres Street Faire in the City of Ceres is held in the middle of town.
1/4
Colorful skatepark and golf at River Oaks
The Ceres River Bluff Regional Park is a 75-acre space with soccer fields and a fishing pond. Neel Park has an extensive playground, while pet owners head to the dog park. Little League teams play baseball at Smyrna Community Park, which also has a skatepark with colorful murals. The River Oaks Golf Course is an 18-hole executive course along the Tuolumne River.
Go skate boarding at Smyrna Community Park in the City of Ceres.
Spend time with your fury friends at the Ceres Dog Park in the City of Ceres.
Play a round of golf at River Oaks Golf Course in the City of Ceres.
Come see you favorite soccer club at Mayfield River Bluff Regional Park near Ceres in the City of Ceres.
1/4
Head to San Francisco or fly out of Stockton
Ceres' rapid transit system is the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA). The local expressway is California Route 99, which reaches several towns in the Central Valley. Modesto is about 5 miles west on CA-99, and San Francisco is roughly 96 miles west on Interstate 580. The Stockton Metropolitan Airport is around 30 miles northwest, providing domestic flights to major cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix and Denver.
Stanislaus County crime and summers with drought risk
Property crime and violent crime are decreasing in Stanislaus County. Ceres typically experiences less crime than Modesto, where overall rates have declined over the last several years. Crime that does occur is concentrated downtown. Ceres has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers. Some properties face a drought risk, and, like many cities in the valley, the area experiences poor air quality.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
