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Downtown Fresno

Downtown Fresno

Suburban Neighborhood in Fresno, California

Fresno County 93706, 93721

$245,926 Average Value
$224 Average Price per Sq Ft
14 Homes For Sale

Residential affordability and access to amenities in the heart of Central California

Downtown Fresno is a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood that offers an appealing blend of convenience and affordability in the heart of Central California’s largest city. Residential areas featuring a variety of attractively priced homes surround a buzzy core of amenities that includes eateries, entertainment venues and parks. “Like most downtowns, urban sprawl has taken a lot of people away from the area, but there’s been a lot of rejuvenation and renovation of businesses recently,” says Guarantee Real Estate’s Mark Pretzer, who grew up in the city. “There’s been a lot of growth. Things have really been improving.” Culturally vibrant as well, the neighborhood features the historic sections of Chinatown, Germantown and Little Italy, as well as the Mural District, whose buildings are splashed with eye-catching art.

A colorful mural depicts superheros near Community Regional Medical Center in Downtown Fresno.
A colorful mural depicts superheros near Community Regional Medical Center in Downtown Fresno.
Three Downtown Fresno friends enjoy catching up at the Cultural Arts District Park.
Three Downtown Fresno friends enjoy catching up at the Cultural Arts District Park.
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Housing typically ranges from the mid-$100,000s to the low $300,000s

Organized primarily on a grid of straight, sidewalk-lined streets, the neighborhood includes some of the city’s most walkable districts, which are dotted with a diverse mix of housing. Homes built throughout the 20th century and into the early 2000s are typically priced from the mid-$100,000s to the low $300,000s, although new renovations of established homes can list for as much the mid-$400,000s. Cozy bungalow-style homes with Craftsman features are prominent, while midcentury ranch-style homes also can be found. Spanish architectural stylings stand out on homes and condominiums, which start in the mid-$100,000s. “We’re in the Central Valley, the agricultural belt, and the growth part of the state has always been the Bay Area and along the coast,” Pretzer says. “But the neatest thing about Fresno is that it is one of the most affordable areas in California, and we’re seeing a big influx of people from the Bay Area and even Sacramento, the capital.”

Downtown Fresno features many homes built in the early to mid part of the last century.
Downtown Fresno features many homes built in the early to mid part of the last century.
This Germantown home in Downtown Fresno has plenty of yard space.
This Germantown home in Downtown Fresno has plenty of yard space.
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Fulton Street and surrounding areas feature retail, dining and entertainment options

The neighborhood’s layout makes it easy for residents to enjoy all the nearby amenities. The centrally located Fulton Street has been the center of activity for decades. Once a state-of-the-art pedestrian mall, the area was reopened to car traffic in 2017 and is now the neighborhood’s primary retail, dining and entertainment corridor. “They’ve deconstructed it back to a street,” Pretzer says with a laugh. An array of boutique businesses, heavy on clothing stores, is surrounded by popular eateries. Libelula emphasizes locally-sourced ingredients and is known for eclectic specialties such as their massive cinnamon rolls and curried fried chicken tacos for lunch. Cornerstone Coffee Company and Fulton Street Coffee offer relaxing places to enjoy a quick bite and a cup of joe. Quail State is a farm-to-table restaurant that features a rooftop bar. Other nightlife options include Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden and Full Circle Brewing Co., both local microbreweries. Full Circle also features regular musical and other artistic performances. “They’ve added a lot of small businesses and things like pub walks,” Pretzer says. “The city is trying to get more interest in that area, and it’s attracting younger people who are more involved with that kind of stuff.” The amenities don’t end there, as the 10,000-plus-seat Chukchansi Park is home to the Fresno Grizzlies, a minor-league affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies. The facility also hosts multiple non-sporting events throughout the year, including the Taco Truck Throwdown in the fall. Residents can catch a movie at the Historic Crest Theatre adjacent to Libelula or enjoy a concert at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center just blocks away. Residents can stock up on essentials at the full-service Foodmaxx in the Kearney Palms Shopping Center on the neighborhood’s west side. The mall is catty-corner from Chinatown, which offers a collection of ethnic eateries and popular local spots such as Grandma Jane’s Kitchen. “Chinatown in Fresno has a fascinating history, with tunnels underneath it, and the city is actually putting a lot into renovating that area as well,” Pretzer says. Improvements include more trees, sidewalk upgrades and added lighting. There also are discussions of funding the return of guided tunnel tours.

