The San Francisco Bay Area is the crown jewel of Northern California, and it is easy to see why. 

The San Francisco Peninsula contains vast cities near the Bay to the east, while pristine forests and hills extend to the Pacific Ocean in San Mateo towards the west. In contrast, residents living in Contra Costa and Alameda in the East Bay have pleasant views of the Bay and access to sweeping mountain parks. 

Residents come to the San Francisco Bay Area for many reasons, from high tech job opportunities to attractive real estate, but you may not know where to start looking. To help homebuyers navigate their home search, the team at Prevu Real Estate compiled a list of the best places to live in the Bay Area, county by county.

Best towns in Santa Clara County

• San Jose
• Cupertino
• Mountain View
• Palo Alto
• Los Altos Hills

San Jose 

Colloquially known as the Capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose sits at the southernmost end of the San Francisco Bay Area. 

With a population just topping one million, San Jose is the most populated NorCal city attracting tech workers and outdoors lovers alike. Tech firms like OnePointOne, which focuses on solving hunger through agricultural tech, to more established firms like HP and Cisco Systems, attract tech workers to the area. 

Securing work in the tech space is not the only draw for homebuyers, as San Jose has a rich architectural history and provides access to outdoor spaces. The historic downtown of San Jose near Guadalupe River Park contains plenty of Spanish Colonial-style buildings from the late 1800s along East Santa Clara Street. 

After a day exploring the historic downtown, locals usually wander south towards San Jose State University to dine at one of the restaurants dotting the area. Of course, proximity to this tech center does not come cheap, and buyers can expect to shell out top dollar for single-family homes across the city. 

But some of the best homes in San Jose are located in Almaden Valley to the south, where hillside homes provide exceptional sights of Silicon Valley below. 

Cupertino

To the west of San Jose is a city that any Apple fan will know well if they check their iPhone's internal clock. 

Cupertino is centrally located in the heart of Silicon Valley and is Apple Park's home, the company's global HQ. The prime location attracts tech experts worldwide, although not all buyers place roots in Cupertino searching for a rockstar career in tech. 

The city sits next to the wilderness of the Santa Clara Valley, where expansive outdoor areas like the Rancho San Antonio County Park await locals. The West Valley Freeway runs through the city, leading south towards the 101 and north to the rest of the Peninsula. Steven's Creek Boulevard, near Apple Park, is a commercial hub in the city, centralizing high-end eateries and big-box retailers for residents. 

Like most of the finer things in life, the best parts of Cupertino are off the beaten path. Locals love to frequent Bobbi's Coffee Shop and Cafe, just off the West Valley Freeway on Saratoga Sunnyvale Road. 

Buyers securing property in Cupertino can expect stucco-sided homes from the late '70s selling for a few million near downtown, closer to Apple Park. 

Mountain View

Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley is the city of Mountain View, California. Historically known for the exceptional views of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range, Mountain View is the birthplace of Silicon Valley. The past goes back to the 1950s, whe the Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory produced the first silicon semiconductors in the region.

For years, agriculture drove the city's economy, but after the 1950s, high technology became the region's main export. Today, numerous digital and social tech firms like Google, Mozilla, Microsoft, and Samsung call Mountain View home. Like Cupertino to the south, tech savants flock to Mountain View to secure housing near the many digital firms in the area. 

Most of the city is residential, while the business parks and Googleplex are north of the 101. While buyers pay a pretty penny for the 1950s ranch-style homes in the area, the beauty is unmistakable. Mountain View is a scenic city with striking mountain views to the west and picturesque views of the San Francisco Bay to the east. 

Like many cities on the Peninsula, El Camino Real is where locals can find large retailers and plenty of dining options. Food-minded home buyers can find some of the best eateries near the Mountain View Performing Arts Center on Castro Street, like Cascal, a Pan-Latin restaurant near the center. 

Palo Alto

Just northwest of Mountain View, sitting on the shores of the San Francisco Bay, is Palo Alto. 

The city's name translates to "tall stick" in Spanish, as settlers first saw a 110-foot tall coast redwood over 1,000 years old when arriving in the area. That pastoral charm still exists on the western side of town, where hillsides roll down towards the 280. 

The city retains its Spanish history by naming streets after prominent citizens from days gone. Several notable outdoor spaces such as Foothills Park and Monte Bello Preserve extend west towards Skyline Drive in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Like much of Silicon Valley, there is a rustic charm to the area, but many new residents come to the region to find work in the booming tech space. 

