Albany

Albany packs a genuine small-town feel into under two square miles, anchored by Solano Avenue’s fifty-plus independent restaurants and shops that have made it an East Bay dining destination in its own right. It’s one of the smallest incorporated cities in Alameda County, and that scale is part of the appeal — everything is walkable, and neighbors tend to actually know each other.

Down by the water, the Albany Bulb — a former landfill reclaimed as an open, art-covered waterfront park — is one of the East Bay’s most unexpected public spaces, threaded with trails, driftwood sculptures, and sweeping bay views. Just south of it, Albany Beach is one of the few off-leash, dog-friendly beaches in the East Bay, making the whole Bulb-and-beach stretch a magnet for dog owners and hikers alike.

Quieter and more affordable than neighboring Berkeley, Albany draws buyers who want Berkeley’s walkability and schools without Berkeley’s price tag or density — a mix of Craftsman bungalows and smaller mid-century homes make up most of the housing stock. Its own well-regarded school district and easy access to BART and I-80 make it a consistently strong draw for young families.