Aurora, one of Modesto's most storied neighborhoods, is a short walk from illustrious retail districts and expansive community green spaces like Graceada Park. In 1907, the Women's Improvement Club developed Graceada Park, the oldest park in the city. The two men who funded its construction named the site after their wives, Grace and Ada.
Stone walkways lead to the front doorstep of Tudor-inspired cottages. Close to downtown, these homes make Aurora feel like a storybook village with whimsical gardens. Ivy-covered walls and fences offer seclusion as the sun sets on these city dwellings. Flower gardens and shrubs flank the brick property paths, while oak and pine trees shade the cul-de-sacs. Aurora also features architectural styles like Colonial Revivals, Spanish Revivals, craftsman bungalows and remodeled midcentury styles. Homes typically range from $350,000 to $900,000. Private five-bedroom homes with in-ground pools can cost as much as $1.2 million. A three-bedroom cottage can be sold for between $450,000 and $750,000, while a house with four or more bedrooms can cost between $550,000 and $900,000. "The area developed from downtown as the city was growing north. Aurora is an old subdivision name from when those neighborhoods were originally built. As the city expanded, you had more neighborhoods with historic homes," says Catrina Girard, a Modesto native who has lived north of downtown her whole life and a Real Estate Agent at The Girard Group. "Modesto remains a centralized place in northern California with a lot to offer. This is just a growing agricultural community with family-based values and a long history."
Needham Street separates the acclaimed entertainment venues and upscale restaurants from Aurora. The State Theatre is a vintage cinema built in the 1930s. Artists perform on the checkered stage at the Prospect Theater Project, a local theater company on K Street. The Gallo Arts Center hosts symphonic performances, off-Broadway shows and musical performances on I Street, only a mile south. Camp 4 Wine Café has charcuterie boards on display with paninis and craft beer in a rustic and industrial-looking pub. TNK Vegan Café serves smoothies, tea and Chinese food with patio seating in the California sun. Locals can pick up groceries at the O'Brien's Market, a family owned supermarket on Roseburg Avenue. Smart & Final Extra! is a warehouse supermarket on H Street.
Roseburg Square, a market-style plaza on Roseburg Avenue, provides yoga studios, fitness centers and frozen yogurt shops in a hidden retail hub, which was previously a 1970s petting zoo. Aurora's eastern border, McHenry Avenue, offers a commercial district teeming with supermarkets, clothing stores and restaurants only a mile north at the McHenry Village Shopping Center.
Concert in the Park is one of Modesto's oldest traditions, with live music on the lawn of Graceada Park every Thursday evening in the summer. In August, the Modstock Music Festival hosts 80 bands across four stages in Graceada Park. At Porchfest, over 120 bands play in different neighborhoods on the porches of bungalows as the community gathers around in support. The American Graffiti Festival & Car Show is the year's biggest event by far. Classic cars cruise from 10th Street to McHenry Avenue in a weekend-long festival, which features food vendors and live music on the campus of Modesto Junior College.
The Modesto City Elementary School and Modesto City School Districts serve students in Modesto. Kids can start school at Enslen Elementary, which earns a C-plus overall grade from Niche and provides before and after-school activities through the Expanded Learning Plan. Seventh-grade students can move on to Roosevelt Junior High School, which has a C grade and offers free tutoring four days a week in a designated classroom. Grace M. Davis High receives a B-minus grade, where students can earn transferable college credit through dual enrollment at Modesto Junior College, less than a mile away on College Avenue.
Three city parks connect at the south end of Aurora. At Graceada Park, tennis and pickleball courts await in a popular green space with tall trees around a community pool and splash pad for cooling off on a hot summer day. Live music takes the stage at the Mancini Bowl, an amphitheater with concerts on the lawn during the summer. Elk Park has everything a furry companion needs, with doggie water fountains and large shade trees in a bed of wood chips. In Enslen Park, little league teams play at Jeremy Affeldt Baseball Field, and Boy Scout troops have meetings at the clubhouse. Residents can also traverse the Virginia Corridor Trail, a four-mile paved greenway for biking or jogging, and it connects some of the nearby pocket parks.