Hewlett-Packard, Skype, and Lockheed Martin all maintain offices in the area, attracting high technology workers. Students are equally drawn to the city, as the famed Stanford University campus resides just off of El Camino Real. 

Most locals relax on University Drive, where a host of boutique shops, kitschy restaurants, and coffee cafes packed with students await newcomers to Palo Alto. 

Los Altos Hills 

Spanish for "The Heights," Los Altos Hills is an exclusive hillside enclave known as one of the wealthiest towns in America. 

That kind of price commands exclusivity, and like other high net worth towns, Los Altos Hills is strictly residential zoning. The only two shops in town are the small gift shop attached to Immaculate Heart Monastery and the bookshop at Foothill College. 

In place of shops, a library, or a post office, the region offers residents wide-open rural properties hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley. But residents need not worry as nearby Los Altos provides shopping and dining along the Foothill Expressway. 

The residents of Los Altos Hills value solitude and the restrictive covenants in the area require that homes have at least one acre in all directions between their home and the property boundary. 

While gathering spaces are lacking, locals can still meet for a picnic under the eucalyptus trees at Esther Clark Park, near Fremont Road. 

Best Towns in San Mateo County

• Atherton
• Menlo Park
• Redwood City
• Emerald Hills / Serramonte
• Belmont
• San Mateo

Atherton

One of the most sought-out places to live in the San Francisco Bay Area is the forested town of Atherton. 

Originally known as Fair Oaks in 1866, the area is famous for preserving properties that blend historic forests with massive homes. Plains of oak, cedar, pine, bay, and redwood trees dot the landscape, and residents nestle their homes into the groves. 

High hedges, walls, and phalanxes of trees hide the mansions of Atherton from view, which range from Craftsmans built in the early 1900s to modern takes on Tuscan-styled estates. Locals use El Camino Real to travel between Menlo Park to the south and Redwood City to the north for shopping and dining since the region has no commercial zoning. 

The lack of dining and shopping creates a shroud of secrecy by design, providing a haven for the wealthy residents looking to live in one of the most expensive San Francisco Bay Area towns. 

Tech executives flock to the area since it is commutable to Google in Mountain View and Facebook in Menlo Park. 

Menlo Park

At the eastern reaches of San Mateo County is the ritzy enclave of Menlo Park. The city sits on the Bay's shores and borders Atherton to the northwest and Palo Alto to the southeast. 

Menlo Park hosts the Facebook headquarters and is where Sergey Brin and Larry Page founded Google. Facebook has a sizable campus filled with 17,000 employees at the water's edge on Hacker Way, just off the 84 before Dumbarton Bridge. 

Venture capitalists, legal firms, and financial offices occupying office space on Sand Hill Road drive the local economy. Nearby are the neighborhoods of Allied Arts, Sharon Heights, The Willows, and Belle Haven, where buyers will find multi-million dollar homes set back on tree-lined streets. 

Storied Victorians from the turn of the century adorn some streets in Menlo Park, but buyers are equally likely to find new construction homes built for leaders in the tech space. 

Downtown Menlo Park is where locals gather for dining and shopping along Santa Cruz Avenue. 

Redwood City 

Another popular refuge for tech workers, Redwood City, sits about 30 miles south of San Francisco, in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Redwood City was the first incorporated city in San Mateo County and has remained the region's seat since 1867. Bordered by Atherton to the south, the Bay to the east, and San Carlos to the north, Redwood City presents residents with a mix of life at the shore blended with accessibility to the redwood preserves in the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west. 

There are plenty of homes to choose from, depending on a buyer's preferences. There are new construction condos at Redwood Shores, overlooking the Bair Island State Marine Park, but some of the most desirable homes sit on the winding streets of Emerald Hills. Unlike Atherton, Redwood City offers residents plenty of shops, coffee bars, and restaurants sprinkled throughout the city. 

Buyers can explore the junction of El Camino Real and Broadway to find clusters of shops and eateries, then wander over to the San Mateo County History Museum, which resides in a courthouse constructed in 1910. Shopping and dining are only part of the appeal, as there are plenty of parks within city limits. 

The Edgewood Park and National Preserve is a favored greenspace, as the grassy fields present a respite from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley. 

Emerald Hills / Serramonte

Bordering the expansive Edgewood Park and Nature Preserve is the exclusive Emerald Hills region. 

This unincorporated town resides just east of the 280, providing access throughout the rest of the Peninsula. Originally planned as a summer resort for San Francisco residents following the first World War, vacationers quickly became residents. 

