The 5 Best Neighborhoods in Oakland CA for Families in 2024

Looking for the perfect place to raise your family in Oakland, CA? We’ve got you covered with our guide to the 5 best neighborhoods in Oakland, CA, for families in 2024.

Fairview Park – One of the Best Neighborhoods in Oakland CA for Families

Let’s talk about this family-friendly and walkable neighborhood in Oakland, which has a population of 4,194 people. Fairview Park has everything you need, and it’s one of the best neighborhoods in Oakland for families. UC Berkeley is 2 miles away if you like the college vibe.

Map highlighting family-friendly neighborhoods in Oakland CA, featuring Fairview Park and proximity to UC Berkeley.

Local Amenities and Lifestyle

Fairview Park is great for families, offering a peaceful environment complemented by excellent local amenities on Alcatraz and College avenues. If you need fresh produce, you can stop by Yasai Produce Market, or Safeway is nearby for all your other grocery needs.

If you’re a coffee enthusiast, you’ll enjoy the welcoming vibe at Cole Coffee, a favorite spot among locals for that essential caffeine boost.

Google map and images showcasing key amenities in Oakland neighborhoods, including Cole Coffee, Yasai Produce Market, and La Farine Boulangerie Patisserie along College Avenue.

If you’re anything like me and always crave something sweet, you’ll love La Farine Boulangerie Patisserie. Located right in the neighborhood, this delightful bakery offers a tempting selection of croissants, breads, scones, and tarts.

Whether it’s a morning treat or an afternoon indulgence, their freshly baked goods are perfect for satisfying sweet cravings. This is definitely a must-visit for anyone with a penchant for pastries.

You’ll also find everything from gas stations to banks and various houses of worship within easy reach, ensuring that all your basics are covered right here in the neighborhood.

Family Fun at Colby Park and Surrounding Areas

Colby Park is a hidden gem for families in the neighborhood, offering a small yet delightful playground where kids can have fun while parents unwind on the surrounding benches under the cooling shade of tall trees.

This is screenshot of Colby Park that is located in Fairview Park, Oakland CA.

Frog Park in Rockridge is just around the corner for more outdoor adventures. It boasts a well-equipped playground and ample picnic areas under a canopy of green, perfect for a family day out.

For those who enjoy a good walk or bike ride, the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt connects you seamlessly to the lively Temescal district.

Collage of Oakland parks featuring Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt, Bushrod Park, and Frog Park playground. The image highlights diverse recreational activities including tennis, pickleball, and children's play areas, perfect for family outings in Oakland.

Nearby Bushrod Park also offers a variety of recreational activities, including tennis and pickleball courts, as well as picnic tables for a leisurely day in the park. Whether you want to play, relax, or explore, these local parks cater to all your outdoor needs.

Schools in Fairview Park

Peralta Elementary School

Young students start at Peralta Elementary School, right in the neighborhood. This school has a B-plus rating and is easy to spot with its colorful murals and green plants.

Claremont Middle School

After Peralta, students usually go to Claremont Middle School, which has a B rating.

Oakland Technical High School

The next step for many is Oakland Technical High School, which has an A rating and about 1,796 students. The student-to-teacher ratio there is 18-to-1, helping students get more attention.

Collage of top schools in Oakland, California, featuring colorful murals at an elementary school, a shaded campus at Montclair Elementary, and the historic architecture of Claremont Middle School. These schools highlight the educational environments available for families in Oakland.

Oakland Tech offers many clubs like Gaming Club, Computer Science Club, and Anime Club, giving students lots of ways to get involved.

If families are thinking about private schools, there are many options nearby, including faith-based schools, prep schools, and Montessori schools.

Getting Around from Fairview Park

Fairview Park is well-connected, making it easy to travel around the Bay Area.

Route 24 is nearby, linking to Interstate 580 just a few miles south. For train travel, the Rockridge BART station is located on College Avenue in the neighboring Rockridge area.

"Map and photo collage showing major transportation routes in Oakland, including Route 24 and Interstate 580, and the Rockridge BART station. The image highlights easy access to public transport and main highways, enhancing the appeal of Oakland's family-friendly neighborhoods.

Plus, there are several Alameda-Contra Costa (AC) Transit bus stops along Alcatraz Avenue. These transportation options make it simple to get to work or have fun in places like San Francisco, downtown Oakland, and Berkeley.

Bushrod – A Top Choice for Families in Oakland

Bushrod is a neighborhood in Oakland, California, home to 7,154 people. People in Bushrod experience a mix of urban and suburban life, and most rent their homes.