Aurora is a walkable and bike-friendly neighborhood with public transportation options. Six bus stops for the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority (StanRTA) system are located along Orangeburg Avenue, and four more are scattered around Roseburg and College Avenue. Less than 2 miles from Downtown Modesto, Aurora is 30 miles south of Stockton and 74 miles south of Sacramento. State Route 99, the “Golden State Highway,” takes traffic north to both cities. Residents can reach a new destination by hopping on a plane at the Sacramento International Airport, 88 miles north. San Francisco is only 90 miles west on state Route 132.
Steven Parks
Beverly and Company, Inc.
(209) 353-3547
88 Total Sales
1 in Aurora
$601,100 Price
Daniel Grant
(707) 244-7217
9 Total Sales
1 in Aurora
$430,000 Price
Aaron Unger
Simplified Realty
(209) 255-5824
37 Total Sales
1 in Aurora
$384,895 Price
Jessica Barrios
Barrios Realty Consultants
(209) 566-0846
117 Total Sales
2 in Aurora
$555K - $630K Price Range
Kristopher Losole
PMZ Real Estate
(209) 719-3737
116 Total Sales
3 in Aurora
$320K - $490K Price Range
Walter Garrett
eXp Realty of California Inc.
(209) 638-7741
25 Total Sales
1 in Aurora
$410,000 Price
On average, homes in Aurora, Modesto sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Aurora, Modesto over the last 12 months is $530,000, down 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
$815,000
Discover the character and charm of 685 Geer Ct a beautifully designed midcentury contemporary home tucked away on a quiet court in the highly desirable College Area. With 2,610 sq. ft. of living space, this spacious home offers 4 to 5 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, and a half bath perfect for flexible living and entertaining. Clean architectural lines, large windows, and an open layout
$649,901
Brand new build, paid solar and Anderson Windows! This beautifully crafted 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath residence offering over 2,000 sq. ft. of thoughtfully designed living space. Blending traditional charm with modern updates, this home features 9-foot ceilings throughout, a bright and open floor plan, and a beautiful kitchen with a centerpiece island that is inviting. Nestled in a highly sought-after
Jairo Aguilar CA Real Estate Services INC.
$519,000
Welcome to this captivating and fully remodeled 1925 Craftsman charm with modern, high-end updates. Located in the highly sought-after Graceada Park area, this residence has been meticulously transformed! Step inside and be greeted by an open and airy floor plan with brand-new luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout. The spacious living and dining area is a true showstopper, featuring a striking
Claudia Valencia LPT Realty, Inc.
$775,000
Nestled in one of Modesto's most prestigious neighborhoods, 944 Brady Avenue is a stunningly updated residence that blends timeless elegance with modern sophistication. From the moment you arrive, you'll be captivated by the home's fresh stucco color coat and meticulously landscaped grounds, designed to evoke a serene, park-like ambiance. Step inside to discover a beautifully reimagined interior
$675,000
Charming Turn-of-the-Century Home in the Heart of Old Modesto Step into timeless elegance with this beautifully preserved turn-of-the-century home, perfectly situated in the heart of old Modesto. Blending historic character with modern conveniences, this home features a newly updated kitchen and baths, indoor laundry, and generous living spaces. The primary bedroom and bath are conveniently
Michael Kelly RE/MAX Executive
$1,199,900
A Classic home with Contemporary touches. Charming, comfortable and cozy. A place to entertain, a home to relax in, a get-away to live in. Walk to schools, markets, downtown, dining and parks. This Modesto Treasure has passed from Father to Son to Daughter. Each generation has loved, modernized and maintained this neighborhood beauty. With over 3,500 sf of living space plus a finished basement on
Zach Girard Valley Sotheby's International Realty
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Mix of urban and rural living between an artsy downtown and rural farmland
