No Cal residents - Why is Walnut Creek so expensive...

[statman]

when you can go out 10 miles and the median house price so much less?

Walnut Creek - median: $460K

Concord - median: $280K

Pittsburg - median: $154K

Antioch - median: $182K

I'm not a huge fan of the mid-2000's tract housing that exists in places like Pittsburg or Antioch, but it's literally 40% of the price of Walnut Creek...


Searching on realtor.com 5 BR 3 BA 2500 sqft+

Walnut Creek: http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...7_M25062-89860

Concord: http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...8_M19705-39294

Pittsburg: http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...5_M23700-53492

Antioch: http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...1_M22432-74206

And this is the absolute cheapest home in Walnut Creek - most are much more. The prices here are pretty indicative for what you could find in the outer areas.

I would have expected the much lower prices out in the hinterlands (but only 10 - 15 miles out) to have mediated Walnut Creek prices a bit. But it doesn't seem to be that way.

Is it THAT horrible to live in Pittsburg or Antioch? How horrible is the commute (from out there into the heart of Walnut Creek near the BART station)? How bad can the schools be? Is it horrible enough that you'd pay an extra $250K-$300K for the same house?

[PaloAltoCougar]

It's a nice combination of proximity to SF and other central Bay Area sites, and the better weather and scenery of living in the country. Plus, property values tend to be a direct function of how near one lives to creekster.

[BigPiney]

It is all about Martinez. That is the county seat. No need to look any further.

I would not want to live in Antioch or get shot in Pittsburg. But I think my 15 minute commute is about as long as I could handle, so adding 30 minutes to an already long commute you are going to have seems not fun.

[filsdepac]

Antioch and Pittsburgh are WAY out there, a commute to the city would be a nightmare (although there is a BART station in Pittsburgh). I don't know much about prices, but the more expensive ones you linked have almost twice as much land, so that is part of it. Also, Walnut Creek has great shopping, restaurants, etc., that just make life a little better. I would definitely pay hundreds more per month on a mortgage to live in WC over some city out near the delta.

[cougjunkie]

Look in to Benicia. It is a little slice of heaven on earth. It is to California what Spanish Fork is to Utah.

I would pimp Vallejo too but I think you have kids and I ams ure you want to see them grow up.

[Babs]

Could be the schools. Here's the quality index for all the public high schools in the area:

[marsupial]

Could be the schools. Here's the quality index for all the public high schools in the area:

No, I think it's just creekster.

[Uncle Ted]

Could be the schools. Here's the quality index for all the public high schools in the area:

This is an interesting map. Is it available for other areas of the country as well? URL?

[Babs]

This is an interesting map. Is it available for other areas of the country as well? URL?

go to greatschools.net and select a grade level and enter a zipcode on the right hand side, and make sure to change to 25 mile radius.

on the next screen change the parameters to weed out all the private schools, etc.

you'll get a list of school ratings, but if you scroll down, you'll see a map view on the right.

[TripletDaddy]

I don't get it either. Walnut creek is a dump.

Go to Danville or moraga...or even Alamo. But skip walnut creek.

[SuperGabers]

Walnut Creek? Isn't it obvious. That is where Little House on the Prairie was filmed. The land is famous.

[YOhio]

I've heard the Creek is a great place to "hang" out.

[Babs]

I've heard the Creek is a great place to "hang" out.

Seems like anymore it's just a great place to lurk.

[YOhio]

Seems like anymore it's just a great place to lurk.

Learn how to link stuff.

[Babs]

Learn how to link stuff.

That's funny. I couldn't even tell until I opened it in another browser.