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Living in
Castro Valley.
Castro Valley is an unincorporated community in Alameda County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Castro Valley
Castro Valley is a solidly middle-to-upper-middle-class residential community that feels like a practical choice for families and established professionals rather than a destination unto itself. With a median household income of $142,779 and homeownership at 67%, you're looking at an economically stable neighborhood where most people own their homes and plan to stay. The housing market reflects that stability—median home values are just over $1 million, which is high but not shocking for the Bay Area, though rent averaging $2,554 a month makes it expensive for renters.
Castro Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Foreign-Born
31.0%
Broadband Internet
96.7%
of households
Population Growth
+3.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics31.0% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Castro Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Castro Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (22.3%), and 14.6% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.6%
of households
Married Couples
61.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.90
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Castro Valley
In Castro Valley, rent runs 25% above the CA average, and home values are 50% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,225
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,088,972 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Castro Valley
Unemployment in Alameda County, which includes Castro Valley, is 0.8 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Castro Valley: Alameda County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Alameda County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Castro Valley is about 4% of Alameda County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Castro Valley Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.7 min avg
How Castro Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Castro Valley, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 17 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 37% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, which covers Castro Valley, runs 37% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
451.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,413
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Alameda County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Alameda County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Alameda County, which includes Castro Valley, the most common type is flood, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 16 | Flood | $140 |
| 2023 | 16 | High Wind | $30 |
| 2022 | 13 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 18 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 36 | Flood | None reported |
| 2018 | 21 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
289 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Alameda County, county-wide
Castro Valley is about 4% of Alameda County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Alameda County, which includes Castro Valley, is typically good — 194 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
194
per year
Moderate Days
171
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Alameda County, county-wide
Castro Valley is about 4% of Alameda County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Castro Valley has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
21.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
59
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 43°F | 2.91" |
| Feb | 62°F | 45°F | 3.11" |
| Mar | 64°F | 47°F | 2.35" |
| Apr | 67°F | 50°F | 1.20" |
| May | 69°F | 52°F | 0.58" |
| Jun | 74°F | 55°F | 0.15" |
| Jul | 75°F | 57°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 76°F | 58°F | 0.10" |
| Sep | 77°F | 58°F | 0.08" |
| Oct | 74°F | 54°F | 0.81" |
| Nov | 65°F | 47°F | 1.51" |
| Dec | 59°F | 43°F | 3.20" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Castro Valley
Castro Valley has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Eden Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Willow Rock Center
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Rose Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.1 mi away · Hayward
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Leandro
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · San Leandro
San Ramon Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9 mi away · San Ramon
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Castro Valley
Castro Valley's student/teacher ratio is 23.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 44.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
17
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
44.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Castro Valley (within 15 miles)
California State University-East Bay
3.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,809 students · in-state tuition $7,993 · 69% graduate · median earnings $73,868 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,099 students · in-state tuition $1,202 · 28% graduate · median earnings $61,853 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,842 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,487 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $47,627 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Mary's College of California
10.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,947 students · in-state tuition $59,769 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,501 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Castro Valley
Castro Valley has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
20 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
21 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
21 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
22 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
23 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
25 mi awayPublic Libraries in Castro Valley
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
Cities Near Castro Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Castro Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Castro Valley FAQ
Is Castro Valley, California affordable?⌄
Castro Valley's median rent is $2,554/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $142,779/year. Median home value is $1,104,600.
Is Castro Valley, California safe?⌄
Castro Valley is policed by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 451 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1413 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Castro Valley, California?⌄
Alameda County, which includes Castro Valley, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Castro Valley, California?⌄
The cost of living in Castro Valley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,554/month and median household income is $142,779/year. The median home value is $1,104,600. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Castro Valley, California?⌄
The average commute in Castro Valley is 33 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from