About 16 miles north of Oakland is Pinole, a historic city located along Interstate Highway 80. Pinole’s history dates back at least 5,000 years ago with the Huchiun Indians. When Don Pedro Fages led an exploration through Contra Costa with soldiers, they came across the Huchiun Indians where they ran out of food. The Indians graciously gave the Spanish soldiers food that consisted of acorns, seeds, and wild grain, which they called “pinole.” This is how the city got its name. Since then, the people built several different unique structures that still stand today, making Pinole known for its architectural heritage. With a quick commute to Oakland or San Francisco, Pinole offers a place of adventure and endless opportunities to all its residents! Notable people living in Pinole are Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta and Exodus metal band player Gary Holt.
Pinole, CA Population & Demographics
The population in Pinole is 19,279 with 53.57% being female and 46.43% being male. If you’re looking for racial diversity, Pinole is a great option. Pinole’s racial demographics are 32.7% White, 27.1% Asian, 11.6% African American, 10.3% Hispanic, and 6.65% other races. The median age in Pinole is 43.2, however there are many retirees and young adults living in the city, creating a unique range of maturity. Luckily, Pinole has a low poverty rate of 4.65%, so most residents are able to afford the things they need and want. It’s understandable to want to live in a safe place, which is why the Chief of Police, Neil Gang, and his team of 26 police officers at the Pinole Police Department do their best to keep the community out of harm’s way.
Pinole Cost of Living
When you are looking to relocate to a different city, you’ll want to know if you can afford living there. Living in Pinole isn’t the most inexpensive option when you’re comparing the cost of living to the national average. Living in Pinole is 3% more expensive than the California average. Health care is mainly to blame since it is 17% more costly than the rest of California. Groceries in Pinole run 4% higher than the state average, and transportation is 3% greater. Luckily, the utilities in Pinole are 27% cheaper than the national average, leaving some essentials in the city fairly affordable.
Housing in Pinole is 4.3% more costly than the California average. This is mainly due to Pinole’s competitive housing market with the majority of homes getting multiple offers for about 10% above the original listed price. The median price of a home in Pinole is $734,000, which adds up to be $489 per square foot! Not only has the property value in Pinole raised by 8.42%, most of these homes are being sold within 10 days of their listing on the market. Click here to view the current homes for sale in Pinole, CA. The homeownership rate in Pinole is 66.9%, so there are still many people renting in the area. If you’re looking to rent in Pinole, you can expect to pay $2,295 a month for an 896 square foot apartment. The rent trends in Pinole are trending upwards by 5%.
Pinole, CA Neighborhoods
While Pinole is a smaller city, there are several nice neighborhoods in the area to choose from. The most popular neighborhoods in Pinole are Willowbrook, Pinole, Sunnyview, and Pinole Shores. Willowbrook is a small neighborhood and is known for being closest to the city shops and restaurants. Pinole is by far the biggest neighborhood with 9,098 residents. Whether you’re looking for a nice house for the family or an apartment for one, you can find it all in the Pinole neighborhood. Sunnyview has the most retirees, which comes with a high homeownership rate in the neighborhood. This neighborhood is smaller, but the people are very friendly and close with each other. Pinole Shores has more families residing there than any of the other Pinole neighborhoods. Residents love that Pinole Shores is right by the ocean, so there is plenty to do outside by the beach.
Pinole, CA Weather
Those moving to Pinole will enjoy the comfortable Mediterranean climate. The summers in Pinole are long and warm with average highs of 80°F and lows of 54°F. Meanwhile, the winters are short and cool with an average high temperature of 60°F and low temperature of 41°F. The city also gets pretty rainy in the cold season with Pinole getting an average of 27 inches of rainfall per year. Nevertheless, there are still 255 sunny days in Pinole, allowing residents to get outside and enjoy the warmth.
Things to Do in Pinole
Pinole has a reputation for having some of the prettiest views, so many residents spend countless hours outside. Here are some of the top things to do in Pinole:
Fernandez Park
View this post on Instagram
If you’re looking to head outdoors, Fernandez Park is the perfect place to go! There is plenty to do here with a playground, basketball court, and an open grass field. Not to mention there are several picnic areas that allow you to eat and hang out when you get hungry or tired. This is the best park in Pinole.
595 Tennent Ave, Pinole, CA 94564
AMF Pinole Valley Lanes
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Pinole, AMF Pinole Valley Lanes offers a night full of entertainment. As a long-standing chain, this bowley alley has glow in the dark bowling lanes, an exciting arcade, and billiards/pool that will make sure your night is one for the books!
1580 Pinole Valley Rd, Pinole, CA 94564, (510) 724-9130
Additional Things to do in and around Pinole
Pinole currently has 12 parks and several other amenities across for every resident to enjoy. Check them out on the City of Pinole parks and facilities site.
Pinole Restaurants
Wondering where you can get a delicious bite to eat? We’ve found the top-rated restaurants in Pinole for you to try out below:
Pear Street Bistro
View this post on Instagram
This local Pinole eatery and bar is one of residents’ favorites! With brunch, lunch, and dinner, there are several different tasty dishes served throughout the day that will make anyone come back for more. Some of their most popular items on their menu include their quinoa pear salad, bistro burger, cronut, and bistro fondue!
2395 San Pablo Ave, Pinole, CA 94564, (510) 741-8875
Famiglia Italian Restaurant
Famiglia serves the best Italian dishes in the area with options of salad, pasta, pizza, bread, and more! The service at this restaurant is delightful and professional, leaving many residents feeling fortunate enough to be only a few minutes away from the delicious dish they want to order!
812 San Pablo Ave Ste. 1, Pinole, CA 94564, (510) 283-5971
Map of Pinole, CA
Discover more things to do, restaurants to eat at, and places to visit with this Pinole map.
Jobs in Pinole, CA
The median household income in Pinole is $100,315, and salaries are continuing to rise by 10.6% every year. The city currently employs 10,126 people with the majority of jobs being in health care and social assistance, retail, and food service. The highest paying industries in Pinole are utilities, public administration, and construction.
If you’re thinking about relocating to Pinole, you can expect a pretty lengthy commute. The average commute time for Pinole residents is 37.2 minutes. A lot of Pinole residents travel to bigger cities like San Francisco for better job opportunities. If you’re planning to commute to San Francisco for work, you can click here for directions from Pinole, CA to San Francisco, CA, which is 22 miles away.
Pinole, CA Statistics & Information
Those residing in Pinole are located in Contra Costa County. The area code for Pinole is 510. Pinole’s zip codes are 94547 and 94564. Pinole is located in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. The elevation of Pinole is 23 feet. The area of Pinole is 11.76 square miles.
Schools in Pinole, CA
Many Pinole residents are thrilled about the city’s schools that offer outstanding educational experiences for all students. The most popular schools in Pinole are Pinole Valley High, Shannon Elementary, Collins Elementary, and Ellerhorst Elementary. All of these schools are highly complimented on their students’ success and readiness for upper grades. There are also plenty of great private schools in the Pinole area, including La Casita Bilingue Montessori School, St. Joseph Elementary School, and Voices College-Bound Language Academy. Many students love to expand their education by visiting the free Pinole Library– Contra Costa County Library.
Living in Pinole Pros & Cons
- Pro: Comfortable weather year round
- Pro: Several delectable restaurants to visit
- Con: Living expenses aren’t that affordable
Is moving to Pinole the right choice for you? Let our top-rated Pinole moving company take care of all your relocation needs! Call AMS Relocation today at 650-284-2931 to get your free quote!
