Living in the Oakland Hills

See Oakland Neighborhoods for specific neighborhoods in the hills

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1 parent review ▼

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Parent Q&A

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DOT Permit to move into Oakland Hills
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Oct 29, 2020

Hi East Bay network:

My husband and I have just bought a home on Skyline Blvd in the Oakland Hills (2 lane, windy road). And given our limited driveway, our movers truck will likely block one lane of the two-lane street for 4-5 hours.

Do we need to secure moving and/or obstruction permits? This is our first time moving in Oakland and we are unfamiliar with what is required. The City of Oakland website says we should apply for a DOT Traffic Control Plan (10+ days), then once we have that, apply for a separate obstruction permit. But this seems excessive. Do most home owners in the area go through this process when they are moving in and moving out?

Thanks for the help,

EJ

Oct 29, 2020

Yes, in your situation you definitely need the permit. Many people who don't get obstruction permits either know their neighborhood has readily available street parking so finding a spot won't be an issue, or are comfortable trying to park in the spot(s) they will need the day before to save them. But you are talking about blocking an actual travel lane on a major road, not just trying to find a parking spot--that's a quite different situation because traffic management is often needed. If you call DOT, the City can walk you through the process, though. Definitely not worth risking either the fines or, more significantly, the liability of doing it without the permit.

Oct 31, 2020
Claremont Hills: Pros and Cons
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Aug 10, 2020

Hi everyone,

We are considering a move to the East Bay from San Francisco and fell in love with a house in Claremont Hills—I believe it's technically Oakland? House and views are gorgeous, so much space would be a dream after living in the city, and we're ready for warmer weather and something new. That said, it is a five-minute drive bottom of hill to house location and much more remote than we are used to. We'd also need to look for a school for our kindergartener and I'm totally unfamiliar with BUSD/OUSD. I'm hoping neither of them is as work-intensive as SFUSD.

Can anyone provide any color on what it's like to live there? Does it feel isolated? Is there a neighborhood community feel? Do restaurants and groceries deliver there?

I searched the threads and didn't find a lot about Claremont Hills so any and all feedback is welcome! TIA!

Aug 10, 2020

Claremont hills are warm and sunny (too warm sometimes for my taste), nice views, pleasant, not really at all far from Elmwood/Rockridge/campus. We like it up here.

BUT for families with kids there are considerations: Many houses do not have backyards that are good for playing, because of the steep hills and the rebuilding to max size that happened after the 1991 fire. Most of this area is, I believe, legally Oakland, so your district is OUSD. Driving up and down the hill adds 10 minutes to everything, and it feels like a psychological hurdle to doing some things. And you will do a lot of that kind of driving--kids, selves, groceries, anything. You can walk, but it takes awhile and uphill is ugly. I have seen some e-bikes, more plausible, but taking a bike up Claremont or turning from Tunnel Road onto Alvarado at rush hour is scary. My experience is that neighbors are polite, but kids don't play together. There are no sidewalks. People stay in their home-bubbles (even without COVID). Some restaurants deliver, Amazon delivers. If I had a new baby, it might be too isolating--you can't really take a stroller on these steep hills with no sidewalks!

Aug 12, 2020

We know a family with elementary age kids that lives in the Claremont Hills. They send their kids to private school, which I assume a lot of the families in the area do. Homes there are zone for OUSD. The neighborhood school used to be Kaiser Elementary but that school has been merged with another school. The location a pretty convenient, close to college ave for all the shopping and restaurants. The OUSD ranked choice system might be similar to SFUSD and it was confusing for me the first time I had to navigate it. Good luck on your move.

Aug 12, 2020

I think it really depends on what area of the Claremont Hills you are talking about. We looked at a house several years ago off of Hiller Drive. It was probably about 5 min up the hill from Tunnel Road. It seemed quiet (in a good way), but not too isolated. With that said, how far is the nearest store in case you need to make a late night run for milk? What schools would you be zoned for? Some of the area has a Berkeley mailing address, but Oakland services and schools, and Kaiser Elementary (OUSD) which served part of the area, was just closed.

Best of luck to you.