Developers envisioned a fog-free environment where San Franciscans could escape to hillside flower fields and pristine forests. While many of the original recreational homes from the '20s are long gone, palatial homes now sit on oak-laden streets that snake throughout the area's hillsides. 

Edgewood Park retains this beauty for hikers, bikers, and equestrians who come to explore these storied hills. Like Atherton to the south, Emerald Hills is residential zoning, requiring shoppers to drive to Redwood City for grocery runs. 

Belmont 

Situated in the middle of San Jose and San Francisco is the hillside enclave of Belmont. 

Some residents believe that the town name derives from the Italian phrase Bel Monte, meaning beautiful mountain. Seeing as the city sits on the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains, there are plenty of splendid views awaiting potential buyers. 

El Camino Real separates the downtown near the Bay from the heights of Belmont, where multi-million dollar homes grace the hillsides. The 101 runs north and south through the city's bay side, while the 285 affords commuters with uninterrupted freeway driving. Locals celebrate Belmont as a city that blends green spaces with city life. 

Residents driving west on Ralston Avenue pass through Twin Peaks Park, gaining access to the highlands and other parks like Hidden Canyon and Waterdog Lake. After touring through the green spaces, many residents unwind at one of the coffee shops or restaurants located on El Camino Real. 

Belmont attracts a broad swathe of buyers, many working in tech as the Oracle Corporate offices are just off the Bay. 

San Mateo

Centrally located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay area is the city of San Mateo. The city is a central transit hub, as the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge connects Alameda to the Peninsula. 

Couple this with the proximity of San Francisco International and San Mateo is a commuters' dream. The warmer, Mediterranean climate attracts buyers to San Mateo who look to escape the San Francisco fog. 

The mild, arid climate initially drew San Franciscans looking for a summer resort in the 1920s, and today that same environment continues to pull Californians to the city. Ample access to the Santa Cruz Mountains and beautiful sights of the Bay from Coyote Point Park entices outdoors-minded buyers to the region. 

However, shoppers and gourmets will have plenty of stores and restaurants downtown near the Hillsdale Shopping Center on El Camino Real. 

Plenty of single-family stucco-sided homes from the 1950s reside near the Coyote Point Recreation Area by the Bay, but buyers can find opulent turn-of-the-century homes in the hills of San Mateo Park.  

Best towns in Santa Cruz County

• Watsonville
• Santa Cruz
• Brookdale and Boulder Creek
• Scotts Valley

Watsonville

Located about 20 miles south of Santa Cruz is the agricultural city of Watsonville. The city is known for the temperate climate of the Pajaro Valley, making the region perfect for growing strawberries, lettuce, and other staple organic vegetables. 

The stable 60-70 degree weather attracts many homebuyers escaping the inland heat as Watsonville sits on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Many graduates coming from the Santa Cruz campus of the University of California or Cabrillo College end up placing roots in Watsonville as it provides rustic living near Santa Cruz and San Jose. 

Homebuyers coming to Watsonville can expect sprawling post-modern takes on homes built anywhere from the 50s to the early 2000s. Watsonville has a vibrant main street, where residents can sample Taquerias, Sushi, and gourmet donuts. 

Over 25 parks surround Watsonville, with some hosting fairs and festivals that residents look forward to each year. The annual Strawberry Festival happens in August, attracting folks from surrounding towns for a day of celebration. 

Plus, residents are minutes away from the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds, where the county throws massive fairs towards the end of the summer. 

Santa Cruz 

Sitting on the northern reaches of Monterey Bay is the oceanfront city of Santa Cruz. The city is the seat for Santa Cruz County and is one of the farthest south cities in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Surfers gather from all over the state to take advantage of the offshore breaks, as Santa Cruz offers miles of beaches to residents. Along West Cliff Drive are fascinating natural stone bridge formations cut from the breaking waves and a monument to surfers towers above the water at Lighthouse Point. 

Further to the south is the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf, where locals routinely dine out and watch the sea lions lounging on docks. The biggest attraction is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a beachside amusement park built in 1907. Beyond exploring the waterfront, Santa Cruz also offers residents a vibrant downtown at Pacific Avenue near the San Lorenzo River, where vintage clothing stores neighbor coffee shops, art galleries, and quaint restaurants. 

Santa Cruz is known for its eclectic culture, and locals can routinely find street musicians playing at busy intersections and artists adorning the city's walls with murals. This beauty extends beyond the borders of Santa Cruz, as towering redwood forests pierce the sky in the surrounding mountain parks and preserves.  

