Suburban East Bay city between Walnut Creek and Martinez
In Contra Costa County, Pleasant Hill is more than actor Tom Hanks’ hometown. This small city of 35,000 residents is surrounded by regional parks and preserves, has a revitalized downtown and contains well-respected schools. It has views of Mt. Diablo and the Diablo Mountain Range 17 miles away and is within 45 miles of Napa and Sonoma Valleys. This bedroom community was built up in the 1920s after vineyards were removed during Prohibition and again in the 1950s as soldiers returned from WWII. “Pleasant Hill has a good mix of people who have been here for many years, as well as younger families with kids,” says Jill Cherne, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty with nearly 20 years of experience. “The walk factor here is huge — in the mornings and evenings, you can always find neighbors going for walks.”
The College Park neighborhood in Pleasant Hill offers many amenities along the boulevard.
College Park is full of dogs and their happy owners.
Crescent Bistro is a favorite meeting place for friends and business colleagues.
Enjoy handcrafted cocktails and a lively atmosphere at the bar at T'Zunun.
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A parks district, Briones Regional Park and an updated library
The Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District oversees 125 acres containing eight parks, multiple trails, an aquatics center and four community centers. Pleasant Oaks Park fills 11 acres with softball and soccer fields, a paved walking path and a playground. Paso Nogal Park has scenic hiking trails and a fenced 2.5-acre dog park. Rodgers-Smith Park packs a baseball field and courts for basketball, bocce and volleyball into 4.5 acres. Four miles west of the city, Briones Regional Park provides panoramic views of Mt. Diablo and the Sacramento River. Covering over 6,200 acres, the preserve’s rolling hills hold miles of multi-use trails, some of which pass through pastureland with grazing cattle. Pleasant Hill Library’s new building opened in 2022 and was designed to use natural light, has sound-absorbing panels and hosts hundreds of community events yearly.
The play structure at Rodgers-Smith Park is perfect for kids to explore and enjoy.
Discover a refreshing retreat at Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park.
Pleasant Hill is home to an active senior softball league that has games every weekend.
Rodgers-Smith Park in Pleasant Hill is the perfect spot for outdoor fun and relaxation.
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Diverse dining, Downtown Pleasant Hill and City Hall
Many of the city’s restaurants line Contra Costa Boulevard or sit in clusters along Oak Park Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road. The dining scene is extensive here, with an assortment of Latin and Asian eateries mixed with seafood restaurants. Downtown Pleasant Hill is becoming a regional destination for cafes, retailers and entertainment. Starting in 1988, the city began developing its downtown because the area hadn’t had a center of commerce before. The district opened in 2000 and has continued to evolve. It now has national retailers, big-box stores, a movie theater and townhouses next to City Hall. Regional supermarkets and smaller markets dot Pleasant Hill.
Enjoy some relaxation at Spavia Day Spa in Pleasanton, CA.
T'Zunun is a local favorite for vibrant dishes and a welcoming atmosphere.
Savor the bold and creative dishes that make T'Zunun stand out in Pleasant Hill.
xperience the heart of community governance at Pleasant Hill City Hall.
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Respected school districts, community colleges and National University
Mt. Diablo Unified School District operates over 50 campuses, enrolling nearly 29,000 students. It earned a B-plus-ranking from Niche, which also ranked it among the top 35 most diverse districts in California. Students from transitional kindergarten to eighth grade can participate in Spanish and English immersion courses while high school students can take dual enrollment classes to earn one college credit each year. The Pleasant Hill campus of Diablo Valley College has been serving the community for 75 years by awarding associate degrees and professional certificates. Plus, it works with city high schools to allow students to take multiple college courses. National University – Pleasant Hill offers over 200 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees.
National University empowers students with flexible, career-focused education.
Diablo Valley College offers pathways to success in academics and careers.
Viking Athletics inspires excellence and teamwork at Diablo Valley College.
Sequoia Middle School is a neighborhood school in Pleasant Hill.
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Sought-after neighborhoods in Diablo Valley’s competitive market
Pleasant Hill’s single-family homes, townhouses and multi-family buildings are as varied as the city’s topography. Neighborhoods like Poet’s Corner are easily walkable thanks to the flat land of the Diablo Valley, while others, like Valhalla, are hilly. Valhalla is home to Diablo Valley College and small ranch-style houses, and Oak Park is known for its contemporary-style 3,000-square-foot luxury homes. Over 90% of housing was built between 1940 and 1999, although new developments are being constructed throughout the city to meet this competitive market’s rising demand. Property prices rose around 5% over 2024, and homes sell for a median price of $1.1 million, nearly three times the national average of $400,000.
If you walk through Pleasant Hill you'll see many home-styles, and several are newer styles.
In Pleasant Hill you can find brand new multi-unit housing developments close to downtown.
Many of the homes in Pleasant Hill have large grassy lawns for families and children to enjoy.
Many of the homes in Pleasant Hill have built in garages.
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Interstate 680, a BART station and East Bay commutes
The city has bike lanes and sidewalks to make getting around town more straightforward, and a new pedestrian-focused infrastructure plan was approved in 2024 to expand the network. Interstate 680 and Highway 242 pass through Pleasant Hill before intersecting with Highway 24, which leads to Oakland and San Francisco. Noise can be significant along these major roads during heavy travel times. County Connection operates bus routes joining Pleasant Hill and towns throughout the area. Located at Contra Costa Centre, the Pleasant Hill BART Station connects travelers to the Antioch – San Francisco International Airport/Millbrae line. Commuters typically have a 32-minute one-way journey to Oakland and Bay Point, longer than the 27-minute national average. Oakland International Airport is 27 miles southwest.
Industry, employers and John Muir Health
Diverse industries, like retail trade, healthcare and civil service form Pleasant Hill’s economy. Some of its most prominent employers include Hospice East Bay, Samil Power, National University and Diablo Valley College. John Muir Health is the city’s primary healthcare provider, with a family medicine practice in Pleasant Hill and a hospital with an emergency department in nearby Concord.
Long summers, varying air quality and Pleasant Hill’s crime rates
Winters are short and rainy here, while summers are long and dry. The city gets 15 inches of rain annually and has 260 sunny days. Around 15 days each year, air pollution is so heavy in Pleasant Hill it can cause breathing problems in otherwise healthy individuals . Everyone is advised to wear masks during an air quality advisory.
Violent crime rates in the city are 16% below the national average, while property crime rates are 145% higher. Theft is the most often reported crime. Pleasant Hill is much more densely populated than most places in the nation, with 4,933 people per square mile as opposed to the national average of 91 people.
Dense populations and rising living costs often contribute to higher rates of crime.
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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.
