Gold Coast
Ranked 1st best neighborhood in Alameda
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Great for
- Peace & Quiet
- Clean & Green
- Safe & Sound
- Neighborly Spirit
- Internet Access
Not great for
- Gym & Fitness
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Singles
- Trendy & Stylish
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Reviews
Gold Coast
"Alameda's best, bar none."
At the risk of sounding pretentious, when it comes to Alameda, there's Gold Coast, and then there's everything else. It has the island's finest homes, prettiest streets, nicest local parks, and largest lots. It's in the center of the island and close to everything, but it's genuinely a world of its own.
One of the main advantages Gold Coast has is that it's always been an affluent neighborhood. As a result, the homes were beautifully built, nicely appointed (a few have in-ground pools and tennis courts), and almost all have been meticulously maintained. And unlike the rest of the island, almost none were chopped up into multi-family houses or "improved" in the '60s and '70s, so the neighborhood has retained its opulent charm.
Another thing that sets it apart from the rest of the island is the foliage. While most Alameda neighborhoods have modest tree cover and small lots, Gold Coast has a huge canopy of mature, beautiful trees, lush lawns, gardens, and extremely large lots, one of which is almost an acre. While many neighborhoods in Alameda can be described as "charming" or "cute," Gold Coast is often flat-out gorgeous.
Gold Coast has a top-notch elementary in Franklin. A possible drawback may be middle school; students may have to attend the mediocre Wood rather than Lincoln. But students then attend Alameda High and also have the option of an excellent private Catholic high school located right in the neighborhood.
There are a few potential drawbacks. One is simply that the houses are too much of a good thing—they're huge. Per square foot they may actually be something of a bargain, but you'd be very hard pressed to find any home in the neighborhood—in any condition—for less than $700K, and most hover right around a million, with a few at $2 million+. It's expensive, and you can be sure those big homes, with their elaborate woodwork and huge lawns, are going to be pricey to maintain. It's also located near the "rear" of the island, so access to 880/Bart isn't as convenient as it is in other neighborhoods, especially the lovely Fernside area. And while it's on the "lagoon," there is no dockage or bay access for boats.
Still, it's simply the best. If you doubt it, try this: On an autumn day, stroll down a quiet street, past lawn after manicured lawn, surrounded by a swirling canvas of gold, orange, and red from the hundreds of majestic trees, and ask yourself if there's anywhere in Alameda you'd rather be.
One of the main advantages Gold Coast has is that it's always been an affluent neighborhood. As a result, the homes were beautifully built, nicely appointed (a few have in-ground pools and tennis courts), and almost all have been meticulously maintained. And unlike the rest of the island, almost none were chopped up into multi-family houses or "improved" in the '60s and '70s, so the neighborhood has retained its opulent charm.
Another thing that sets it apart from the rest of the island is the foliage. While most Alameda neighborhoods have modest tree cover and small lots, Gold Coast has a huge canopy of mature, beautiful trees, lush lawns, gardens, and extremely large lots, one of which is almost an acre. While many neighborhoods in Alameda can be described as "charming" or "cute," Gold Coast is often flat-out gorgeous.
Gold Coast has a top-notch elementary in Franklin. A possible drawback may be middle school; students may have to attend the mediocre Wood rather than Lincoln. But students then attend Alameda High and also have the option of an excellent private Catholic high school located right in the neighborhood.
There are a few potential drawbacks. One is simply that the houses are too much of a good thing—they're huge. Per square foot they may actually be something of a bargain, but you'd be very hard pressed to find any home in the neighborhood—in any condition—for less than $700K, and most hover right around a million, with a few at $2 million+. It's expensive, and you can be sure those big homes, with their elaborate woodwork and huge lawns, are going to be pricey to maintain. It's also located near the "rear" of the island, so access to 880/Bart isn't as convenient as it is in other neighborhoods, especially the lovely Fernside area. And while it's on the "lagoon," there is no dockage or bay access for boats.
Still, it's simply the best. If you doubt it, try this: On an autumn day, stroll down a quiet street, past lawn after manicured lawn, surrounded by a swirling canvas of gold, orange, and red from the hundreds of majestic trees, and ask yourself if there's anywhere in Alameda you'd rather be.
Pros
- Large Lots
- Attractive Older Homes
- Close to Nightlife and Entertainment
- Quiet, Leafy Streets
Cons
- Expensive to Maintain
- Expensive to Buy
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- LGBT+
- Trendy & Stylish
Gold Coast
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"The Gold Standard for Alameda"
Dropping into Gold Coast, you feel transported. The streets here are leafy and the homes large with large front lawns. They are older homes, many larger—a mix of homes with Tudor touches like half timbering, and big homes with dormers and occasional Bay windows. You will also find a number of well-kept bungalows here.
Adding to the attractiveness of the neighborhoods is the waterway at its southern end where a number of streets end right by the shore giving residents views out over the breakers to homes of South Shore.
