Vallejo overlooks the northwest part of San Pablo Bay, about 30 miles from the heart of San Francisco. Here, homeowners enjoy rare affordability in the Bay Area, families have fun at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and sailors participate in the annual Great Vallejo Boat Race. The city may be known for notorious reasons, like the 1969 Zodiac Killer murders, going bankrupt in 2008 or manufacturing ballistic missiles during World War II. But Vallejo’s history reflects a strong work ethic and its future points toward promising new developments. The Mare Island Shipyard brought tens of thousands of workers to Vallejo, peaking at about 50,000 in 1945 to repair ships and submarines. When the Navy shut down operations in 1996, the city struggled to find its footing, coming out of bankruptcy in 2011. “We have homeless problems, school problems and policing problems,” says Noble Griswold, Broker at Realty World and Vallejo resident of the past 40 years.
Still, “What’s really good about Vallejo is the diversity,” says Albert Acosta, assistant coach at Jesse Bethel High School and Vallejo resident since 1978. The 2020 census reflects an even mix of Hispanic, Asian, White and Black/African American populations. Residents may commute to work around the Bay Area or find work at Petrochem Insulation, a construction company and one of the city’s largest employers. Locals are united in their appreciation of the San Francisco Bay Ferry, which connects Vallejo directly to downtown San Francisco, bypassing Interstate traffic. Going forward, there is talk of completing a wine train to Napa; the tracks are already laid. And the Mare Island Site Specific Plan lays out phases of development for the coastal Vallejo community across the Napa River. Pending approval, more mixed-used buildings, single-family homes and jobs will come to the island over the next two decades.
Six Flags Amusement Park provides endless entertainment for residents in Vallejo.
Enjoy the many festivals and attractions on the Vallejo waterfront as well as the ferry.
Enjoy beautiful murals around Vallejo that celebrate a great city.
Alden Park in Vallejo on Mare Island features a Naval missile.
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A day at Six Flags and a night at the theater
Locals and tourists flock to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for its roller coasters and zoo with land and aquatic animals. The Empress Theatre built downtown in 1911 puts on various live performances. History buffs can check out the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum next door. For more than 30 years, the Philippine Cultural Committee of Vallejo has organized the annual Pista Sa Nayon Festival; this event commemorating Philippines Independence Day draws thousands each year to celebrate Filipino cuisine, history and arts. The Saturday Vallejo Farmers’ Market attracts crowds – rain or shine – to downtown for fresh produce and locally made goods.
Some of the Bay Area’s most affordable homes
Vallejo is a rare Bay Area locale where buyers can find homes under $500,000. This is $50,000 under the average national home value and about $115,000 under the Vallejo-Fairfield metro area average. “You can buy a house for half a million that’s half decent; that’s the real benefit as to why people live here,” Griswold says. Neighborhoods such as the St. Vincent’s Historic District have examples of early 20th century Queen Anne and Italianate homes. Vallejo has a bounty of homes built between the 1930s and the 1980s in need of renovations. Prices rise in neighborhoods like Hiddenbrooke, Glen Cove and Northgate because of their luxury gated subdivisions. Interest in Vallejo will likely continue to grow as San Francisco commuters are priced out of other parts of the Bay Area. Potential homeowners looking in Vallejo might also consider Benicia, the neighboring city; however, “Water is cheaper in Vallejo than in Benicia,” Griswold says. “In a drought, there may be a state mandate, but Vallejo won’t restrict water usage – even for watering your lawn.”
Homes in Vallejo are filled with personality and surrounded by nature.
Adobe style homes sit on the Vallejo hillsides with art deco architectural details.
Hiddenbrooke homes in Vallejo look out on the natural beauty of the manicured golf greens.
A row of modern Italianate influenced homes create a quaint feeling in Vallejo.
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Freeways and ferry rides to San Francisco
Vallejo’s most beloved public transit option is the ferry to San Francisco. Commuters gather at the Vallejo ferry terminal in the morning and ride for an hour to downtown. While the San Francisco Ferry does not transport cars, it is convenient for baseball fans to catch the Giants playing at Oracle Park.