Downtown Fresno commuters enjoy getting their Fulton Street Coffee on the way to work.
Downtown Fresno commuters enjoy getting their Fulton Street Coffee on the way to work.
La Torta is just one of many restaurants at The Galleria in Downtown Fresno.
La Torta is just one of many restaurants at The Galleria in Downtown Fresno.
Friends meet up for drinks out on the deck of Quail State in Downtown Fresno.
Friends meet up for drinks out on the deck of Quail State in Downtown Fresno.
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Neighborhood parks, regional attractions provide myriad recreational opportunities

Traditional parks are concentrated on the neighborhood’s west side. The largest green space is Fink-White Park, which features a playground, basketball courts, athletic fields and is home to the Fink-White Neighborhood Center, which offers an assortment of classes, programs and social activities. A pool and indoor gymnasium highlight the amenities at Frank H. Ball Park. Kearney Triangle Park is a convenient urban green space with a full playground. The neighborhood’s newest recreational space is Cultural Arts Park, a small urban park graced by art installations in the Mural District. Outdoor recreation is available year-round, as the Central Valley is not subject to the extreme weather of many other inland areas. “What people don’t realize about Fresno is that the weather is great,” says Pretzer. “It can get a little hot in the summer, but you don’t get freezing cold in the winter.” Much of the area surrounding the city consists of open spaces and attractions such as Sequoia National Park. “In less than an hour, you can be at 5,500 feet of elevation, so you can go snow skiing,” Pretzer says. “There’s also boating and fishing and all kinds of outdoor sports. People don’t know about the vicinity we have to all those activities.”

Stretch your legs at the scenic Courthouse Park in Downtown Fresno.
Stretch your legs at the scenic Courthouse Park in Downtown Fresno.
The Cultural Arts District Park in Downtown Fresno is great for children and families.
The Cultural Arts District Park in Downtown Fresno is great for children and families.
Kearney Triangle Park is a great place for kids to play in Downtown Fresno.
Kearney Triangle Park is a great place for kids to play in Downtown Fresno.
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Neighborhood elementary and nearby high school earn top marks

The neighborhood’s youngest students have access to a pair of elementary schools and a K-8 charter school. Lincoln Elementary is A-rated and Columbia Elementary is C-rated. Kepler Neighborhood School is C-minus-rated. Columbia is one of the sites of the “Saturday Sports” program hosted by the Fresno-area group Every Neighborhood Partnership. The group pools together community partners in an effort to support students’ development. Saturday Sports takes place over two hours and features games, arts and crafts and other activities. Older students can attend Rutherford B. Gaston Middle, a C-rated school, and Edison High, an A-minus-rated school that features almost four dozen clubs, spanning subjects from creative writing to robotics.

Students living in Downtown Fresno may attend Lincoln Elementary School.
Students living in Downtown Fresno may attend Lincoln Elementary School.
Big Picture High School's Downtown Fresno campus offers an alternative charter school option.
Big Picture High School's Downtown Fresno campus offers an alternative charter school option.
Columbia Elementary School is located within Downtown Fresno's Little Italy.
Columbia Elementary School is located within Downtown Fresno's Little Italy.
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Easy access to travel by foot, bus or car; commuter rail station coming soon

Residents who work downtown have the luxury of walking to work if they so choose. Otherwise, bus stops are concentrated on several streets throughout the neighborhood, providing quick and easy travel in and around the area. The neighborhood also offers access to three state highways. The Golden State Highway runs right through the neighborhood, while the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Freeway intersects with the Golden State Highway in the neighborhood’s northwest corner and the Yosemite Freeway forms much of the neighborhood’s east side. Downtown Fresno also will be the center of the city’s first light-rail commuter train service. Construction is slated to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2028.

Downtown Fresno residents can catch the Fresno Area Transit bus at several locations.
Downtown Fresno residents can catch the Fresno Area Transit bus at several locations.
Residents who live and work in Downtown Fresno enjoy convenient commutes.
Residents who live and work in Downtown Fresno enjoy convenient commutes.
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Crime

The CAP Index rates the neighborhood a 10-out-of-10, signifying a high crime area. However, Police Chief Paco Balderrama says that less than 4% of the city’s crime occurred downtown in the previous year. He also reported that crime across all categories in the city is down 8%. Business burglaries, a category pertinent to downtown, saw a significant drop, decreasing 46%.

Matt Pallister
Written By
Matt Pallister
Mark Huddleston
Photography Contributed By
Mark Huddleston
Tyler Hall
Video By
Tyler Hall

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Isabel Alvarado, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Fresno Yosemite International

12 min drive

Bus

SE Fresno - Pottle

Bus

NW Merced - M St

Bus

NE Trinity - Kearney

Bus

NE Amador - Fulton

Bus

NE Van Ness - Tuolumne

Bus

NE Van Ness - Kern

Bus

Fresno St Station

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Downtown Fresno US
Homicide 9 4
Sexual Assault 9 4
Assault with Weapon 10 4
Robbery 10 4
Burglary 10 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 10 4
Larceny 10 4
Crime Score 10 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$250,000
Median Single Family Price
$275,750
Median Townhouse Price
$468,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$195,000
Median 1 Bedroom Price
$170,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$224
Number of Homes for Sale
14
Last 12 months Home Sales
83
Months of Supply
2.00
Median List Price
$264,950
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
28%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,307
Median Year Built
1948
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,188
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,677
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,157
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
696
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,405

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Isabel Alvarado, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
13,365
Median Age
35
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
24.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10.3%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$27,648
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$47,675

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
62.7%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
9.7%
Advanced Degrees
3%
% Population in Labor Force
39.1%
Significantly below the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
10''
Average Winter Low Temperature
40°F
Average Summer High Temperature
97°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

65 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

71 / 100

Good Transit

Transit Score®

50 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Downtown Fresno