Brookdale and Boulder Creek

Nestled about 11 miles north of Santa Cruz are the mountainous towns of Brookdale and Boulder Creek. 

These growing communities are a popular destination for those working in and around Santa Cruz who desire a mountainous retreat from suburban and city life. Commuters looking for a slice of quiet life only have to drive 20 minutes to downtown, and the ride down Highway 9 takes them through some of the most scenic redwood forests of Northern California. 

Residents do not have to trek down to Santa Cruz for a bite, as there is a growing main street on Central Ave. Locals can sample tacos for lunch at Taqueria Los Amigos, lounge out near the water in Junction Park, and then end the day with a coffee at The Treehouse Cafe. 

Many of the existing homes are vacation homes built in the 1950s, yet there is an increasing stable of new constructions popping up on the hillsides surrounding these towns. 

Scotts Valley 

Outdoors lovers looking for a home outside of Downtown Santa Cruz should set their sights on Scotts Valley. 

The Santa Cruz Mountains contain sprawling redwood forests, making the small city of Scotts Valley perfect for buyers that want to be close to downtown and have a view of the woods right outside their door. The city is about 30 minutes from San Jose via route 17, making it the perfect locale for buyers who commute to Silicon Valley. 

Settlers first began building homes in the 1850s, including the eponymously-named Scott House, one of the area’s oldest structures, erected by one of the original settlers. 

Today, the city hosts around 11,000 residents and is just six miles away from downtown Santa Cruz. And the slight distance from Silicon Valley means a homebuyer's money goes farther in Scotts Valley. Large post-modern single-family homes with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms are available for buyers willing to drive to San Jose. 

Near Scotts Valley Highschool is the Glenwood Open Space Preserve, an ample outdoor space complete with hillside fields of grasslands and plenty of hiking trails. 

Scotts Valley Drive and Mount Herman Road are the commercial corridors in the city, where locals can do their shopping at big-box retailers, then hop on the Santa Cruz Highway for a day trip to the nearby beach or mountains. 

Best towns in Alameda County

• Fremont
• Pleasanton
• Berkeley
• Oakland
• Alameda

Fremont

Named after the famed explorer that forded a path west to California, the city of Fremont sits in the southern reaches of Alameda County.

Primely positioned on the eastern shores of the San Francisco Bay, Fremont provides inhabitants with a direct commute to the Silicon Valley towns and cities. Like many cities and towns in the San Francisco Bay Area, Fremont began as a Spanish Mission. 

The gold rush of the 1840s and '50s brought immense wealth to the area, and over time agriculture became the economic driver once the gold ran dry. Fremont comprised five towns until local leaders worked together in the 1950s to incorporate Fremont into a city. 

In the 1980s, a technology gold rush hit the area, prompting mass residential development as Americans poured in trying to find work producing computers for Apple. While high technology continues to drive the economy in Fremont, many residents travel south via the 880 or 680 to work in San Jose to the south. 

Buyers touring the area can find ranches near the water around the 880. But buyers desiring proximity to the outdoors can find homes in the foothills of the Vargas Plateau Regional Park, in the Diablo Mountain Range. Central District is Fremont's downtown, where big-box retailers and boutique shops line up along Mowry Avenue and Fremont Boulevard. 

Residents live amidst a snapshot of time in Fremont, as many of the original Spanish Mission-style buildings from the late 1700s stand today, including the well-preserved Mission San Jose. 

Locals can even tour the region's agricultural past at the Ardenwood Historic Farm, where history buffs can experience horse-powered farming in action.  

Pleasanton

On the eastern side of the Diablo Mountain range is the city of Pleasanton. Home to the Alameda county fairgrounds, this scenic city in the Amador Valley is one of America's best places to live. 

Recognized as the wealthiest middle-sized city in the US, large business parks in Pleasanton are where many large companies like Safeway, Macy's, and Oracle have headquarters in this East Bay city. 

Throughout the 80s, developers built neighborhoods filled with Terracotta-roofed homes near the 680 freeway. Buyers exploring the area will find some of the best dwellings in the foothills near Vintage Hills Park, providing homeowners with a view over downtown. 

The city prides itself on public events, hosting concerts each Friday throughout the summer, and hosts the Alameda County Fair at the end of October. The Shadow Cliffs Regional Park and the lake are favorite haunts, providing picnicking and paddling for aquatic-minded locals. 

While the city offers plenty of work and play for residents, the 680 makes traveling south towards Fremont and Silicon Valley a breeze, while the 580 provides access to northwestern Alameda. 