Interstates 80 and 780 run through Vallejo. Driving south, Oakland International Airport is 36 miles away, and San Francisco International Airport is 43 miles away. When driving to the airport, travelers should budget extra time for traffic near the tolls on I-80. Even though the drive-through tolls provide invoiced fees, the bottlenecked highway results in ten lanes of standstill traffic at rush hour. Solano County Transit has limited bus routes, but newly-acquired state funds will go towards renovating the Sereno Transit Center in Vallejo to add shade and seating.
The Great Vallejo Boat Race and other city-wide recreation
Vallejo offers waterfront recreation, community parks and nature preserves within city limits. Sailors can join hundreds of boats in the annual Great Vallejo Boat Race, hosted by the Vallejo Yacht Club and dock at the Glen Cove Marina. Glen Cove’s public pickleball courts attract enthusiastic, intergenerational players. The Bay Area Ridge Trail stretches along the Carquinez Strait, connecting Glen Cove Waterfront Park to the neighboring city of Benicia. Peacocks roam Blue Rock Springs Park, directly across from Blue Rock Springs Golf Course. The Greater Vallejo Recreation District offers sports leagues and classes for swimming, martial arts and more.
Vallejo weather is generally stable and pleasant; however, summers see triple digits and late fall brings rain. Waterfront neighborhoods like Glen Cove and Mare Island benefit from coastal breezes. Like the rest of the Bay Area, Vallejo is at risk of earthquakes and poor air quality days, but locals are not affected by this on a daily basis. Medical care and emergency services are concentrated between Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center and Sutter Solano Medical Center, located next to each other in the north-central part of the city.
The Vallejo Yacht Club is a great place to race sailboats in Vallejo.
Blue Rock Springs Park offers a great playground for families to enjoy in Vallejo.
Being right on the shoreline, Glen Cove offers residents plenty of boat storage in Vallejo.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center is conveniently located in Vallejo.
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Chain restaurants and big box stores at Gateway Plaza
In the northwest part of Vallejo, Gateway Plaza has the city’s largest collection of chain restaurants, stores and car dealerships. Vallejo’s dining scene is casual and diverse; options include Mexican, Vietnamese, Filipino, soul food and more. Meanwhile, fine dining and wine tastings abound in Napa, less than 15 miles north of Vallejo. Downtown Vallejo businesses include cafés and boutiques which tend to close early, so those looking for bustling nightlife may need to venture outside the city.
Gateway Plaza is the largest shopping mall in Vallejo.
Vallejo offers several car dealerships to choose from.
Vallejo has plenty of local shops and restaurants to eat at.
Pho Vallejo is a local hot spot for Vallejo neighbors.
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Improved attendance at Vallejo public schools
Vallejo City Unified School District is rated C-minus on Niche. “Public schools are below average; that’s the reality of it,” Griswold says. St. Patrick-St. Vincent Catholic High School offers an A-rated private option. One of the most significant challenges for the public school district has been high rates of chronic absenteeism, which was nearly 60% during the 2021-2022 school year. In 2023, the district announced its goal of reaching 95% attendance within three years. As of November 2024, the absentee rate has dropped to 27.5%.
Dan Mini Elementary School is colorful and inviting Vallejo public school.
Saint Vincent Ferrer School offers a historic campus in the heart of Vallejo.
Hogan Middle School is proud of it's mascot on display for all of Vallejo to see.
Vallejo students can choose to attend the private St Patrick-St Vincent High School.
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The troubled Vallejo Police Department
Vallejo has consistently higher property crime rates than state and national levels. “There are misdemeanors in Vallejo,” Griswold says. “Shoplifting is bad, auto break-ins for catalytic converters and opportunist crime. Glen Cove and Mare Island are the safest neighborhoods; Northgate is close.” According to the Vallejo Police Department, the most reported crime is larceny, with over 3,000 offenses reported in 2023 and 2024.
The Vallejo police department has had problems with its reputation over the years: “Police don’t respond unless it’s major, and it’s gotten worse since 2006.” Griswold says. “There have been at least five high profile police shootings in Vallejo. Multimillion-dollar settlements have had an effect on the budget; we have the budget for twice as many police but can’t get people to come work here. The problem is morale, not funding. We have a hard time recruiting even though we can pay for them.”
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