Piedmont builds community in affluent Oakland enclave
Piedmont is a small city in the foothills of the Oakland Hills. Incorporated in 1907 to avoid annexation by the City of Oakland, it maintained its own identity and municipal structure while Oakland grew around it. “Piedmont has its own government services, fire and police. And it has its own school system,” says Realtor Deidre Joyner of Red Oak Realty, a longtime Oakland resident. "There are a lot of people that move here specifically for the schools." Community life is focused on its many parks, events and school activities. “There’s such a sense of neighborhood comradery,” says Anian Tunney, a Realtor with The Grubb Company and fifth-generation resident of Piedmont. “It’s very warm and inviting. You see kids walking to school with their backpacks in the morning. It’s just wonderful.”
Known early on as the “City of Millionaires,” Piedmont retains an air of affluence with large estates and mansions overlooking the Oakland cityscape and the San Francisco Bay. The city has worked to overcome a history of racial discrimination. One hundred years ago, its police chief was an active member of the Ku Klux Klan, and the first Black family to move in was forced out. Now that family has a park named after them, Dearing Park, with a memorial telling their story.
Piedmont residence enjoy amazing views of the entire bay area.
The views in Piedmont are million-dollar views.
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Unique estates from Central Piedmont to LaSalle neighborhoods
The median home price in Piedmont is $2.8 million, but a number of homes are priced at two or three times that level. Sales prices last year were up 12% from the previous year. Homes are typically on lots with custom landscaping. Many are gated or have tall hedgerows, stone walls or landscaped barriers along the street. There are Neoclassical residences, Mediterranean Revivals, Tudors, Monterey Revivals, and Craftsman homes, some of which were built before 1900, and others are recent additions.
The Central Piedmont neighborhood is woodsy, with tall pines and mature oaks. "We have very lush streets, and so many people have front or backyard gardens," says Tunney. "You should see the deer running down the street." The Upper Piedmont neighborhood on the northeastern edge has some classic architectural styles and some midcentury moderns. La Salle has hilly terrain, so many houses have panoramic views of Oakland and the San Francisco Bay.
Craftsman-style homes are found all over Piedmont.
Cute and charming homes adorn the streets of Piedmont.
Hilltop homes in Piedmont are quite luxurious.
Large Tudor Revival homes are found through out Piedmont.
Bay bungalow homes are found throughout the Piedmont neighborhood.
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Highly rated schools in the Piedmont Unified School District
Students attend schools in the Piedmont Unified School District, which is graded A-plus by Niche. In addition to being one of the top-ranked high schools in the Bay Area, Piedmont High is known for the Leonard J. Waxdeck Bird Calling Contest. Winners of the 50-year-old contest have appeared on national late night television shows.
Piedmont Park centers a community filled with green spaces
Public parks are woven into the fabric of the neighborhood with wooded trails, tennis courts, playgrounds and picnic areas. Piedmont Park has a playground wrapped around an ancient oak tree. Festivals, concerts and parades are held there throughout the year. Piedmont is bordered by Mountain View Cemetery, a sprawling burial ground designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the renowned landscape architect responsible for New York City’s Central Park. Its hilly topography and landscaped walkways make it a popular spot for picnics and walks. Sausal Creek is on the city's eastern border and includes the Dimond Canyon Trail, which runs alongside this creek, past a community garden and towards Dimond Park. The 1,800-acre Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is 4 miles down the Warren Freeway. For indoor events, the Piedmont Center for the Arts offers classical concerts, lectures and art exhibits.
Mulberry’s Market is a grocery store and gathering spot
There are few businesses within Piedmont—Mulberry’s Market is an exception. It serves as a gathering spot and a place to pick up groceries, sandwiches, and ice cream. Upscale dining, boutiques, vintage shops and entertainment are a short drive away in Oakland’s Grand Lake, Piedmont Avenue and Rockridge districts. A mile away is Montclair Egg Shop, a half-century-old diner known for its eggs Benedict and its model train displays. There are two Trader Joe’s grocery stores and a Safeway within 3 miles of the neighborhood.
Access to Bay Area destinations via Interstate 580 and BART
Piedmont is located about 2 miles from Interstate 580, which connects to San Francisco, about 12 miles west across the Bay Bridge. The city is served by Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District buses, and the nearest Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station is just north of Piedmont. Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, a 350-bed hospital with an emergency room, is two miles west of the community.
Sunny skies with a chance of earthquakes, varying crime rates
Piedmont shares Oakland’s well-known comfortable climate, with warm, sunny summers and mild winters. The city is at risk for earthquakes. According to FBI data, as reported by the Piedmont Police Department, the violent crime rate in the city increased by 43% from 2018 to 2023. The property crime rate increased by 129%.
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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.