Aug 12, 2020

hi D Scott! I have a 1st grader at Hillcrest (OUSD) in Rockridge and we live just by Claremont Hills in Montclair. We LOVE it. It's not city living of course, but I found that I don't really miss the city to be honest. Downtown Piedmont, Rockridge, Montclair are all darling and full or character. Get an e-bike and you can get up and down the hills that way too. OUSD is not perfect but they do a lot of things really well and my son is on par (or ahead) of his cousins that go to private school, same grade. Happy to answer any additional questions you have. I believe that if you live in the school district, you're pretty much guaranteed in. You also rank other schools around you and could potentially get in to a stronger school out of district. That's what we found, and admissions was seamless. D Bitt

Aug 12, 2020

If it’s more in Oakland closer to rockridge then you will be going to chobot elementary school. Which is where I went and loved. I had a friend who’s parents took him out and into headroyce, a school known for gifted children, but would still come to chobot everyday after school and help us clean up our classroom!! He said how easy headroyce was compared to chabot! My nieces go there now. One has special needs and they’ve been absolutely fabulous.

Aug 12, 2020

We've been living in the Claremont Hills for the last five years, and there are lot of great things about it. It feels like you're in the country with wild turkeys, deer, trees, etc. even though you're just five minutes from the freeway, 6 minutes from Rockridge, and 10 min from downtown Oakland. Compared to surrounding neighborhoods, it's a relative bargain on a $/sq ft basis. The houses are generally spacious and modern since many were built after the Oakland firestorm in the early 1990s. Our neighbors are very diverse professionals and we've made some really good friends. No problem at all with deliveries, we get anything and everything delivered up here. Pre-Covid we also used Lyft and Uber here as well.

When we bought our home we didn't have kids and didn't know if we would ever have kids. Now that we have two toddlers, the biggest downside of living in the hills is that almost no homes have backyards, just decks. The lots are too sloped for yards. This is a major bummer during SIP. Regarding schools, the one local OUSD school (Kaiser) was just shut down this year, although I believe we've been reassigned to another school in Rockridge. Most if not all of our neighbors send their kids to nearby private schools. If you are on the Berkeley side of the border you might have other options. Also, you really can't walk to anything, so we always have to get in the car to go to parks, etc.

I think the above reasons are why this area hasn't appreciated as much as some others, although that gap is closing. We love our house and it works really well for us even with two WFH parents. The weather is perfect, though it gets foggy in the mornings. Since SIP, we've noticed a lot more kids out and about in the neighborhood, which is really nice. If it weren't for SIP we probably wouldn't miss having a yard so much. You'll have to decide which of the above pros and cons are most important to your family, but hopefully this helps give you some more context for a decision.

Aug 12, 2020

Look at Orinda, Lafayette and Moraga. Great Public High Schools, close to BART, lots of open space. Right now you are only concerned with Kindergarten, before you know it, you will be thinking about high school. Oakland has good elementary schools but choices become very limited for middle and high school in Oakland. Good Luck!

Aug 12, 2020

Hi there! I don't live in Claremont Hills but I am very familiar with the area since I'm a 3rd generation Oakland/Berkeley native, an East Bay Realtor, and just have a strange obsession with neighborhoods in general. My take of the area is that it is highly sought after for its forest-like setting yet close proximity to desirable amenities in the flats. There are many families that live in the area but I wouldn't say it has a strong neighborhood community vibe. You will need a car! I grew up in the Oakland hills, Redwood Heights area. Living in the hills is slightly isolating but it is also extremely peaceful, and if you enjoy hikes, then you have hundreds of miles of hiking trails through gorgeous Redwood groves just minutes away. You are also close to Lake Temescal, which is one of my top five favorite spots for families in Oakland. Emerson Elementary and Claremont Middle are a couple of the best in Oakland (I'm considering trying to get my kid into Emerson even though I live in Berkeley!). You're also close to the best private schools in Oakland, Head Royce and CPS. In general, it is challenging to transfer to Berkeley schools unless you pay Berkeley taxes but there are many families who still find ways to get in. I ended up getting an inter-district transfer to attend Berkeley High, the secret is to sign your kid up for a year of Latin. Since no other school in the area offers it, you are more likely to get your transfer approved! And yes, I believe restaurants and groceries deliver to the entire East Bay Hills. Good luck! Happy to chat about other neighborhoods if you have any other questions. Best, Mikayla

