Located in California’s East Bay, San Leandro is a coastal city with more to offer than scenic views. “It’s a very family-based area in a nice location along the water with a cute downtown,” says Rudy Gonzales, a local Realtor with Red Oak Realty, who has lived in the East Bay area for over 20 years. “They have more of a community-mindset here, with a lot of hardworking people that can get a good buy for their homes.” The population of 87,000 enjoys good schools and plenty of outdoor activities. Just 10 miles from Oakland and 22 miles from San Francisco, many San Leandro residents commute into larger cities for work while enjoying the perks of a smaller area. However, there are plenty of employment opportunities right in San Leandro. The city is home to a Coca-Cola plant, Ghirardelli and OSIsoft, all of which are major employers that help boost the community. “San Leandro tends to have a steadier economy with less ups and downs than other cities in the Bay Area, so that’s a big draw,” Gonzalez says. While there are no sandy beaches, the western edge of the city provides views of the San Francisco Bay. To the east, the San Leandro Hills provide an area for hikers and mountain bikers to take in Northern California’s natural beauty.
Marina Faire is known for its proximity to San Francisco Bay and the scenic Marina Park.
OSIsoft in San Leandro blends career opportunity with easy access to Bay Area amenities.
The Coca-Cola plant in San Leandro offers steady career paths close to home.
Ghirardelli Chocolate proudly manufactured in Lower Bal, Sana Leandro for over 165 years.
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Housing prices on the rise and early 20th century homes
The median price for a single-family home in San Leandro is $869,500, about 5% lower than the state average and roughly 43% higher than the U.S. average. The median price has seen a 30% increase over the past five years, and while that pace has slowed, housing prices have still appreciated 7% over the past three years. Much of the residential areas are located on the northern and southern ends of the city, while the coastline is occupied by golf courses and marinas, and the center of the town is the major retail and dining district. Some of the most desirable areas are the Bay O-Vista neighborhood, which is on the city's eastern edge and backs up to Lake Chabot and Chabot Park. Other prominent neighborhoods include Estudillo Estates, known for its unique housing landscape of early 20th-century homes. “The homes in Estudillo Estates have a really nice charm to them,” Gonzalez says. “You’ll see a lot of Spanish Revival and Tudor types here.” Other common housing styles throughout the city include traditional ranch-styles and colorful California bungalows. Another neighborhood, Heron Bay, is an exclusive golf course community near the bay, with homes priced over $1.25 million. Current listing prices throughout the city range from $365,000 for a one-bedroom condo downtown to $1.8 million for a custom-built property with sweeping backyard views of the San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge.
Almost 40 percent of homes in San Leandro were built between 1940 and 1960. Some of the city’s neighborhoods, including Farrelly Pond and Broadmoor, feature design elements typical of the City Beautiful movement of the early 1900s. This movement emphasized the development of winding streets, manicured open spaces, gracious street trees and large front lawns.
Residents of Heron Bay enjoy instant access to a variety of outdoor activities.
Homes are landscaped, and yards have tall pine trees in Farrelly Pond District.
Estudillo Estates-Glen is known for its well-preserved early 20th-century homes.
Bay-O-Vista is known for its well-maintained properties and scenic views.
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Above average public schools with strong athletics
The San Leandro Unified School District is smaller than many others in the Bay Area, with just 12 total schools. The district received an overall B rating from Niche and an A-minus in college prep. In addition, Niche gave the district an A-plus in diversity and named it the 8th most diverse district in California. San Leandro High is the only high school, it has earned a B rating from Niche and is named a Bay Area Standout school. The athletics department is highly ranked by Niche, and alumni have gone on to play professional baseball, soccer, basketball and football.
San Leandro High School is known for the only comprehensive high school in the San Leandro.
Bancroft Middle School provides a comprehensive program that supports all learners.
Halkin Elementary provides dual language immersion program for their San Leandro students.
Jefferson Elementary School is one of the top elementary schools in San Leandro.
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Award-winning local dining, shopping, events and festivals
While there are other shopping districts in San Leandro, most unique boutique stores are in the downtown district. The downtown area is home to over 65 unique restaurants, many of which are locally owned eateries with a diverse mix of cuisines. Breweries, Japanese eateries, and diners line the pedestrian-packed sidewalks. Toy shops, flower shops and specialty markets are joined by other quaint shops. Some highly rated downtown restaurants include Paradiso, a fine Italian dining establishment that was awarded the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for 2024. Top Hatters Kitchen and Bar is another award-winning spot, making the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top Restaurant List from 2021-2024, along with Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. The San Leandro Farmers Market is a huge draw to the city, taking place from April to October in front of the San Leandro Main Library. It features fresh produce, local artisan goods and live music. For more extensive shopping outside of downtown, there’s the Marina Square Center. It’s one of the top shopping outlets in the area and includes nationally known stores like Nordstrom Rack, Nike Outlet and a Gap Factory Outlet Store.
