Lafayette
There are so many advantages to buying a home in Lafayette: top-rated schools, a bustling downtown shopping-and-eating district, and the gorgeous Lafayette Reservoir where people come to jog, bike, play, and relax.
Each of Lafayette’s four neighborhoods has its own delightful characteristics, as well as its own elementary school (K-5). Lafayette has just one high school, the top-rated Acalanes High, and one middle school, Stanley.
The neighborhoods
Happy Valley
Many consider Happy Valley the most prestigious neighborhood in Lafayette, with homes ranging from grand estates to more traditional single-family residences. If you’re looking for privacy, you’ll find it here with one-of-a-kind properties nestled in nature with long private driveways and plenty of room for kids to play and explore.
You’ll enjoy the easy access to BART and Highway 24, as well as all the shops and restaurants in downtown.
The schools
Happy Valley Elementary, TK-5, is a National Blue Ribbon School and a bit smaller than others in Lafayette.
Burton Valley
Bordering the town of Moraga, Burton Valley is the quintessential suburban neighborhood, with California ranch-style homes, spacious tree-filled lots and plenty of small streets and cul-de-sacs. Burton Valley residents love their neighborhood and are constantly remodeling to keep their homes modern and “magazine worthy.”
In Burton Valley, you’re very close to the Lafayette Community Center, which hosts classes and events for all ages. And if you’re a runner, a biker or just like to stroll in one of the most beautiful parts of the Bay Area, this is the neighborhood for you: it’s right by the 8-mile-long Lafayette/Moraga trail.
The schools
Burton Valley Elementary, K-5, is an award-winning school with amazing facilities—the largest of the four elementary schools in Lafayette.
Reliez Valley
The most serene area in Lafayette, Reliez Valley is full of rolling hills, large oaks, and homes that make the most of this gorgeous rustic landscape. Some of these beautiful properties were once working farms, and the houses restored to capture the perfect farmhouse look and feel.
Reliez Valley is at the easternmost edge of Lafayette, with easy access to the breathtaking and huge Briones Regional Park with trails for jogging, hiking or horseback riding. It’s also just minutes away from Highway 24, downtown Lafayette, BART, Walnut Creek, and Pleasant Hill.
The schools
Springhill Elementary, K-5, was completely rebuilt in 1997 and is nestled up against the backdrop of the Briones Open Space. Lafayette’s one high school, Acalanes, is located in this neighborhood as well.
Downtown
Lafayette’s vibrant downtown area contains a wide mix of real estate, from spacious single-family homes to townhouses and apartments. BART is an easy way to travel from city to city and located just minutes from the downtown area. Residents can enjoy the seasonal Farmer’s Market beginning in mid-April through mid-November. For recreation, families can enjoy the close proximity of the trails as well as the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.
The schools
Lafayette’s only middle school, the highly-rated Stanley Middle, is right downtown.