Montclair is known as one of the best places to live in Oakland and California and is a neighborhood located just beside Piedmont and the Oakland Hills. Originally a logging area for San Francisco Bay’s famous redwood trees, the area was developed in the early 20th century into a beautiful and flourishing suburban neighborhood. The community is characterized by its well-preserved historic homes and buildings, tree-lined streets, natural scenery, and proximity to Piedmont. Montclair, Oakland is a good place to live.
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Table of Contents
Where is Montclair, Oakland?
Montclair is located on the western slope of the Oakland Hills, right in the eastern suburban sprawl of Oakland. It is bordered by the Merriewood and Glen Highlands neighborhoods to the north and Piedmont Pines and Oakmore Highlands to the south. It is northeast of Downtown Oakland, just on the easterly edges of Oakland proper. It’s 7 miles from Montclair to the city center of Oakland. Montclair is located within the zip code 94611.
The primary road running through Montclair is California Route 13, which bisects the community between east and west. Public transportation is provided by AC Transit and Bay Area Rapid Transit, although Montclair’s suburban position may make finding stations difficult. You’ll have a wide variety of options for commuting around Montclair, Oakland.
Map of Montclair, Oakland
Montclair History & Overview
Montclair’s history is tied closely to the industries that kickstarted the growth of the Bay Area: namely, the logging of San Francisco’s famous redwood forests. Initially, this area of Oakland was occupied by the Huchiun and Jalquin tribes of the Ohlone native group, who also occupied vast swathes of the Central California coast. The area today was part of an 1820 Spanish land grant to a ranchero and army officer, Luis Maria Peralta, which would be split up into numerous ranches that operated throughout the 19th century.
Montclair specifically would remain largely undeveloped for several decades, only beginning to see growth once redwood logging operations began in the mid-19th century. Early developments included a steam mill and a logging road which would eventually become one of Montclair’s main streets. A second logging era would begin after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, where new growth allowed the forest to be cut down once more.
Coinciding with the second logging period was the growth of Montclair as a proper suburban community. The community would see an explosion of development and population in the first half of the 20th century, including the construction of roads, schools, a fire station, and more. Logging operations would cease shortly afterward, with new redwood growths being protected in parks, and Montclair would take on a more affluent character which it retains to this day.
The population of the Montclair neighborhood is 6,844. Residents of Montclair have a median household income of $147,080, and 75.4% have bachelor’s degrees or higher, making this community one of the best educated in California. The median age of the population is 44.9, slightly older than the average for the Oakland area, and ethnically speaking is fairly diverse, with Whites making up 62% of the population, with Asians taking second place at around 16%.
Notable people from Montclair, Oakland include English-American actor Delroy Lindo, former California governor Jerry Brown, and author Joyce Maynard.
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What’s It Like Living in Montclair?
Montclair is a neighborhood known for its tight-knit, family-friendly suburban community, proximity to Piedmont, and beautiful natural scenery. Maintained by neighborhood organizations like the Montclair Neighborhood Council, Montclair maintains a unique feel that is wholly unlike most suburban neighborhoods in other cities. Montclair is highly walkable and is constantly developing new paths for bicycles. Additionally, neighborhood ordinances to maintain many wild parts of the suburban area additionally make this area more beautiful.
Things to Do in Montclair
Montclair may be more suburban than most neighborhoods, but is still filled with fun things to do, excellent shopping, and great places to eat! The beautiful natural scenery that Montclair is known for makes Montclair a lovely place to spend the day outdoors. Additionally, there are plenty of more conventional attractions that are sure to please within its confines!
Want to know where all the best shopping is in the Montclair Oakland neighborhood? The neighborhood is anchored by the Montclair Plaza in its center, which houses almost all of Montclair’s notable establishments, be they for entertainment, shopping, eating, or whatever else you can think of. Alongside the typical array of grocery stores, barber shops, and general goods stores, the most notable establishment in the plaza is A Great Good Place for Books, an indie bookseller.
Looking for things to do in Montclair? As should be no surprise, most of Montclair’s most exciting attractions involve the outdoors, in one way or another. First, there is the lovely Montclair Park, which has walking trails, picnicking areas, play equipment, and a beautiful lake within its bounds. Avid golfers will find the excellent course at Montclair Golf Enterprises to their liking.
Want to know about the best Montclair restaurants in Oakland? You’re in luck, as there are plenty of excellent eateries within the boundaries of this neighborhood! If you’re looking for the classic American diner experience, the oddly-named Montclair Egg Shop is sure to please, with its wide array of American dishes and famous eggs benedict. If you prefer something more exotic, Daughter Thai is a favorite of Montclair residents for its upscale setting and excellent Southern Thai dishes.
- Montclair Plaza, 6114 La Salle Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
- Great Good Place for Books, 6120 La Salle Ave, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 339-8210
- Montclair Park, 6226 Moraga Ave, Oakland, CA 94611
- Montclair Golf Enterprises, 2477 Monterey Blvd, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 482-04220
- Montclair Egg Shop, 6126 Medau Pl, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 339-9554
- Daughter Thai, 6118 Medau Pl, Oakland, CA 94611, (510) 823-2354
See the Oakland Parks & Recreation Department for more Montclair attractions.
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Schools in Montclair
Those moving to Montclair will be zoned into the Oakland Unified School District. This district accounts for nearly the entirety of the population of Oakland, so parents in Montclair can rest assured that their child will have plenty of excellent schools to choose from! Excellent choices for public schools in and around the neighborhood include Montclair Elementary School, Open Minds Early School, and more. Notable private schools in the area include the Broadway Children’s School. Students and readers in Montclair are served by the Montclair branch of the Oakland Public Library.
Is Montclair Oakland Safe?
Wondering if Montclair is a safe neighborhood to live in? You can breathe easy, because Montclair is one of the safest neighborhoods in Oakland! According to Areavibes, the crime rate of Montclair is 17% lower than the national average, at 1,957 crimes per 100,000 people. The violent crime rate here is 70% lower than the national average, while property crime is 6% lower. Generally speaking, crime will be the least of your worries while you are living in Montclair.
Montclair is served by the Oakland Police Department, with approximately 700 sworn officers.
Montclair, Oakland Real Estate
It should be no surprise that buying property in Montclair, Oakland is a competition, considering how nice the neighborhood is. Prospective home buyers in Montclair will be paying a lot, but the price is well worth it. According to Redfin, the average price of a Montclair, Oakland home for sale is $1,325,000. This price is significantly higher than the Oakland average of $848,600. The median days on the market for real estate is 20 days, while the number of homes sold annually is 14, making this a very competitive area.
The monthly rent for a Montclair Oakland 780 square foot apartment is $2,850, according to RentCafe. It is, again, no surprise that this is higher than national averages and averages for the rest of California. Montclair’s desirability means you’ll have to be extra careful with your wallet!
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If you’re interested in looking at listings for Montclair’s homes, take a look at some Montclair, Oakland, CA real estate options.
Planning on living in Montclair, Oakland? Don’t delay, call AMS Relocation today at 650-284-2931! Our team of highly-trained and experienced Montclair movers are guaranteed to make your relocation a simple and easy affair. Call now or fill out our online form for a free quote.