The Historic Bal Theatre is a significant historical art and entertainment asset to the community. It was built in 1945 as a modern art deco, 800-seat community-based movie palace and performing arts center. Now, along with classic films, it hosts lectures and fund-raisers. Another prominent cultural establishment is the San Leandro Performing Arts Center. This 552-seat, state-of-the-art theatre hosts numerous performances throughout the year, including plays, ballets and concerts. Downtown is home to the community’s annual events, including the famous San Leandro Cherry Festival. First held in 1909, the Cherry Festival celebrates the city with a parade, live entertainment, and, of course, a cherry pie eating contest. Downtown also hosts holiday parades, an Oktoberfest and artisan markets throughout the year.
Enjoy beer tasting, live music at the Oktoberfest in Old San Leandro.
The parade is the fun part of the San Leandro Cherry Festival.
All produce from San Leandro Bayfair Farmers' Market are grown in California.
BAL Theatre’s timeless appeal makes it a San Leandro treasure for film and live events.
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Golfing and shoreline hiking in the East Bay
San Leandro has plenty of opportunities to explore the outdoors, with 23 parks and recreation facilities. One such park is Marina Park, located on San Leandro’s shoreline. The 30-acre park has playground areas, open space and a walking trail along the water. The park also features a city-sponsored par 3 golf course. Another popular park is the Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline. Just to the south is Monarch Bay Golf Club, which has a pair of championship courses with views of the Bay. The marina provides easy access for locals who want to get their boats or kayaks out on the water. Just outside the city is Lake Chabot and Lake Chabot Regional Park, which offers excellent fishing, biking trails and even more golf courses.
Marina Faire golfers at Monarch Bay can enjoy picturesque views of the San Francisco Bay.
Residents of East Castro Valley have easy access to the Lake Chabot bicycle loops.
Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline offers scenic fishing spot and Bay views in San Leandro.
From ice-cream to scenic trails, Marina Park has it all.
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Mild weather and crime near the state average
San Leandro mostly experiences a dry, warm climate with a short, cool, wet winter. In the warm season, the weather averages a low of 54 degrees and a high of 71 degrees. In the cooler seasons, the temperature averages are a low of 44°F and a high of 57°F. Approximately 33 days of the year are expected to be hotter than 80 degrees, which gives San Leandro a moderate heat index factor.
Violent crime rates are just under the California average but have seen a slow and steady decline in San Leandro. Since 2017, violent crime reports have decreased by 5%. On the flip side, property-related crime has seen a 19% increase over the past decade and is slightly higher than the state and national averages. The city has neighborhood watch programs and uses Nixle 360, a service that allows residents to report a crime in real-time via text messages, email and phone calls.
Major highways and light rail options
The San Leandro BART Station is a prominent public transportation option, offering light rail routes to all of the Bay Area’s major locations. The Almeda County Transit bus system also serves the city and has stops throughout San Leandro. Multiple major highways in the area make travel to larger cities convenient. Interstate 880 leads to Oakland, 10 miles away, while Interstate 80 leads to San Francisco, 22 miles away. However, I-80 is known to have high traffic, so driving into San Francisco can take as much as an hour. For both domestic and international flights, the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport is conveniently just five miles away. The Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center is the largest hospital in the city, located on the eastern side of San Leandro, a few miles from downtown. The hospital was awarded America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Surgical Excellence Award™ in 2022 and 2023 by Healthgrades.
The future of San Leandro
The city is working hard on ways to improve the quality of life for the citizens of San Leandro in the future. Planners have developed the San Leandro Next initiative, which will create business development and opportunities. San Leandro is committed to becoming a smart city that uses high-speed internet technology and connectivity to improve education, public health and transportation. Plans are in place to create more parking availability near the downtown district and widen the roads to prevent bottleneck traffic. Another initiative will turn currently unused waterfront property into a lively center for locals to gather. The shoreline will see housing, entertainment and dining options sprout up near the marina. The 500,000-square-foot San Leandro Tech Campus is currently near completion and will bring hundreds of jobs into the area.
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.
