Tucked into far-east Contra Costa County, Brentwood is located about 55 miles from the San Francisco Bay and 40 from Oakland, yet it still feels worlds apart from those larger cities.
Locals call it a suburban city with farm-town roots—peach and cherry orchards line backroads while Tesla chargers hum outside Sprouts.
People who want more space than Bay Area cities like San Francisco can offer come here for single-family homes on generous lots, Saturday farmers’ markets loaded with Brentwood’s famous sweet corn, and easy access to outdoor recreation on Mount Diablo or the Delta waterways.
Ask residents what it’s like to live in Brentwood, and they’ll mention warm evenings spent on backyard patios, kids riding bikes to brand-new parks, and a downtown that still waves at you first.
General Pros and Cons of Living in Brentwood
Every move carries a balancing act, so here are 10 pros and cons in plain English.
Pros: excellent schools, low violent-crime rates, newer infrastructure, a tight volunteer culture, rich farmers’ markets, and community traditions like Brentwood CornFest.
Cons: a higher cost of living than the national average, 100-plus-degree summers, limited late-night entertainment, and marathon commutes into Bay Area job hubs.
Brentwood offers a high quality of life, but the distance to larger cities like Oakland and San Francisco forces many families to weigh housing costs against windshield time.
Cost of Living in Brentwood
Understanding the Housing Market
Scan the homes for sale in Brentwood, CA, and you’ll notice that the median home price in Brentwood sits around $849,000.
Zillow tracks the median home value in Brentwood near the mid-$840s, underscoring how resilient the housing market stays even when rates creep up.
Most listings are 21st-century single-family builds, but condos, ADUs, and townhomes are also available in Brentwood.
Buyers often compare these prices to cities like Walnut Creek or Pleasanton and find Brentwood offers similar square footage for less—though “less” is still steep by national standards.
Comparison to National Averages: Is It Higher?
Yes—living in Brentwood is higher than the national average by a sizable margin.
The Economic Research Institute pegs overall expenses 17 percent above U.S. norms, while PayScale places the gap at 39 percent. Housing costs, gasoline, and utilities lead the charge, though healthcare and groceries also trend upward.
Still, when you compare Brentwood to Bay Area cities like San Francisco, the relative discount on a home in Brentwood feels meaningful enough that many families happily absorb the premium over national averages.
Breakdown of Typical Expenses
A typical mortgage or rent payment can eclipse 35 percent of monthly take-home pay.
Electricity bills jump each July when A/C units grind through triple-digit afternoons. Gas prices hover roughly a dollar above the U.S. average, and bridge tolls ding commuters driving toward jobs in Contra Costa or beyond. Child-care costs hover near $1,500 a month, while an entrée downtown runs $18–$25.
The silver lining: local parks, splash pads, and hiking the slopes of Mount Diablo cost next to nothing, so outdoor recreation around the city balances out pricier nights on the town.
Commute and Transportation in Brentwood
The best way to get around Brentwood is still in a car. Wide arterials, plentiful parking, and suburban sprawl favor four wheels and a good podcast. Highway 4 provides easy access to job centers throughout Contra Costa County, though weekday bottlenecks between Brentwood and Antioch are legendary.
Cycling culture exists—especially along Marsh Creek Trail—but July heat keeps many bikes indoors.
Public Transport Options
Public transportation options include Tri Delta Transit express buses that plug into the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART station, granting riders a rail link to larger cities like Oakland and San Francisco.
Inside town, Tri MyRide micro-shuttles cover short hops, handy for seniors or teens too young to drive. Even so, most Brentwood residents treat buses as plan B rather than their primary commute tool.
Traffic and Commute Times
According to SFGate, Brentwood posted America’s longest average one-way commute in 2023—46 minutes. Traffic snarls on Highway 4 and Vasco Road can push door-to-desk journeys to 90 minutes for those working in cities like Oakland and San Francisco. Remote-friendly employers are therefore a hot commodity in local Facebook groups.
Education and Schools in Brentwood
The public schools in Brentwood fall under Brentwood Union (K-8) and Liberty Union (high school). Many campuses score 7 or higher on GreatSchools, while Niche ranks the district among the East Bay’s top ten for academics.
Brentwood is known for modern STEM labs, integrated art programs, and sports facilities that would make older districts jealous.
Quality of Education: Pros and Cons
Parents cite small-town attentiveness, robust AP offerings, and dedicated teachers as major pros. The main cons stem from explosive enrollment—portable classrooms pop up, and attendance boundaries shift every few years.
Still, Brentwood offers several academic advantages over areas like Antioch or Pittsburg, cementing its status as a great place for families chasing “good schools.”
Community Involvement in Schools
Crab feeds, jog-a-thons, and “Coffee with the Principal” mornings stack volunteer hours sky-high.
Brentwood residents routinely fund turf fields and art supplies through booster drives, a community effort that helps keep local classrooms ahead of the curve.
Recreation and Lifestyle in Brentwood
Blue Goose, Veterans, and Creekside Parks layer amenity after amenity—splash pads, dog runs, pickle-ball courts.
Weekend warriors chase outdoor recreation along the Delta or hike Mount Diablo for sunrise selfies.
The city also maintains more than 70 miles of trails, making it an ideal place for outdoor lovers who still want suburban convenience.
Cultural and Community Events
Brentwood hosts plenty: the annual Brentwood CornFest (re-branded Farm Fest) draws 30,000 fans for corn dogs, live bands, and fireworks.
Saturday farmers’ markets on Oak Street sell heirloom tomatoes, local honey, and fresh-baked conchas.
Seasonal wine walks, art strolls, and holiday parades prove Brentwood is home to more culture than outsiders expect from a bedroom community.
Dining and Shopping Options
Downtown Brentwood boasts sushi bars, taquerías, and craft-beer pubs, while big-box stores cluster along Sand Creek Road.
New plazas have opened dozens of job opportunities in retail and hospitality, and expanding choices mean fewer trips to Walnut Creek for boutiques or to Antioch for Costco runs.
So What’s it Like to Live in Brentwood?
Imagine roadside fruit stands one exit from a Costco haul, sunsets turning the San Francisco Bay haze peach-gold, and kids pedaling to school past vineyards.
Brentwood offers many perks—space, safety, a healthy real estate market—balanced by a higher cost of living and long commute times.
If you value backyard barbecues over high-rise nightlife, this East Bay enclave may be the great place to live you’ve been hunting for.
FAQs About Living in Brentwood, CA
Is Brentwood, CA a family-friendly town?
Absolutely. Brentwood offers several kid-focused amenities—excellent public schools, dozens of neighborhood parks, low violent-crime rates, and community events like CornFest—that make it a great place for families seeking space and safety while staying within the Bay Area orbit.
What’s the current median home price in Brentwood?
The median home price in Brentwood hovers around $849,000, though larger lots and luxury builds can push well past seven figures.
What’s the best way to get around Brentwood and reach Bay Area job centers?
Driving is king. Tri Delta buses link to BART for public transportation, but most commuters still clock freeway miles to reach cities like Oakland and San Francisco.
How do the schools stack up against other Contra Costa districts?
Test scores, AP enrollment, and parent involvement place Brentwood’s public schools near the top in Contra Costa County, making them a key draw for many families contemplating a move to Brentwood.
