Rushing to this historic town, 25 miles west of Sacramento
Before it was made famous by a Johnny Cash song, Folsom was an 1850s gold rush town. Thousands of miners lived or passed through on their way to the Mother Lode mining region, hoping for the big score. The prospectors have moved by now, but the city has kept its small-town, rustic charm – locals can roam historic storefronts on Sutter Street, right next to old panning spots in the American River. Major tech companies like Intel and Samsung have started a new wave of economic development, providing opportunities for the city’s 81,000 residents. Nature lovers love the Sacramento Valley, only a rock skip away from Folsom Lake and neighboring bike trails. “The demand is always strong in Folsom. It’s a great place to raise kids. There are great schools, there’s upper-end shopping and the weekend market in Old Folsom is really fun. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to Sacramento,” says Victoria Witham, broker and owner of Witham Real Estate, a longtime real estate professional who lives up the road in El Dorado Hills.
Take a peaceful walk around Folsom and enjoy the lush green trees.
Adventure awaits visitors to Willow Creek Recreation Area in Folsom.
Livermore Community Park in Folsom offers excellent outdoor spaces for sports.
Sutter Street in Folsom comes alive with activities in the evenings.
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Life on Folsom Lake, riverside activities
Tucked into the Sierra Foothills, Folsom is a valley city surrounded by recreation opportunities. Folsom Lake is one of the city’s major draws, with over 11,000 acres to explore. “If you live in Folsom, you’re going to want to be on the lake,” Witham says. Locals can take a dip into Beal’s Point Beach, especially refreshing during those dry-heat summers. The more adventurous can ride South Fork River rapids into the lake, or for a calmer outing, they could kayak south on the American River and Lake Notoma. The trip can end on Willow Creek Recreation Area’s boat ramp, where another 1,500-plus acre park provides opportunities to hike, camp and fish. Also in the area, the American River Bike Trail runs 42 miles all the way to downtown Sacramento. The parks department, along with upkeeping the city’s 48 existing parks, is developing two more spaces for residents to enjoy.
Folsom Lake provides residents with a space to fish, boat, swim, and more.
Willow Creek Recreation Area in Folsom is a popular spot to launch kayaks and paddle boards.
The trails and bike paths in Folsom can be scenic and challenging.
About 2 million people visit the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area each year in Folsom.
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Small-town shopping and dining on Sutter Street
The rustic storefronts in Sutter Street’s historic district appeal to shoppers looking for small-town boutiques, and between stores, they could enjoy an outdoor meal at a dog-friendly restaurant. The famous Snooks Chocolate Factory is here, too, where dessert lovers have been coming since 1963. The Folsom History Museum and neighboring art galleries can be an all-day exploration, and while the city doesn’t have much nightlife, an evening of local performances at Sutter Street Theatre can fill the gap. If residents think they’ve exhausted their options, year-round activities like Saturday farmers’ markets and amphitheater performances will keep them busy; they might also consider six other commercial districts around town, such as The Palladio Shopping Center’s 55 stores and restaurants.
A few patrons enjoy the treats that Snooks Candies offers in Folsom.
Celebrate the changing seasons at Palladio Farmers Market in Folsom.
Hear some music on the streets of Folsom.
The old -timey attractions in Folsom still get their share of visitors year-round.
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High-demand housing, Planning Area development
The median home price in Folsom is $765,000 as of August 2024, up 2.2% from the previous year. People are also paying 41% more than their neighbors in Sacramento and 26% more than the nation overall. These higher prices are likely due to increased demand for this scenic and family-friendly area, judging by a 14% increase in residents since 2013. Local leaders have started to develop the City of Folsom Plan Area south of Highway 50, which will provide 11,000 new homes by 2030. Properties have started to move fast, too: most homes will sell in 30 days as of August 2024, compared to 41 days the previous year.
Ranch-style homes with one car garages can be found in Folsom.
The Folsom hills is full of natural landscapes and luxury homes.
Master-planned communities such as Briggs Ranch are very popular with buyers in Folsom.