Homes here range from around $200 K to $2.1 M with the median being around $600 K. (Only about 10% of the homes here break the $1 million price barrier and the more expensive homes tend to be concentrated on the southeastern end of Gold Coast.)
The public schools that serve the neighborhood are a bit of a mixed bag, with some—those serving the eastern end for the most part—being quite strong while the ones that serve the western end of the neighborhood are just middle of the road.
There is even a pretty good little neighborhood bar, Z’s Cocktail Lounge, inside Gold Coast. So you don’t have to go down to Park Street to chill out over a beer with buddies.
Overall I would say that this is a pretty good place for younger married couples and maybe even singles. I don’t know if it is a perfect fit for families because the schools are not totally solid. Overall though, it is one of the best neighborhoods in Alameda.
Adding to the attractiveness of the neighborhoods is the waterway at its southern end where a number of streets end right by the shore giving residents views out over the breakers to homes of South Shore.
Homes here range from around $200 K to $2.1 M with the median being around $600 K. (Only about 10% of the homes here break the $1 million price barrier and the more expensive homes tend to be concentrated on the southeastern end of Gold Coast.)
The public schools that serve the neighborhood are a bit of a mixed bag, with some—those serving the eastern end for the most part—being quite strong while the ones that serve the western end of the neighborhood are just middle of the road.
There is even a pretty good little neighborhood bar, Z’s Cocktail Lounge, inside Gold Coast. So you don’t have to go down to Park Street to chill out over a beer with buddies.
Overall I would say that this is a pretty good place for younger married couples and maybe even singles. I don’t know if it is a perfect fit for families because the schools are not totally solid. Overall though, it is one of the best neighborhoods in Alameda.
Pros
- Attractive Older Homes
- Close to Nightlife and Entertainment
- Quiet, Leafy Streets
Cons
- Expensive to Buy
- So So Schools
- So So Public Transportation
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- LGBT+
- Hipsters
- Trendy & Stylish
Gold Coast
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Parking
- Schools
"A middle-class paradise"
Gold Coast, which is so accurately named, is a beautiful family-friendly neighborhood in the heart of Alameda. It is loosely bounded by Central Avenue, Grand Street and a southern waterway that feeds into the San Francisco Bay. The neighborhood is also relatively small, stretching only .2 square miles. It is a predominately white community with most residents choosing to own their homes instead of rent.
If you’re looking for an attractive and decently priced neighborhood close to the San Francisco Bay, look no further. Gold Coast is somewhat of an upper middle-class paradise. Median household incomes average around $75,000/year while house values range anywhere from $300,000 to over $1 million. Aesthetically speaking, there are hundreds of large, elegant two story homes with bushy trees draping over. The architecture is old, but has been maintained or refurbished over the years. Most homes have pristine front yards, with little gardens or small white picket fences abounding. Gold Coast also has plenty of long driveways and wide streets, which makes street parking relatively easy.
Commercial activity in Gold Coast is small, but so is the neighborhood. There are no big department stores or outlet malls here. Instead, you can find a couple hair salons, an auto shop and a restaurant (Little Joe’s Express) along Encinal Avenue. Others head to Central Avenue to browse a couple other neighborhood shops. If you’re looking for nightlife, Z’s Cocktail Lounge which has garnered a 4-out-of-5 stars on Yelp is a popular watering hole amongst the community.
If you’re looking for an attractive and decently priced neighborhood close to the San Francisco Bay, look no further. Gold Coast is somewhat of an upper middle-class paradise. Median household incomes average around $75,000/year while house values range anywhere from $300,000 to over $1 million. Aesthetically speaking, there are hundreds of large, elegant two story homes with bushy trees draping over. The architecture is old, but has been maintained or refurbished over the years. Most homes have pristine front yards, with little gardens or small white picket fences abounding. Gold Coast also has plenty of long driveways and wide streets, which makes street parking relatively easy.
Commercial activity in Gold Coast is small, but so is the neighborhood. There are no big department stores or outlet malls here. Instead, you can find a couple hair salons, an auto shop and a restaurant (Little Joe’s Express) along Encinal Avenue. Others head to Central Avenue to browse a couple other neighborhood shops. If you’re looking for nightlife, Z’s Cocktail Lounge which has garnered a 4-out-of-5 stars on Yelp is a popular watering hole amongst the community.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Students
- Trendy & Stylish
Gold Coast
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"Combination of homes and close to all major featured attractions!"
Not to be confused with the Gold Coast in Australia but if you go to California where you can just about find anything you can also find a neighborhood called the Gold Coast in Alameda. Only a few minutes from marvelous sites like the Golden Gate Bridge, the hubs of San Francisco and the San Fransisco Bay are just a few of the reasons to enjoy the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is also home to timeless homes. Even the newest developments which in the early stages can be quite an eyesore seem to reminisce a building style that is long gone. The are tudors, victorians and many moderns all combined together to form many grandeur homes in the Gold Coast neighborhoods. This is a great area for families, singles, older couples and young couples. The area has something for everyone which in my opinion makes the Gold Coast the best place to live in California.
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