Aug 12, 2020

We moved from Alamo Square to the Berkeley Hills last year and we're waaaay up next to Tilden Park. I was also worried about feeling isolated, and that can happen sometimes, but to be honest the tradeoff of having more space (indoors and out!) and amazing views is so worth it for us. Even all the way up here it only takes me 7-8 minutes driving to get to Safeway on Shattuck or to the one on Solano and there's of course tons of restaurants and stores in both areas too. We have never had a problem with grocery delivery and most restaurants deliver up here either themselves or through one of the delivery services. And in terms of community, in our neighborhood (which again is about as isolated as you can get in the hills) we see tons of people walking by every day, have gotten to know many of our neighbors, and are good friends with a few of them. Even found a few families with kids our daughter's age and a couple great teenage babysitters. I can't speak to the area you're considering specifically but just wanted to say that our experience has been wonderful and although I miss certain things about the city I don't regret the move one bit! Good luck!

Aug 13, 2020

Thank you for all your really valuable insight into the area! We decided against the house we were looking at as $$ fire insurance was not an expense we had budgeted for. We are still looking nearby and Montclair/ Rockridge seem like good alternatives.

Aug 24, 2020
Living in the hills with teens
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Feb 1, 2019

Hi Parents

We are looking to perhaps move and I have a question about the Berkeley and Oakland hills.

If you live in the hills, how do your teens get around? I have fantasies of sending my children once they're in middle school to run errands. I think they would really love the freedom and I would appreciate it. Also once they're in High School am I supposed to drive them everywhere? How do you make this work in the hills? Do your children get the chance to travel around alone?

Feb 1, 2019

I grew up in the high up Berkeley hills and was not a fan. I used AC Transit by myself starting at age 7. It was a huge inconvenience to not be able to get around conveniently by myself. In middle school I would walk down the hill to Solano/Shattuck/King Middle School, and take AC Transit back up. The bus is only twice per hour and stopped running all the way up Grizzly Peak at 6:45 pm, so I would have to walk from Spruce if I missed that last bus. Even in high school getting a car didn't help that much because there was still the effort of not being in a walkable area, and having to worry about gas and parking everywhere I went. I have made it a point to live in more walkable areas my whole adult life.

Feb 4, 2019

Hi there - I am not sure where "in the Hills" you live, but we live in Upper Rockridge and it is very hilly ... My 13 year old and his friends ride their bikes to Montclair and to Village Market, and occasionally to College Ave, which will prob happen more when he's older. Kids we know who attend BOD or SM take buses or carpool. There's a decent bus system in Oakland and they can learn (with you) to get around. By mid teens I'd also be fine with him taking BART - he already understands the system well thanks to Urban Adventure camps, which I highly recommend. However, to me, bikes or other wheeled transport are the best options, as long as they 1) get crystal clear on the rules of the road and practice, with you, on riding busy streets and anticipating what drivers will do, 2) practice riding hills so they don't weave as they ride up some of our steep inclines. If they can ride bikes well, like European kids they'll have freedom anywhere they go, anywhere in the world!

Feb 4, 2019

I have a 16-year-old in the hills who happily travels far and wide on AC Transit. We have two lines near us. It really depends on where in the hills you end up. Check AC Transit maps to see if there are buses in the neighborhoods you are considering. Many of the bus lines link up to BART.

Feb 4, 2019

In the N Berkeley hills buses 65 and 67 are pretty good but only go downtown (i.e. if you want to go to the closest shopping street, Solano ave, it's no good) and are only reliable in the morning on the way down the hill, it gets worse coming back up later in the day and the schedule app doesn't work well as there's no live updating. We have 2 e-bikes our middle schoolers use to get to school and nearby outings, but in the rainy season it's tough, and after dark it isn't safe (though because there are no bike lanes it's not that great anyway - fortunately drivers seem on the whole pretty respectful). So yes, we are basically a taxi service most of the time and reluctantly bought a second car recently. On the other hand you'd have to live in a pretty specifically useful place in Berkeley or Oakland to have it better, distances are pretty large given destinations for teens are far apart - downtown Oakland, downtown Berkeley, Telegraph Ave, Rockridge, Bay street in Emerville, 4th Street in Berkeley, Solano ave, etc.

