Albany

Albany feels like a close-knit village, where kids walk to top-rated schools and neighbors catch up along Solano Avenue’s cafés, shops, and year-round festivals. With fewer than 20,000 residents in just two square miles, community comes naturally here.

You’re never far from the Bay: hike Albany Hill for sweeping views or wander the quirky waterfront art at the Albany Bulb. And with quick access to BART, UC Berkeley, and San Francisco, Albany offers small-town warmth with big-city reach.