Top 14 Best Value Places to Buy a Home in the Bay Area Based on Home Prices, Schools & Crime.

1. Ardenwood, Fremont

 

Ardenwood is at the very northern end of Fremont and a great combination of affordable home prices, high quality schools and accessibility to the major job centers of South Bay and San Francisco via road and BART.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 1.70M

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• Schools: The elementary and middle schools are ranked at least 7 overall and the high school is ranked at 9.

 

• Commute to Major Bay Area Job Centers: Ardenwood is accessible to the South Bay via the beautiful Dumbarton Bridge and commutable to San Francisco City via the BART and the SB bus system.

 

• Things to do: The spectacular Coyote Hills hiking trails are right at the edge of Ardenwood and Mission Peak hike is a 20-minute drive.  Ardenwood Historic Farm has many attractions for kids ranging from farm animal feeding, train rides and Halloween pumpkin patches and ghost trains. Ardenwood is about 10 minutes away from Central Fremont’s shopping areas and about 20 minutes away from Auto Mall and South Fremont.   

 

 

2. Mission San Jose, Fremont

 

Mission San Jose in Fremont is famous for its top-notch schools. It is accessible to South Bay and connected via BART to San Francisco.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 1.90M.

 

• Schools: The elementary and middle schools are ranked at least 7 overall and the high school is ranked at 9.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: It is accessible to the South Bay and commutable to the City via the BART.

 

• Things to do: Mission San Jose is home to the famous Mission Peak hike in Fremont. It is also a short drive from Lake Elizabeth, Aqua Adventures Water Park and Central Park in Fremont.

 

 

3. Warm Springs, Fremont

 

Warm Springs is another Fremont neighborhood that has a great combination of excellent schools, relatively affordable home prices, and accessibility to major job centers of South Bay and San Francisco.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 1.86M.

 

• Schools: The elementary schools are ranked at least 9 overall and the middle school is ranked at 7 and the high school is ranked at 8.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: It is accessible to the South Bay and commutable to the City via the BART.

 

• Things to do: Warm Springs is close to the famous Mission Peak hike in Fremont. It is also convenient for shopping, being close to the Great Mall in Milpitas.

 

 

4. Walnut Creek

 

Walnut Creek is a beautiful suburb in Contra Costa County and has a great combination of affordable home prices, high quality schools, and accessibility to San Francisco via BART. It offers a great suburban lifestyle with proximity to upscale shopping malls and some beautiful hiking trails.   

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 1.90M.

 

• Schools: The elementary and middle schools are ranked at least 7 to 9 overall and the high school is ranked at 9.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: It is convenient to commute to San Francisco City via the BART.

 

• Things to do: Walnut Creek is great for hiking, including Diablo Foothills Regional park, Shell Ridge, Franco Ranch & Iron Horse trails. Kids will enjoy playing in its many lovely parks. Downtown Walnut Creek has an upscale shopping mall with many great shopping and dining options.

 

 

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5. San Ramon

 

San Ramon is a very beautiful and livable city in Contra Costa County with a great combination of affordable home prices, high quality schools and accessibility to San Francisco via the BART. 

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 1.88M.

 

• Schools: The schools are excellent. The elementary and middle schools are ranked at least 7 to 9 overall and the high school is ranked at 9.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: You can commute to San Francisco City via the BART.    

 

• Things to do: San Ramon has some great shopping and dining options at the City Center Bishop Ranch. It is also very convenient for hiking and outdoors activities, including the hiking trails of Las Trampas, San Ramon Ridge Mountain and Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve.   

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6. Dublin

 

Dublin in Contra Costa has a great combination of affordable home prices, good schools and accessibility to San Francisco via the BART.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 1.72 M.

 

• Schools: The elementary and middle schools are mostly ranked at 8 or 9, with a couple of the schools ranked at 6.  The high school Dublin High is ranked at 9.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: Dublin is commutable to the City via the BART in about 1 hour.

 

• Things to do: Dublin is great for hiking, including Tassajara Creek Regional park, Dublin Valley Ridge Trail and Alamo Creek Park.

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7. Pleasanton

 

Pleasanton in Contra Costa has a great combination of affordable home prices, good schools and accessibility to San Francisco job center.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 1.75 M.

 

• Schools: The elementary schools are mostly ranked at 8 or 9, with a few of the schools ranked at 6 or 7.  The middle schools are ranked at 8 or 9 and the high schools are ranked at 9.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: You can commute to San Francisco City via the BART from Dublin Station.

 

• Things to do: Pleasanton is great for hiking, including Pleasanton Ridge Regional park and Sycamore Grove Park. It also has a lot of vineyards and wineries.

 

 

8. Danville

 

Danville in Contra Costa is a very beautiful and livable city and has a great combination of relatively affordable home prices, very high-quality schools and accessibility to San Francisco.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 2.25M.