Berkeley

Known for the 1960s counter-culture and the free speech movement, Berkeley is a world-famous city in Northern California. 

Separated from Contra Costa County to Berkeley Hills, the city sits just north of Oakland and is only 15 miles from San Francisco. Berkely attracts students from all over America, as the city is home to the oldest institution in the University of California system, UC Berkeley. 

The city has a rich religious history and settlers named Berkely after Irish philosopher and bishop George Berkeley in the 1860s. Even today, the religion attracts newcomers as the region is home to the Graduate Theological Union, one of the largest religious education colleges in the world. 

Telegraph Avenue is where locals and students shop, dine out and grab a quick cup of coffee between classes. Cesar Chavez Park is at the western end of University Avenue, a popular spot for dog walking, watching ships pass through the Bay, and flying kites. 

Close to the water are well-preserved Spanish Mission-style homes from the turn of the century, while post-modern new construction homes adorn the hillsides near UC Berkeley.  

Oakland

Across the Bay from San Francisco is the city of Oakland, the industrial and shipping center of Alameda County. Oakland is the county seat for Alameda and is the most populated city in the region, with over 400,000 people calling the city home. 

The port in Oakland is the busiest in the San Francisco Bay, driving international trade worth over $40 billion. While shipping is a leading industry, many newcomers to Oakland chase the tech scene. Residents commute south via the 880 to Silicon Valley or take the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to reach San Fran. 

But buyers can find plenty of work in Oakland, as firms like  Ask.com, Pandora Radio, and numerous green energy companies in the city have headquarters in Uptown, Jack London Square, and City Center. 

It is common to find folks enjoying an eclectic mix of food in Downtown Oakland. Locals can sample American, Filipino, and Mexican food restaurants, and a local favorite is Miss Ollie's Afro-Caribbean eatery on Washington Street in Downtown Oakland. 

There are plenty of apartment ownership opportunities downtown for buyers looking for a swanky pad near the happening parts of town. Some buyers desire sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay and skyline, making the homes nestled in the hills to the east some of the most expensive places to live in Oakland. 

Houses near the foothills of Joaquin Miller Park range from new construction mansions with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms to stately Craftsman-style homes from the turn of the 20th century. 

Alameda

Homebuyers looking for proximity to the Bay should make sure to look at homes in Alameda. 

Nicknamed "The Island City," the region spans Bay Farm Island, Alameda Island, and other smaller islands, connecting to Oakland via the High Street Bridge, Park Street Bridge, and the Fruitvale Railroad Bridge. Alameda used to be a peninsula, but dredging operations to remove marshes and deepen the channel in the early 1900s turned the area into an island community. 

At the northwestern point of the island is the former Naval Air Station Alameda, which is no longer in use. Several businesses, including the popular Faction Brewing Company, have set up shop in the old aircraft hangers on Monarch Street. 

Shore Line Drive takes residents along the island's southern shore, running west until Crab Cove, a popular hangout spot for locals. Most residents do their big-box retail shopping on Webster Avenue near Alameda College, where there is a cluster of stores and quick-service restaurants. 

Although some of the best eats are on Park Street, where locals frequent staples like Ole's Waffle Shop. 

Best towns in Contra Costa County

• Richmond
• Crockett
• Hercules
• El Cerrito
• Antioch

Richmond

Homebuyers with a love of the sea should set their sights on Richmond, as the Contra Costa city shares a shoreline with San Francisco Bay to the east and San Pablo Bay to the north. 

Richmond provides inhabitants with over 30 square miles of shoreline, the most offered by any Bay Area city. The area has a warmer Mediterranean climate than the surrounding areas, making it an attractive destination for anglers and boaters. Locals gather at Point Molate and Point Orient to launch personal watercraft to explore the Bay, including the famous Red Rock Island just south of the Richmond Bridge. 

The population in Richmond ballooned during World War II as oil production and shipbuilding for the war effort required masses of skilled workers. Developers expanded the housing stock in the area by over 4000 houses, driving a migration of Americans to the location. 

Many folks moved to the western side of San Pablo Avenue, just off the 80, and over time the area became a commercial hub filled with strip malls and large retailers. Barrett Avenue is another popular destination in town, as locals will gather at the quad in front of the Richmond Art Center and Memorial Auditorium. 

Buyers have plenty of homes to choose from in Richmond, with some houses offering spectacular views of the Bay near the Richmond Bridge and hillside homes near the Richmond Hilltop Mall just off the 80. 