Feb 4, 2019

A lot of kids take the bus or uber/lyft. I know quite a few kids who walk too. Many teens drive once they get their license but I also know some who ride their bikes (even electric bikes). When my kids were in middle school, they loved taking AC transit with their friends. If you live close to a major artery, the buses are quite frequent and there are some small towns up in the hills (like in Kensington) where young kids can walk to the store, etc.

Feb 4, 2019

I do not recommend living in the hills with teenagers. I was already there when I had my kids, and haven't moved, and regret it. My friend is renting in Albany, even though she could afford a house somewhere else, but it works so well for her family with two teens. They can walk anywhere on their own. There are parks they can go to nearby, classes they take after school blocks away, and their school friends all live in the neighborhood. It is a real community. I live behind the Claremont Hotel, where there are no sidewalks on many of the streets, and it's going up the hill on the way back home. After the fire, not so many families with kids rebuilt/moved there, so there are not as many kids of any age in that area, and the ones that are there all go to various private schools as they avoid public schools for various reasons (that's another topic which deserves its own post). My son in his senior year of high school, and I regret that he has never had a chance to be on his own. He's been driven from activity to activity, went on playdates that had to be organized by us and is just starting to learn how to figure things out on his own.

Long story short, go somewhere where there's a community where people live, work, go to school and socialize, all in their neighborhood. There's no such a thing in the hills.

Good luck!

Feb 4, 2019

My daughter is 14 and in ninth grade at Berkeley high. We live pretty high up in the hills but she walks everywhere on foot including the 1.5 miles each way to King for middle school. We happen to be on one of the bus routes which is a huge plus. My daughter takes AC transit to and from Berkeley high and uses it to get down the hill on the weekends to hang out with friends. I suspect we will let her start using Uber during the day time as she wants to start doing some volunteering which is not convenient for her to get to you on the bus lines. I think living walking distance to the public bus really increases your kids independence.

Feb 4, 2019

I raised 3 kids in the hills, the youngest of whom is now 14. Yes, I drove them everywhere, and no, they can't run any errands for me, except to a neighbor's for a cup of flour or something... As they've become older we have realized how wonderful it is to be a few steps from a bus stop. There are limited city buses that run through the hills; I'd recommend being close to one if you're considering moving up there with teens. My kids take the bus a LOT, now that they're older. They sometimes use Lyft too, but the cost is prohibitive. The buses in the hills are the key for teens to gain independence, get to school and see friends on their own.

Feb 5, 2019

Our kids are babies so I can't say anything about having teens, but having grown up in the suburbs of the Lamorinda area and now living in the Oakland hills, I would say that there are so many factors in play that I don't see how you can recommend for or against an entire geography. Many people move to the other side of the tunnel for better schools; Orinda/Moraga/Lafayette are even less walkable/have fewer transit options yet teens survive there. We would love to live somewhere more walkable; so does everyone else and home prices in Rockridge, Elmwood, etc. reflect that. After living in dense urban places like Manhattan, the reality is that a car makes things much easier in most of the bay area, except in a few locations that have extremely limited and expensive housing stock. The ride sharing services already open up many more options that didn't exist before. We have wonderful neighbors and family and friends who visit us almost every weekend, and we take the kids to all kinds of different places and activities, so I don't feel socially limited at all. If anything, I will be glad not to have to run into the same people all the time whom you may or may not actually get along with!

Feb 11, 2019

We lived in the hills, but moved to the flats of Berkeley and my teenaged son has all the freedom in the world. He can walk, bike, or bart to BHS/downtown and since he has friends in Oakland and the hills has learned how to bart/bus/walk wherever he needs to go, something we are both proud of. We walk or bike to the many local markets, libraries, and downtown locations frequently and value the walking culture in this town. Though I do miss proximity to Tilden, we've gained more than we've lost with the move. It's even sunnier down here which I was told, but wouldn't believe for awhile. One downside? The teenager has little motivation to learn driving skills! It's not a highly valued skill and few of his friends bother at this age. Very different from my upbringing in SoCal suburbs where cars were necessities and everyone took their driving test on their birthdays! His friends in the hills mainly use Lyft to get around and are driven to school.