Detailed map of the Bushrod neighborhood in Oakland, highlighting key streets and areas including Upper Telegraph and Alcatraz Ave. The map shows proximity to local parks and main roads, ideal for families looking to understand neighborhood layout.

Bushrod is a historic neighborhood that is embracing modernity. The streets are quiet and lined with vibrantly colored homes. Located next to Telegraph Avenue, residents have easy access to the amenities of nearby Berkeley, Rockridge, and Temescal.

Bushrod Park and Community Ties

Covering about 10 acres, Bushrod Park is a central community space, once a practice field for the Oakland Raiders in the 1960s.

Today, it includes a community garden, soccer and baseball fields, and courts for basketball and tennis, alongside a recreation center.

The park is also known for its connections to professional athletes like NBA stars Jason Kidd and Gary Payton, as well as MLB legends like Rickey Henderson.

Collage showcasing community features in the Bushrod neighborhood of Oakland, including vibrant graffiti art, Dover Street Edible Park with community gardening, and Dover Street Park playground for children.

Nearby, Dover Street Edible Park, once part of the old Merritt College campus, supports local food justice programs initiated by the Black Panther Party. This park allows residents to pick fresh produce grown on-site in partnership with Phat Beets Produce.

Dining and Shopping Around Bushrod

Bushrod makes it easy to get to many shops and restaurants.

Nick’s Pizza is a favorite for its unique sourdough pizzas with fresh toppings. The Smokehouse is known for its classic burgers, hot dogs, and shakes served on a beautifully lit patio.

Barcote offers unique Ethiopian dishes, and the historic White Horse Inn is a lively bar with karaoke and drag shows, recognized as the oldest gay bar still running in the U.S.

Collage of popular dining locations in Bushrod, Oakland, CA featuring Nick's Pizza decorated with pumpkins, the lively interior of White Horse Inn, and the iconic Smokehouse. These eateries offer a taste of the local culinary scene, perfect for family outings or casual dining.

Nearby, in places like Temescal, Rockridge, and Berkeley, you can find big grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, as well as specialty shops like Rockridge Market Hall and Berkeley Bowl Marketplace.

Transportation in Bushrod

Commuting to Bushrod and the surrounding area is relatively easy, as this neighborhood is located along Telegraph Avenue and the Grove Shafter Freeway.

If you don’t like driving every day, both the Ashby and Rockridge Bart stations are just a short distance away and offer easy public transportation.

Additionally, major roads like Ashby Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way are close by, enhancing your connectivity to South Berkeley and Santa Fe.

Bushrod Shools

Your child can start their education journey at Peralta Elementary School, serving students up to Grade 5, and then progress to Claremont Middle School for Grades 6 through 8. For high school, Oakland Technical High School in nearby Temescal is an excellent option.

Santa Fe – Ideal for Family Living in Oakland

Oakland sometimes gets a bad reputation, but places like Santa Fe show how great it can be.

Map of the Santa Fe neighborhood in Oakland, clearly delineating its boundaries and nearby areas such as Paradise Park and North Oakland. This map provides a detailed view of the neighborhood's location relative to major streets and adjacent communities, useful for families considering this area.

Local Shopping and Dining

Santa Fe doesn’t have many shops, so residents usually go to Emeryville, just a few blocks west.

There, you can find everything you need, like groceries at Safeway, home supplies at Home Depot, and clothes at Nordstrom Rack. Near Pixar on Park Avenue, there are even more shops selling things like sports equipment and furniture.

The image is a split view featuring two iconic locations in Santa Fe, Oakland. On the left, Lois the Pie Queen, a beloved local diner known for its delicious pies and welcoming atmosphere. On the right, the famous entrance to Pixar Animation Studios, a notable landmark in the area, though not open to the public.

For food, check out Lois the Pie Queen on 60th Street. It’s a cozy diner that locals love. They serve delicious pies, but there’s more on the menu, like breakfast all day, and comfort food favorites like meatloaf, fried chicken, and catfish.

Home Styles

When you move to Santa Fe, you’ll notice the neighborhood’s variety of house styles. There are Craftsman homes with cozy front porches, Spanish Revival houses with a boxy look, and Tudor-style homes that seem like they’re from a storybook.

These houses were mostly built between 1910 and 1920, and they’ve been updated to keep their old charm while adding modern features.

Nearby schools

Kids in Santa Fe start their schooling at Emerson Elementary, then go to Willard Middle School, and finish at Oakland Technical High School. Emerson has a C-minus rating, but Willard Middle and Oakland Tech both have A ratings.

Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy

Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy is a public charter school in Oakland, CA. It serves 523 students from kindergarten through 8th grade, and it has a “B”- rating on niche.com.