Crockett

At the northern reaches of the San Pablo Bay, across from the city of Vallejo, is the town of Crockett. 

Formerly known as Crockettville, the town started as a company town for Californian and Hawaiian Sugar Company, which employed over 90% of the population in the early 1920s and '30s. C&H even went as far as to help their workers secure home loans to build up the town. 

But like many good things, the economic power of C&H dwindled over time, and now Crockett is a sleepy town still processing raw sugar. The Carquinez Bridge connects Route 80 to Vallejo, providing a scenic commute for homeowners working across the bay. 

Rolling hills characterize the area, and most of the space in town remains wild today, creating a small-town feel for Crockett. While there is not much shopping in Crockett, Pomona Avenue has a grocery store, post office, and gas station. 

The same stands true for restaurants, but locals love to stop at Lucia's Craft Sandwich for lunch and The Dead Fish on San Pablo Avenue. 

Hiking is a major pastime in Crockett, as the pastoral hillsides as trails crisscross the region, creating the Bull Valley and Crockett Hills trail systems.  

Hercules

Just south of Crockett and about 10 miles north of Berkeley is the quaint town of Hercules. 

The gold rush of the late 1800s initially drove the economy of the San Francisco Bay Area. What started as men with shovels panning for gold in rivers, soon turned into enterprises forged to blast the ore from the Sierra Nevada mountains. 

Enter Hercules Dynamite Powder, which created a factory and town throughout the 1880s in the region, the company town soon adopted the moniker. Over time, residents retained the name well after it redeveloped in the 1970s. 

While the dynamite powder business ended, residents can still see historic buildings throughout the town, honoring the industry that gave rise to Hercules. Today, Route 80 runs directly through Hercules, making it a perfect suburban bedroom community for buyers working in the SF Bay Area. 

Unlike the residential-only towns of Los Altos Hills and Atherton, residents can go shopping on Sycamore Avenue and then grab dinner at The Powder Keg, at the western end of the avenue down by the water. 

Residents travel throughout the rest of Contra Costa County via the scenic John Muir Highway, which starts in Hercules and heads east towards Antioch. 

El Cerrito 

Like many San Francisco Bay Area cities, El Cerrito came to be in the early 20th century. After the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 ravaged the region, many residents moved across the Bay in search of a new home. 

Spanish for "The Little Hill," the William Rust Summit is the highest point in the city, raising above the downtown by over 600 feet. Half of the homes in the region reside in the hillsides of the summit, while other homes are closer to Route 80, which runs north to south through the area. 

El Cerrito sits just to the east of Richmond, and residents from the city routinely come to San Pablo Avenue to shop and dine out at the restaurants lining the commercial district. There are also two BART stations in the area, one of which is at the famed El Cerrito Plaza. 

The Plaza is a shopping mall designed and created in the 1950s, catering to the car culture of the time. Beyond shopping, one of the favored pastimes in the area is the Cerrito Theater. This fully-restored two-screened theater is a refuge where residents can enjoy wine and a bite to eat while watching vintage movies. 

Antioch

North of Mount Diablo is the city of Antioch, one of the oldest cities in Contra Costa. 

Once known as Marsh's Landing in the 1840s, the area served as a prominent port where ocean-faring boats could dock and unload their wares. In the 1850s, two brothers from Boston purchased land in the area, naming it Smith's Landing, but soon beseeched fellow locals to rename the site to Antioch in honor of the Syrian town from the bible. 

Smith's Landing still stands today on the shores of the San Joaquin River, and Antioch has grown exponentially over the years. Many historic buildings, such as the El Campanil Theater and the Antioch Historical Society Museum, remain in operation today, providing locals with a view of the area's past. 

While the history is rich in Antioch, there is an equally great love for the outdoors. There are over 30 parks in the city and more than ten dedicated miles of hiking trails. But Antioch provides more than outdoor living, as there is a vibrant downtown on 18th street filled with small cafes and plenty of retail outlets. 

On the western side of 18th street is the Contra Costa Fairgrounds, where locals gather for racing events, dog shows, and outdoor movie screenings throughout the year. 

Homebuyers that commute throughout the county can find modest homes near the California Delta Highway. Buyers looking for luxurious properties can find stately homes in the southern portion of town, sitting in the foothills of Mount Diablo. 

Interested in buying a home in the Bay Area? Browse listings and see how much you can save with Prevu’s Smart Buyer Rebate.

Prevu Real Estate, Inc. is a licensed real estate broker in California, license number 02134758.