This beautiful town has quite an interesting start. Orinda is located approximately 17 to 18 miles east of San Francisco and was named in the 1870s after the poet Katherine Philips, who was known as the “Matchless Orinda.” This stunning rural area, once known for ranching and summer cabins, was established as a town in the 1920s, where many people would come to hunt or raise livestock on a farm. After over 100 years of gradual growth, Orinda was incorporated as a city in 1985. Orinda is known as a safe, family-oriented city with country-style living and is considered one of the most beautiful in Contra Costa County. In the center of town, you’ll find stunning Orinda theatre, beautifully restored in art deco, as well as the California Shakespeare Theater, and the Community Center and Public Library. With excellent schools, an abundance of culture, and proximity to San Francisco and the Bay Area, Orinda is a wonderful place to live. Notable people from Orinda include football star Bryan Barker and Jeremy Stoppelman who is the founder of Yelp.
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Orinda, CA Population & Demographics
Orinda has a population of 19,646. The population in Orinda is 52.7% female and 47.8% male. The city is actually a fairly diverse place to live. The 5 largest ethnic groups in Orinda, CA are White (Non-Hispanic) (72%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (16%), two or more races (Non-Hispanic) (5.12%), White (Hispanic) (3.97%), and Two or more races (Hispanic) (1.22%). The median age in Orinda is 48.7, so many young families and young adults reside there. About 82.6% of Orinda residents have attained a bachelor’s degree, which is very high and well above the national average of 20%. Many well-educated residents live in the area. Fortunately, you can feel very safe in your community because the Orinda crime rate is 71% lower than the national average. The City currently employs a staff of 14 at the Orinda Police Department, dedicated to keeping Orinda safe.
Orinda Cost of Living
It is very expensive to live in Orinda compared to the rest of the country. The cost of living in Orinda is 139% higher than the national average. Housing prices in Orinda play a major role in that figure due to the high real estate costs. Housing in Orinda is 500% more expensive than the rest of the US. Utilities are 136% higher than the national average and groceries are 133% higher! Transportation costs are about 144% higher than the national average, which is expensive for commuters. However, if you can afford to live here, you’ll love it.
The majority of Orinda residents own their homes. The homeownership rate in Orinda is 90.1%. The housing market in Orinda is considered to be competitive, with the average homes selling for about 10% above list price and staying on the market for around 10 days. The median price of a home in Orinda is $1,920,000. The cost of homes in Orinda has increased by 3.4% since last year, so now is a good time to buy a home in Orinda before the prices increase more. Check out the many beautiful homes for sale in Orinda, CA.
About 9.9% of Orinda residents rent homes or apartments. The average rent in Orinda is $1,700 for a one-bedroom apartment. Rental prices have not changed over the past year.
Orinda, CA Neighborhoods | Best Places to Live in Orinda
Some of the most popular neighborhoods in Orinda are Sleepy Hollow, Charles Hill, and Ivy Drive. Sleepy Hollow is known for prestigious homes on large lots, but you’ll also find smaller homes on quaint streets. The average home price is $1,900,000. Charles Hill has amazing views, rolling hills, and easy access to public transportation and commuter access points. Home prices average $2,300,000. Ivy Drive features traditional ranch-style homes that average $1,550,000 in price. The neighborhood is adjacent to the Lafayette Reservoir where families enjoy the many trails and picnic areas. Orinda has many good shopping opportunities, such as at Orinda Village Square and Orinda Theater Square.
Orinda, CA Weather
Orinda has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. Summers in Orinda are long, warm, arid, and mostly clear, with an average high of 77°F and an average low of 56°F. Winters are short, cold, wet, and partly cloudy. The average high in winter is 57°F, and the average low is 43°F. The temperature typically varies from 39°F to 77°F throughout the year. The city gets a fair amount of precipitation each year with 26 inches of rain, but below the national average of 38 inches. One bonus is you’ll never have to worry about snow in Orinda! You’ll enjoy many sunny days.