Feb 18, 2019
Oakland Hills: Climate & Traffic workarounds
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May 6, 2017

We are considering a move to the Eastmont or "Melrose Highlands" neighborhoods of Oakland. We are used to the flats in Oakland and Berkeley, and have found the warmer weather there much to our liking. I am wondering what the microclimate is in the Oakland hills below the 580. In addition, we are wondering whether there are surface streets that function as 580 "workarounds" during rush hour (most of the day!), akin to Sacramento Street, Arlington Ave, et al. Doesn't seem like Oakland has the same sort of non-freeway options that Berkeley/Albany/El Cerrito does, but maybe we are just missing something....

Thank you.

May 6, 2017

Weather depends in part on where in the hills you are, but as flats-dwellers we have been surprised/impressed that the East Oakland hills in particular (Sequoyah/Golf Links/Keller area) is actually extremely warm--more like Contra Costa weather than central Oakland/Berkeley weather. Friends who live there can grow summer vegetables in their gardens that we can only dream of. So assuming you're worried about it being cooler, you might be fine. And no, unfortunately there are no good surface streets that are workarounds for 580. MacArthur doubles 580 for much of that stretch, but it's not continuous and in my experience it doesn't save much time unless the freeway is literally at a standstill. The best workaround is generally to cut up to 13 or down to 880, but both of those roads are at capacity during rush hour these days too. On days when I have to do that drive I generally just check Waze or Google Maps for any big issues. Usually it recommends 580 even when it's slow, though. If you are coming from the Oak/Berk flats, it will definitely be a shift to a more driving-oriented life, for better or worse.

May 24, 2017

RE:

Rural feel in Oakland? (Feb 4, 2022)

Hi! I live in the Oakland Hills (off Skyline - I think the neighborhood is called Parkridge Estates), and it sounds like exactly what you're looking for. We have neighbors down the street who have goats, and many neighbors have chickens, even horses. We're 2 blocks from an entrance to a Regional Park, and the neighborhood is definitely more "rural," as you've described. It's not the most accessible, since we are about a 15-20 minute drive to most everywhere in Oakland or Berkeley. On a map, look for the neighborhood by Skyline and Parkridge Drive.

Feb 9, 2022

Recommended:

Living in the Oakland Hills

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Questions

Where in the Oakland Hills?
Moving into the Oakland hills area
Oakland Hills - Safety for Children
What's it like living in the hills?
More reviews of Oakland Hills

Where in the Oakland Hills?

March 2015

I am considering moving my family (hubby and baby) to the Oakland Hills but am having trouble figuring out where would be a good fit. Considering Maxwell Park, Dimond District, Lincoln Highlands and Redwood Heights. Where we are living right now is near the BART and is completely walkable to the grocery store, interesting shops, bookstores, three libraries, a gym and a giant park. We rarely drive and like it that way.

We are looking for something equivalent (if it exists) - is there an area in the Oakland hills that is walkable (sidewalks, not too many hills, not walking over busy roads and highways), near a school, close to interesting shops and good restaurants, accessible to a library and bookstore? BART obviously isn't an option, but regular and easy buses would work for us.

If I were to get an AirBnB for the weekend to see what one of those areas were like, where would be the top places to visit/walk to? It'd be great to be able to sell this to the hubby with a weekend stay. Moving?

Unfortunately, nowhere on your short list would really be considered walkable--which isn't to say there's nowhere you can walk, but if you live there you will absolutely be driving regularly. (We have friends in all of those neighborhoods and that is the reality.) The closest to walkable you'll likely find in the hills would be either Montclair near the village, which would also be walkable to the elementary school, or the Dimond closer to MacArthur--there, you can walk to the library, Dimond Park, the grocery store, and Sequoia, along with a few restaurants and shops. Transit is a bit better in the Dimond than in Montclair, but neither will compare to the flatland areas near BART. Lincoln Highlands, Redwood Heights, and Maxwell Park all absolutely require a car--you might be able to end up close enough to school to walk in Redwood Heights or at the edge of Lincoln Highlands, but your nearest library would be in the Dimond. There's shopping in the Laurel District along MacArthur and in the Redwood Road Safeway plaza but it's pretty minimal; the area was developed with a pretty suburban housing pattern that assumed residents would drive. Wish there were more options!