Folsom Ranch is the new development on the south side of Highway 50.
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City expansion at Folsom Ranch
The City of Folsom Plan Area or “Folsom Ranch” will include five distinct communities, adding a total of 11,000 new homes on 3,500 acres. Along with an estimated 8,000 new jobs, developers are building five new elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. The area will also be highly walkable and bikeable via 130 acres of public parks and 30-plus miles of paved paths. With the first few homes occupied in 2019, development is well underway: 2,650 units have been built as of December 2023. The Folsom Center for Health, a new outpatient facility by the University of California Davis, is in its first phase of construction as well. The Center will provide services ranging from maternity care to advanced imaging, providing locals with more health options outside of Sacramento.
Most homes in Folsom Ranch have small yards.
The Homes in Folsom Ranch are pretty close together.
You can expect plenty of new neighborhood parks in Folsom Ranch.
The University of California Davis is soon to open a new outpatient facility in Folsom Ranch.
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Driving around Folsom, commuting to Sacramento
Even if they’re not commuting the 23 miles to Sacramento via Highway 50, people in Folsom will need a car to get around. A trip from the southern end of town to Lake Folsom will be around 6 miles, but most shopping and dining will be within three miles of the house. Recent population growth means traffic is likely to increase, and the city is taking preemptive action. Concentrated in the Folsom Lake area, The City of Folsom Parks & Recreation Department began a feasibility study in spring 2023 and is now planning a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Folsom Boulevard. Three bus routes are also available in select parts of town, and the Sacramento Regional Transit Light Rail recently added a stop in Folsom. When they get into town, they can connect to the Rail’s Green Line and ride to Sacramento International Airport.
Highly rated Folsom-Cordova Unified School District
Ranked the No. 1 best school district in Sacramento County and rated an A by Niche, Folsom-Cordova Unified School District serves 20,000 students in this area. Nine of the schools in the city have been named as Distinguished schools in the state. Folsom High is rated A-plus by Niche and offers architectural design courses in addition to computer programming and film classes. Also in this district, Vista Del Lago High receives another A-plus from Niche and won a Gold Ribbon Award as one of the top schools in California. Folsom Lake College is part of the state’s community college system. It serves about 10,000 students and has over 880 courses.
Students are the highest priority at Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary School in Folsom.
Students play on the field during recess at Natoma Station Elementary School in Folsom.
Sutter Middle School serves students in the Folsom community.
Folsom High School is a highly rated school in Folsom.
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One of the lowest crime rates in California
According to FBI statistics, Folsom had 1,326 reported crimes in 2023, and 91% of these were property crimes. Theft makes up for 945 of these incidents, concentrated in the city center and commercial districts – namely, Folsom Junction and Natoma Station. However, crime rates per 100,000 people were 44% lower than the state average and 31% lower than the nation overall. A Safewise survey ranks it in the top 10 safest California cities, and the Folsom Police Department’s specialty programs engage the community. In collaboration with the Boy Scouts of America, the Explorer Program & Scholarship is designed to give students a working knowledge of law enforcement; Project Lifesaver assists people with disabilities by sending out a signal to nearby officers.
Folsom State Prison, made famous by singer Johnny Cash, operates in the northern part of the city, near the lake. More than 2,800 men and women are held at the medium-security prison, which has a museum for tourists to visit on weekends.
The city has no record of wildfires, but being in Central California, rare smoke from other parts of the state might drift into this community. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issues advisories for hazy skies. The city also experiences extreme heat, and in 2024, it had more than 30 days with temperatures reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot summers lead to mild winters with the average high temperatures in January and February ranging from 55 to 60. The city has not seen a measurable snowfall in nearly 50 years.
Shaun Alston earned the “Best of HomeLight Award” for his sales for being in the top 1% of agents in the area, by Homelight.com and he was also selected as one of the TOP 40 MOST Successful Realtors in Sacramento for three of the most coveted categories by HomeLight.com.
“I was pleasantly surprised to see myself topping the list. I could not have done it without my Clients support, thank you so much!”
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.