 

• Schools: The elementary and middle schools are ranked at least 8 to 9 overall and the high school is ranked at 10.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: Danville is commutable to the City via the BART in 1 hour. Walnut Creek or Dublin BART Stations are the closest with about a 10 minute car ride.

 

• Things to do: Danville is great for hiking, including Iron Horse trail, Las Trampas, Elephant Rock & Elworthy Staging Area. It is also home to the Blackhawk Automotive Museum, the Danville Farmers' Market and Hap Magee Ranch Park and Sycamore Valley Park.

 

 

9. Orinda

 

Orinda is a very beautiful semi-rural neighborhood that makes up one of the three cities collectively known as ‘Lamorinda’ (Lafayette, Moraga & Orinda). It is situated near Berkeley and Oakland and has easy accessibility to San Francisco. It has some of the best schools in California.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 2.38M.

 

• Schools: The schools are top-notch and the elementary and middle schools are ranked 9 overall and the high school is ranked at 10.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: Orinda is a short 25-minute commute to San Francisco City via the BART.

 

• Things to do: Orinda is great for hiking and outdoors, including Seaview Trailhead, Orinda Connector Staging Area, Siesta Valley Recreation and Briones Regional Park.

 

 

10. Lafayette

 

Lafayette is Orinda’s neighbor, and like Orinda, is also a very beautiful city with rolling hills. It has easy accessibility to San Francisco and Berkeley and is home to some great schools.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 2.60M.

 

• Schools: Lafayette is home to the highly ranked Acalanes School District. The elementary schools are ranked from 8 to 10, the middle school is ranked a 9 and the high school is a 10.

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• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: Lafayette is a 29-minute commute to the City via the BART.

 

• Things to do: Lafayette is great for hiking, including Lafayette Reservoir Recreation, Mulholland Ridge, Tree of Life and Orinda Oaks trails.

 

 

 

11. Moraga

 

Moraga is the third of the 3 cities that make up the ‘Lamorinda’ area of Contra Costa county. Like its siblings Orinda and Lafayette, Moraga too has easy accessibility to San Francisco and Berkeley and is home to some great schools.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 2.13M.

 

• Schools: The schools are top-notch and the elementary and middle schools are ranked 8 to 9 overall and the high school is ranked at 10.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: It is a 29-minute commute to the City via the BART Station at Lafyette. Of course, you have to drive to the Lafayette BART for about 10 minutes.

 

• Things to do: Moraga is great for hiking, including Mulholland Ridge, Tree of Life and Orinda Oaks trails. Moraga is also a short 20-minute commute to the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland.

 

 

12. Berkeley

 

Berkeley is famous for its great university and its counterculture. It also has moderate to very good schools and a lot of dining and social options.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 1.65 M.

 

• Schools: The elementary and middle schools show a wide range in quality and are ranked from 4 to 8.  The high school Berkeley High is ranked at 8.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: Berkeley is pretty convenient for San Francisco.

 

• Things to do: Berkeley has some great trails such as Grizzly Peak, Claremont Canyon Regional preserve and the amazing Tilden Park. In addition to its famous university, Berkeley has many art and science museums, shopping, restaurants and dining.

 

 

 

13. Evergreen

 

Evergreen is one of San Jose’s more desirable neighborhoods and has affordable home prices and moderate to very good schools.

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 1.55 M.

 

• Schools: The elementary schools are ranked from 5 or 9.  The middle schools are pretty good at 7 and 8. The high schools are very good and ranked at 9.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: Evergreen is accessible to San Jose job centers and somewhat accessible to other areas of the South Bay. It is very far from San Francisco City, so if you expect to commute to the City regularly, Evergreen may not be a great option.  

 

• Things to do: Evergreen has many kids’ parks such as the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo and is close to hiking trails at Montgomery Hill Park, Coyote Creek Trail, Blue Oaks Ranch Preserve, Joseph D Grant county park.

 

 

14. Foster City

 

Foster City is a desirable neighborhood located in the Peninsula and has good schools. It is a bit more expensive than other places on this list but is worth considering if you are interested in the Peninsula. 

 

• Median Prices for single family home in October 2021: $ 3.13 M.

 

• Schools: The elementary schools are ranked from 6 to 9.  The middle schools are pretty good at 7 and 8. The high schools are San Mateo or Hillsdale High ranked at 7.

 

• Commute to Bay Area Job Centers: Foster City is pretty convenient for both San Francisco as well as South Bay and Peninsula job centers.

 

• Things to do: Foster City has some beautiful hiking along the Bay trail.

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Sources: 

We compiled this data from many sources - Redfin & Zillow for home prices, Areavibes for crime data, and Greatschools for data about school rankings. 

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