Glenview has it all! oakland mom

You didn't say you're considering Montclair, but I'll share anyway. We moved here 3 years ago from near the Ashby BART. We have a 2 year old. I have to say, I'm so surprised at how much we love it. We live in a part of Montclair you can walk to the village from (there are stairs going up from Mountain and Colton Blvd). We do a Berkeley Bowl grocery trip once every week or so, but everything else we find in the village. We love the nature, we love our neighbors, we love our mail lady, who comes in to check on our toddler and drink some iced tea (seriously). Highway access is really good, and it's not far from other great places in Oakland by car (I regularly go to Berkeley, Rockridge, Emeryville, Jack London squre/Lake Merritt/Chinatown, and hop onto 13 south to San Leandro, and find it all convenient). We walk to the post office, grocery store, retail shops, library, playground, walking trail, and coffee shop in the village, though there are no sidewalks. It only works for us because we don't live far from the top of the stairs, though there's also great quiet streets to walk up from different parts of the Montclair railroad trail (walking trail).

- Grateful to have bought a home here when the market was a bit cheaper

Moving into the Oakland hills area

Feb 2011

My family is moving into the Oakland hills area (off keller) and I would like some advise on what to do in the area with my 6 year old. What schools are the best? I was thinking Joaquin Miller or Thornhill? Are there any play dates in the area? Thank you! newoaklandparent steph

We live off Keller too and love to hike the trails up along Skyline. The kids enjoy visiting the horses at the top of Keller. King Estates Open Space is great for kite flying, watching planes take off and land, and for fireworks. In the late spring the goat herds come to graze; we visit every day and even get to feed the baby goats sometimes.

Oakland Hills - Safety for Children

Feb 2007

We are thinking of moving to the Oakland Hills from Fremont. We lived in North Berkeley for 10 years before our 8 years in Fremont and loved it, but now we have three small children. Zip Realty says that the Oakland Hills have almost twice the national average of personal crimes and 1.4 times the national average of crime in general. For those of you who live in the Oakland Hills, what has your experience with crime been? Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? We are looking in the area near Thornhill and Snake. If you have young children what do you like and dislike about the area?

Hi, I grew up in the Oakland Hills (top of Broadway Terrace off of Thornill). At that time, uh 25 years ago or so, it was totally safe feeling (and I'm sure it still is). The only thing I would consider in moving to the area is: 1) do you mind driving up and down the hill everyday, and 2) It can be kind of dark around that area (not a whole lot of sun because of trees...very rustic though). Sure it's still as safe as any neighborhood

We live in Oakland Hills with our young daughter. Yes, there's crime here, but there is everywhere in the Bay Area. We love it here as Montclair has a nice friendly small-town feel that is hard to find in the Bay Area, and of course the school, Hillcrest, is the best in Oakland. The crime rate would not keep me away from living here. It's that nice. If you really want low crime, you'd have to go through the tunnel to Lamorinda/Walnut Creek area. And that's a whole different world over there! :) Leslie

What's it like living in the hills?

June 2006

what's it like living in the hills?
pros and cons
especially interested in hearing from those who have lived in our local flatter, denser, grid-layout cities (oakland, berkeley, alameda) before moving to the hills we're considering moving there. We're not really considering the higher elevation areas, even though the views would be fabulous, because we want some room for gardening. Seems like flatter land would be at a premium up there. Premium isn't in the cards. any thoughts? recommendations? warnings? considerations?
looking before i leap

CONS:
-No sidewalk, not even a shoulder for walks
-Deer, skunks, & rats are a nuisance
-Brush abatement is definitely enforced
-Can't walk to any shops or restaurants

PROS:
+Lots less traffic than down below
+Sit on porch and say hi to neighbors, not strangers or tourists
+Close to higher-elevation attractions such as Sibley Volcanic, horseback riding, the Hills pool, Roberts Park
+We were robbed once in the flats; zero times in the hills
+Private enough to walk outside in p.j.s
+Amazing, ethereal fog

--Happy with Our Hills Home

We moved from Temescal to Upper Rockridge last summer so far here are the things I've noticed.

I miss seeing and knowing my immediate neighbors. Up here even though I have met a number of people on the street I don't see them and chat with them going in and out of their houses the way I did. I miss being close to Bart and walking distance to more cafes and restaurants. feels a bit suburban and I miss the artsy/urban funky mix. have to drive on the freeway more

good things up here:
my son goes to the neighborhood school and can safely walk to school and friends houses.
met some great neighbors (even if I don't see them on the street) and am becoming friends with some of them
nice walks for exercise
feels safer in terms of crime
I actually can bike to work and my husband does too even though we are in a much hillier area there is less traffic so it seem to work out.
Can walk or bike to Montclair Farmer;s Market and Lake Temescal.

