A suburb of Modesto, with Central Valley farming and Main Street shopping
Once known for its cantaloupes, Turlock is a city surrounded by Central Valley agriculture, which earned it the nickname “Heart of the Valley.” The town remains the home of the Turlock Fruit Company, one of the oldest cantaloupe farms in the country. Turlock maintains a small-town atmosphere thanks to its downtown, a walkable Main Street retail district. "When people think about California, they're typically thinking about the beach or a big city. Turlock is neither of those," says Realtor Matthew Cavanaugh of HomeSmart PV & Associates, who has about a decade of experience in the area. "In a town of about 70,000 people, you've got some pretty decent amenities, but you still have a town where you know a lot of people, so there's a connection there." The suburb of Modesto puts on community events for friends and neighbors, including the Stanislaus County Fair and the annual Christmas Parade.
Residents enjoy shopping downtown in The City of Turlock.
A large sign welcomes visitors to The City of Turlock.
The City of Turlock is a friendly city.
A bicyclist enjoys a ride down a quiet City of Turlock street.
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Main Street retail, the Turlock Town Center and more shopping on Geer Road
The geographic and retail centerpiece of the community is downtown Turlock, with about a dozen blocks of businesses along Main Street. The district offers boutique shopping, antique stores and local restaurants serving everything from French to Mexican food. Next door to Main Street, the Turlock Town Center offers strip mall retail, with a grocery store, chain restaurants and a pharmacy. Geer Road is a main thoroughfare with more shopping, located in the northern part of Turlock. It's home to Olde Tyme Pastries, a mainstay bakery that has been making custom cakes and pastries since 1981. The local favorite was even named California's best bakery in 2019. "I don't frequent there too often, just because it would not be good for my health, but it is very, very good," Cavanaugh says. "There are a lot of regulars who go in and spend a lot of time there.”
Stop into Olde Tyme Pastries for a made to order cake in The City of Turlock.
Olde Tyme Pastries is a favorite for fresh baked goods and more in The City of Turlock.
Relax outside with a coffee at La Mo Cafe in The City of Turlock.
Monte Vista Crossings is a retail hub in The City of Turlock near Highway 99.
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Events and attractions, including the Stanislaus County Fair
About a mile northwest of downtown, the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds & Event Center hosts the annual Stanislaus County Fair, which used to be called the Melon Carnival. In July, the 10-day extravaganza has concerts, farm animals and carnival rides. The fairgrounds also host the Assyrian Festival in September, with authentic food and Assyrian dance performances, celebrating the culture and heritage of approximately 20,000 Turlock residents. Downtown Turlock hosts events, including the annual Christmas Parade in December and the Turlock Certified Farmers Market, which features dozens of vendors every Saturday. In the heart of the city, Carnegie Arts Center is a gallery that has been around since 1979. It has a rotation of changing exhibits, plus art classes and events like the artisan market.
The City of Turlocks Watermelon Festival is a annual event.
The City of Turlocks Festival of Lights is one of the best events of the season.
Stanislaus County Fair is hosted by The City of Turlock.
The annual 4th of July is held in The City of Turlocks downtown area.
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Craftsman bungalows, ranch-style homes and contemporary houses in Turlock
Downtown Turlock has grid-style streets of early-1900s homes. Craftsman bungalows from the 1920s are priced at around $400,000. The city then expands into subdivisions of midcentury ranch-style homes, which cost about $500,000. The outer parts of Turlock have newer homes built from the 2000s through the 2020s, where a contemporary five-bedroom home can cost about $700,000. Surrounding the city is agricultural land, which is also available — the sales price for 10 acres is about $800,000. Turlock’s median sales price is $475,000, with homes on the market for an average of 32 days, less than the national average of 44 days. "The market is pretty good. Homes are moving pretty quickly, but it doesn't seem to be a frenzy anymore," Cavanaugh says.
There are a variety of home styles within the new home developments in The City of Turlock.
Colonial style homes can be found within The City of Turlock.
Turlock homes with river rock landscaping can be found in The City of Turlock.
The City of Turlock has several neighborhoods with classic Spanish style homes.
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Turlock Unified School District and California State University, Stanislaus
The community is served by the Turlock Unified School District, which has a B-plus rating on Niche. It also has an A in college prep and an A-minus in diversity. With approximately 13,000 students, the district’s student-teacher ratio is 22-to-1. For higher education, the city is home to California State University, Stanislaus, located about 2 miles north of downtown.
The City of Turlock Dennis Earl Elementary sits within a quiet neighborhood.
The City of Turlock Dutcher Middle School is a great public school option.
Pitman High is a great school in The City of Turlock.
California State University in The City of Turlock is where students go for higher learning.
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24 parks, including Donnelly Park and Crane Park
With 24 community parks, Turlock gives its residents access to a wide range of outdoor recreation. The city’s most popular park is 10-acre Donnelly Park, located in the middle of town. Featuring a duck pond, it’s the go-to spot for relaxing walks under the shade of hundreds of trees. The park also has a skate park, two playground areas and three reservable picnic pavilions. On the western side of Turlock, Crane Park offers tennis courts, horseshoe pits and many shaded picnic tables, making it a popular place to host barbecues and parties. Those sensitive to high temperatures or air quality should be careful when spending time outside because the city has a severe heat factor and an extreme air quality risk.
Enjoy the skate park at at Donnelly Park in The City of Turlock.
Spend time in nature at Donnelly Park in The City of Turlock.
Ducks enjoy the lake at Donnelly Park in The City of Turlock.
The Calafia Statue stands at the entrance to Downtown in The City of Turlock.
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Commutes to Modesto and Merced via state Route 99
Most of Turlock’s residents commute to work. The city is about 15 miles away from Modesto to the north via state Route 99. The same route can take locals to Merced, about 25 miles away to the south. Some residents work in the city itself at large employers, including Foster Farms, Emanuel Medical Center and Turlock Unified School District. For public transportation, there are Turlock Transit bus stops throughout the community. The closest major airport, the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, is about 85 miles away.
Crime rates and the Turlock Police Department
In 2023, Turlock averaged a violent crime rate of about 105 incidents each month per 100,000 residents, compared to 104 in broader California and around 113 in the United States. Incidents of property crime happened at a rate of 185 each month per 100,000 residents, compared to 197 in broader California and around 163 nationally. The Turlock Police Department’s programs include the Neighborhood Resource Officer Program, which has an officer assigned to a specific part of the city to learn more about that community’s crime trends.
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.