Things to Do in Orinda
Orinda has many fun things to do, from outdoor activities to inside recreation and games for people of all ages to enjoy! Check out the top attractions below in Orinda:
California Shakespeare Theater
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The California Shakespeare Theater is a beautiful outdoor regional theater offering a 21st Century take on classical theater. Known to locals as Cal Shakes, the theater’s season runs throughout the summer. They also have year-round community outreach and educational programs. The Bruns Amphitheater offers concerts, dance performances, opera, and much more.
100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda, CA 94563, (510) 548-3422
Meadow Swim and Tennis Park
If you’re looking for the best pool in the area, check out Meadow Swim and Tennis Park. This club is perfect for residents to go and enjoy with their kids, and they offer top-tier tennis instructors for those who are looking to learn. Whether you want to play a tennis game or take a dip, you can’t go wrong here.
20 Heather Ln, Orinda, CA 94563, (925) 254-3861
Additional Things to do in and around Orinda
The City of Orinda is committed to providing quality parks for all its residents. Orinda currently has a number of parks, including Orinda Community Center Park, that offers open grass areas, playgrounds, picnic tables, tennis courts, trails, and many more activities for residents.
Orinda Restaurants
Orinda has many great dining options to choose from. We’ve listed a few of the top-rated restaurants in Orinda for you to try out below:
Siam Orchid
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Siam Orchid is a family-owned, Thai restaurant offering fresh, flavorful, and well-presented food that is pleasing to both the eyes and the palette. They perfectly blend Northern Thai cooking with fresh ginger, tamarind, and turmeric for a flavorful experience you won’t get anywhere else. The unique menu includes everything from Pumpkin Curry Salmon to Cashew Nut Tofu to their Orchid Spicy Pork.
23 Orinda Way Ste F, Orinda, CA 94563, (925) 253-1975
Shelby’s
Shelby’s brings you great food in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Known for its innovative and compelling cuisine, Shelby’s features classically elegant, French-influenced Contemporary California cuisine. This is the perfect Orinda restaurant for date night as their menu includes braised beef short ribs, Wiener Schnitzel, Mediterranean Bowtie Pasta, and an array of burgers and sandwiches. Shelby’s Creative Catering can cater for any party or special event, offering a wide selection of French, German, Italian, and American cuisine and catering your event from start to finish.
2 Theatre Sq Ste 152, Orinda, CA 94563, (925) 254-9688
Map of Orinda, CA
Browse through this Orinda map for things to do, places to eat, stores to check out, and more!
Orinda Statistics & Information
Orinda is located in Contra Costa County. The area code for Orinda is 925. Orinda’s zip code is 94563. The elevation of Orinda is 495 feet. Orinda is in the Pacific Time Zone during standard time and in the Mountain Time Zone during Daylight saving time. Orinda is 12.87 square miles in area.
Jobs in Orinda, CA
The median household income in Orinda is $223,217, which is a 6.15% growth from last year! The city currently employs 9,290 residents. The most common jobs held by residents of Orinda are Management Occupations (2,206 people), Business & Financial Operations Occupations (1,188 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (950 people). The highest paid jobs are Legal Occupations ($217,298), Production Occupations ($206,833), and Fire Fighting & Prevention, & Other Protective Service Workers Including Supervisors ($175,221). The poverty rate in Orinda is 3.08%, well below the national average of 12.3%, making this a fairly affluent place to live.
Most Orinda residents have an average commute time of 31.3 minutes, which is above the national average of 27.6 minutes. Many Orinda residents commute to San Francisco due to the many job opportunities there, and thankfully, you’re not far!. You can click here to see the directions from Orinda to San Francisco, which is about 25 minutes away.
Schools in Orinda, CA
Families are attracted to Orinda because of its top-rated, award-winning schools. The four elementary schools in Orinda are Sleepy Hollow Elementary, Wagner Ranch Elementary, Glorietta Elementary, and Del Ray Elementary. The highly-rated middle school is Orinda Intermediate School, and Miramonte High School is ranked in the top 100 high schools in the nation. Orinda also has some excellent parochial and private schools, such as Orinda Academy and Holden high School. Students also have access to the Orinda Public Library, which is free.
Living in Orinda Tips
- Enjoy living in a city with a very low crime rate
- There are many good schools to choose from
- Prepare for the high cost of living
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