Good luck with your decision
enjoying the hills

We love living in the Oakland Hills- mid hill location, near the Zoo. Birds, foxes, the fire abatement goats, a fantastic micro-climate and an easy commute make us happy for our choice. The downside to our location is not being able to walk to any shops, and not having a sidewalk in our neighborhood. But our huge yard (almost an acre) and proximity to open space make up for having to drive to get milk. (We love our interesting and diverse neighbors too.) Good luck Hilary

To the person who is considering moving to the hills: we have lived on top of Monclair for 11 years. Where we live there are no sidewalks, and flat yards are very hard to find. However, we do walk on less trafficked streets, and I grow veggies in containers. The views could be great (we have a canyon view), and the regional parks are within walking distance. Sometimes though, I wish my 3 boys had more room to roam, and more access to independence later on (I am not even sure if the bus that used to run on Snake is still in operation - public transportation is scarce, so I will have to drive my kids everywhere for a few more years). Feel free to contact me.

Kasia

We live in the Oakland hills--here is my short list of pros & cons:

Pros
--it's less congested and urban, feels more like a retreat or living in the wilderness sometimes (less so w/ some of these ridiculously large houses they are building in some areas now!)
--the view is wonderful, and the air is fresh
--proximity to Redwood/Joaquin Miller/Huckleberry/Tilden/Sibley
--easy to get to Rockridge, montclair, Piedmont, and Elmwood for shopping, eating out, movies
--people tend to be friendly up here and willing to help out their neighbors, I think the fire created a stick-together kind of feeling in the community.

Cons:
--hard to meet neighbors sometimes since people aren't out strolling as much as in the flats, have to make more effort
--can't run out for late night food runs
--hard to get dinners delivered except Rustica
--people often get lost coming here, but your friends will get used to it
--no tot parks w/in walking distance so we always have to ride in our car to get to toddler parks
--not as many families w/ young kids, but more moving up here all the time.
--some houses have NO outside space...which would drive me crazy. Our house has a huge yard, hilly, but lots of room to create flat lawns and garden, have dogs, and let kids run around.

That's my first run, feel free to contact me directly to chat. Julie

This is a good question, I wish I had asked it before moving to the hills so we would have known better what to expect! We lived in Berkeley below the Claremont hotel before moving to the Montclair hills.

What is better up here? I definitely feel much safer and more private. There used to be lots of random people kind of passing by, picking bottles out of the garbage cans, hanging out at the school playground which was near our house, etc. Now I leave our front door wide open when we're home (our house is set back a bit from the street). We can't see or hear our neighbors and it just feels like we have a ton more privacy and space. And best of all is the beautiful view and sense of serenety gazing out at the Bay gives me.

What is worse? Driving everywhere. I seriously underestimated how much less exercise I would get living up here and have gained weight. I think I didn't notice how I'd just walk out of the house to do an errand, pick up lunch, or take my (then) baby for a stroll. Here even the tiniest little excursion means getting in the car. I would seriously give this consideration especially if you have more than one kid because you know what a hassle it is getting everybody in and out of the car seats. Also, the downside of having more privacy is that you don't interact with your neighbors. I'm sure it differs street by street but we happen to live on a street with mostly older neighbors and almost no kids. It was more fun having neighbors with kids, especially as they get older and would have fun playing together informally.

So pros and cons. But for me, without the view, the hassles of living in the hills wouldn't be worth it. Best to you
High on the hill

More reviews of Oakland Hills

May 2007

Re: Safe, family--oriented neighborhood?
We LOVE living in what has recently been dubbed ''Piedmont Pines'' - the hills in Oakland just above Joaquin Miller Elementary School. Our backyard is the trailhead to Joaquin Miller & Redwood Regional Parks, we have great neighbors, many with children, and living on a cul-de-sac allows us to let our children (with supervision) to run around in a safe environment, where we all look out for each other. Cost is an issue. When we moved in, things were not so bad, but we've been looking at housing prices skyrocket since. If you own your home though, I'm sure you'll get a good price when you sell and could find a place in our neighborhood to make it work for you. Hope we meet your family soon