Quiet, small-town charm at its best
Moraga, and its population of 18,000-odd people, is one of the best places to live and raise a family in the San Francisco Bay area. About 10 minutes from Highway 24 and about 35 minutes from San Francisco, Moraga is centrally located and home to excellent public schools (and Saint Mary’s College). With no BART station and no freeway, Moraga residents enjoy a quiet, low-key lifestyle, convenient amenities, and beautiful quiet neighborhoods to choose from. Moraga's unique sense of community and friendliness feels special and distinct from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area.
With high-end residential areas like Corliss and Rheem Valley Manor, Moraga epitomizes the California suburban lifestyle. Its southeastern, southern, and western boundaries buttress national parks and green spaces, and Moraga Creek flows north-south. Families with children live in well-kept homes behind sidewalks with street lamps, an ideal environment for pedestrians and cyclists. It is common to see families, joggers, and bikers out and about year-round: temperatures in Moraga rarely exceed 85 degrees or dip below 50.
Moraga takes life at a slightly slower pace than neighboring Lafayette. Two commercial districts feature shopping centers with conveniences for the whole family. La Finestra Restaurant, the classic Loard’s Ice Cream, iTea (boba tea), and the ever-popular Canyon Club Brewery are a few favorite spots on the south side of town near Safeway.
Young athletes can sign up for baseball clinics and camps at Bay Area Ballplayers and fuel up at beloved Bianca’s Deli after practice. There are also some fantastic dance and gymnastics studios in Moraga. The Moraga Farmers’ Market takes place each Sunday and brings over 40 local farmers and vendors to the area.
On the north side of Moraga is the Rheem Valley Shopping Center with the Rheem Theatre, various national chains, and Town Bakery & Cafe. From the outside, Moraga’s shopping centers are modest but contain some local gems if you look closely.
Located right in the center of town, Moraga Commons Park features over 40 acres of parkland with modern all-abilities playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, a skate park, a bandshell, and a splash pad. The Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail passes right through “The Commons,” offering a 7+ mile paved, tree-lined pathway to downtown Lafayette. Each Thursday from May to August, the Summer Concert Series offers a chance to enjoy live music and delicious food. In South Moraga is the fabulous Rancho Laguna Park, which features a playground, picnic area, off-leash dog park, and easy access to miles and miles of gorgeous hiking trails at Valle Vista / King’s Canyon.
Love to golf? Membership or homeownership at the Moraga Country Club comes with access to robust swim, golf, and tennis programs, a modern clubhouse with a fantastic restaurant, and (coming in 2023) a gym, a poolside grill, and a bocce/pickleball pavilion. Some 500 homes belong to the MCC HOA.
Moraga is home to several popular swim clubs and has a fantastic Parks and Rec department that runs robust programming for youth and adults, from summer camps to language classes to skateboarding lessons. The local Moraga Library and beautiful Hacienda De Las Flores mansion are excellent city-run facilities enjoyed by residents.
Local swim groups include Moraga Ranch Swim Club, the Campolindo Cabana Swim Club, and the Soda Aquatic Center next to Campolindo High School. Some Moraga residents also belong to Moraga Valley Swim and Tennis Club, located nearby in Orinda.
Moraga residents are served by Moraga School District. Students may attend:
Both the aforementioned high schools are top-ranked in California and feature beautiful campuses with fantastic arts and athletic facilities for students.
Whether you are thinking of buying or selling, we’d love to meet you, hear about your goals and develop a strategy to help you achieve them.