Pleasanton, California

What It Is Like to Retire in Pleasanton

Pleasanton is an affluent suburb of San Francisco, about 25 miles to the east and also near Livermore..  Originally a town for desperadoes in the 1800s, the average HH income is now over $100,000. It is home the Alameda County Fairgrounds, as well as industry giants Safeway and Polycom.  Unemployment is low. Photo of Pleasanton sign on Main Street courtesy of Wikipedia and Californiathegreat, photo of Pleasanton Public Library courtesy of Wikipedia and NapoliRoma, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/

Watch this short Youtube video prepared by OurTownUSATV:

Where to Retire in Pleasanton and Home Prices

Like much of California real estate near San Francisco, home prices are very high, with the median home value at $1,120,124 in early 2020, according to Zillow. There are 55 and active communities in the area.

What Is Special about Pleasanton

The weather is good and it is near San Francisco. The town has a solid economic base.

What Is Not Special about Pleasanton

It is very expensive, if you haven't purchased a home decades ago.   

Who Will Like Retirement in Pleasanton

Small town atmosphere, lovely Main Street with lots of shops and good quality restaurants.  Excellent infrastructure!  Parks, trails (Marilyn Kane), bike paths,  2 dog parks, local museum, excellent library, very clean and well maintained, lots of shopping, nice views of the foothills, Saturday Farmer's Market year-round and a couple of big medical facilities.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Pleasanton has attracted many corporations and has developed business parks, with several businesses headquartered here including Safeway, Blackhawk Network Holdings, and Workday. The top employers here are Kaiser Permanente, Workday and Safeway.

Climate and Physical Environment

Excellent climate!  I've lived here 20 years and I'd say compared to most other states, the weather seems near perfect most of the time.   However, we are in a drought, and one has to watch their water usage carefully.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Pleasanton has many restaurants offering all types of cuisine. The town hosts festivals, and a popular farmers market and concerts in the park during the summer months. A popular spot is the Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack which was built in 1858, making it the oldest 1-mile (1.6 km) horse racing track in the United States; there is a 3,000 seat amphitheater, as well as a nine-hole golf course located within the track's infield; The Alameda County Central Railroad Society has maintained a model train exhibit at the fairgrounds since 1959. The Firehouse Arts Center is a center of culture and art and features a 221-seat theater, the Harrington art gallery, and offers classes.

Crime

Crime?  What crime? It's very safe here. 

Medical facilities

Kaiser and Stanford Medical Centers are here.  Also lots of doctor's offices.  

Transportation

There are two BART rail lines here, and there is a good bus service in town. 

Valuable Links

Pleasanton CA