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Emeryville is a small city in northwestern Alameda County, California, wedged between Berkeley and Oakland on the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its location is central to its identity: it sits near the Bay Bridge, UC Berkeley, and the broader Silicon Valley economy, a position that has repeatedly reshaped the city over the past century. Once an industrial and manufacturing town, Emeryville has transformed into one of the East Bay's most dynamic mixed-use centers. The city's modern identity is anchored by Pixar Animation Studios, which has its headquarters here, alongside a cluster of biotech and technology employers such as Novartis. That employment base, combined with the city's transit and freeway connections, has made Emeryville a hub for creative and knowledge workers and a destination for shopping and dining centered on Bay Street Emeryville. The 2020 census counted 12,905 residents, a figure that belies the city's daytime population and regional draw. Emeryville is dense and walkable by California standards, with a housing stock weighted toward apartments, condominiums, and lofts. Its schools are part of the small Emery Unified School District, while neighboring Berkeley and Oakland provide a wider range of public and private options. Transportation is a genuine strength: the free Emery Go-Round shuttle links the city to the MacArthur BART station, Amtrak's Emeryville station serves the Capitol Corridor and long-distance rail routes, and Interstates 80 and 580 put San Francisco and the greater Bay Area within easy reach. For people who want an urban, transit-connected East Bay lifestyle with waterfront access and major employers nearby, Emeryville offers a distinctive and increasingly sought-after setting.

Population 12,905

County Alameda County

Active Listings 41

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Emeryville, California?

Emeryville is in northwestern Alameda County, in California's East Bay. The city sits between Berkeley and Oakland, with a border on the shore of San Francisco Bay and direct access to the Bay Bridge.

What is Emeryville known for?

Emeryville is known as the home of Pixar Animation Studios and a cluster of biotech and technology companies, including Novartis. Its Bay Street shopping district and industrial past are also defining features.

What school district serves Emeryville?

Students in Emeryville attend the Emery Unified School District, the city's small K-12 system, with additional public and private options available in neighboring Berkeley and Oakland, which are immediately adjacent.

How do people get around Emeryville?

Emeryville is served by the free Emery Go-Round shuttle linking the city to MacArthur BART, and by Amtrak's Emeryville station on the Capitol Corridor and long-distance routes. Interstates 80 and 580 provide highway access.

City Guide

About Emeryville

Real Estate & Housing

Housing in Emeryville reflects its small size and urban zoning. The city is known for a dense mix of modern apartments, condominiums, and converted lofts, many built during the city's transformation from an industrial center into a mixed-use innovation hub. A limited number of older single-family homes remain, but multifamily and mixed-use development dominate. The setting appeals to buyers and renters who prioritize walkability, transit access, and proximity to Bay Area employment.

Neighborhoods

Emeryville's roughly 1.2 square miles are organized around a few activity centers rather than traditional residential subdivisions. The Bay Street district anchors retail and entertainment, the area around the Amtrak station and Pixar campus forms an employment core, and the shoreline district near the marina offers bayfront living and recreation. The city's compact layout means all neighborhoods sit minutes from Berkeley and Oakland.

Lifestyle in Emeryville

Emeryville offers a genuinely urban East Bay lifestyle in a compact footprint. Bay Street Emeryville anchors shopping, dining, and entertainment, while the city's walkable blocks, waterfront, and rapid access to Oakland and Berkeley give residents a connected, convenience-rich daily life. The culture skews toward young professionals and creative and tech workers drawn by employers like Pixar, easy BART and freeway access, and a food and retail scene that serves the whole inner East Bay.

Schools & Education

Emeryville is served by the Emery Unified School District, a small K-12 district that gives the city its own school system despite its size. The district operates a single elementary, middle, and high school pathway, allowing for a close-knit educational community. Families also have access to the extensive public, charter, and private school options in adjacent Berkeley and Oakland, expanding choices well beyond the city's borders.

Getting Around

Emeryville is one of the East Bay's best-connected small cities. The free Emery Go-Round shuttle circulates between the city and the MacArthur BART station, and Amtrak's Emeryville station is a major Northern California rail hub serving the Capitol Corridor and long-distance trains. Interstates 80 and 580 and the Bay Bridge provide direct freeway access to San Francisco and the East Bay, making the city a practical base for regional commuters.

Parks & Recreation

Emeryville's recreation centers on the Bay shoreline. The Emeryville Marina and its waterfront parks offer bay views, walking and biking paths, and access to San Francisco Bay, while the city's compact streets and Bay Street district provide urban recreation in the form of dining, cinema, and events. The neighboring parks and cultural amenities of Berkeley and Oakland, including the East Bay Regional Parks, are minutes away.

MARKET SNAPSHOT

The Market at a Glance

How homes have been selling here over the last 90 days.

home_work New This Week 3

Went Under Contract 0

trending_down Price Reductions 0

payments Median Sale Price $437,500 +9.6%

square_foot Price per Sq Ft $548

schedule Avg Days on Market 49

sell Homes Sold 26

percent Sale-to-List Ratio 99.0%

inventory_2 Months of Inventory 3.4

Price & Sales History

Market data reflects closed sales over the last 90 days and is provided for informational purposes.

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