After living all over the Bay Area the best city in my opinion is.... (San Jose: home, restaurants)

[smashystyle]

I like Concord a lot too, especially given the value (by Bay Area standards) given housing prices. It's still too hot for me and the commute is bad to SF (even on BART) and impossible to Silicon Valley. At the same price points, I prefer some of the smaller towns in West Contra Costa: Crockett, Hercules, Pinole, El Sobrante, etc. Better weather, slightly better commutes, prettier topography. Admittedly, worse shopping options. I also prefer Martinez, as noted above, which has more history/character, and El Cerrito, but both are more expensive than Concord now, so not really a fair comparison. I like Concord better than some of the other options in the price range: parts of Hayward, Pittsburgh/Antioch/Brentwood, parts of Oakland in that price range.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by calicoastal

Neighboring Pleasant Hill is also nice without being pretentious, though a bit more expensive than Concord.

I agree, Pleasant Hill >Concord

[ttocs99]

I really only can make a case for one city, I lived in Walnut Creek for 7 years (1999-2006) and loved every second of it. Just the perfect city for me, has everything I needed.

[PixelatedTherapy]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

I agree, Pleasant Hill >Concord

Pleasant Hill honestly feels like an affluent neighborhood in Concord.

[Dave Coe]

Is Concord in the process of being gentrified? I think the Naval Redevelopment will play a role adding 20k new residents.

[sav858]

For the price and having two BART stations it's probably one of the best values in the Bay Area. The schools are pretty bad overall though and there still is a significant trashy element there in some of the areas.

Sure there are many "better" and more interesting cities in the Bay Area but they're also a lot more overpriced for what you get and for how much "better" it is, or isn't. Pleasant Hill comes close as it's very similar and nicer but the homes are also about $100-200K more expensive on average. Over the past year Concord has grown on me but I agree it is probably one of the best values in the region. If it could improve it's schools that would really help solidify it as one of the Bay Area's best values.

[LakeLifePA]

I lived all over the Bay Area in my motorhome, and I would agree that Concord was not bad at all. My favorite place, however, was San Leandro. I know that will surprise many of you, but I really enjoyed my time there. My least favorite area was definitely Bay Point. Ugh.

[PixelatedTherapy]

Originally Posted by Robert20170

I lived all over the Bay Area in my motorhome, and I would agree that Concord was not bad at all. My favorite place, however, was San Leandro. I know that will surprise many of you, but I really enjoyed my time there. My least favorite area was definitely Bay Point. Ugh.

I would agree with you San Leandro is great. Never lived there, but I have friends that do. To me San Leandro is Oakland's Daly City.

[PixelatedTherapy]

Originally Posted by Dave Coe

Is Concord in the process of being gentrified? I think the Naval Redevelopment will play a role adding 20k new residents.

I don't want Concord to be gentrified, it's fine the way it is. It's kinda sad all the working class people regardless of color are getting pushed to Antioch.

[PixelatedTherapy]

And everyone kinda knows Antioch is the Bay Area's defacto trash can.