Lafayette

Quiet residential sophistication meets hometown excitement and a flourishing downtown in one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most desirable communities. The LA in Lamorinda (Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda), the three towns that occupy the top rungs in Contra Costa society. Population of 23,908 with high school scores and low crime.

Centrally located amongst the East Bay hills, Lafayette exudes a quiet rural atmosphere. Lush, tree-lined residential areas surround a thriving downtown which includes smaller homes, apartments, BART station, churches, a library, theaters, some of California's top schools, a flourishing retail and commercial business community and the famed Lafayette Reservoir. 

Lafayette projects its distinctiveness in many ways: diverse topography, small town atmosphere, access to a variety of recreational activities and established neighborhoods. Throughout the community from downtown districts to hidden valleys, there is an obvious emphasis on preservation of the natural surroundings. There is an emphasis on maintaining a well-balanced distribution of services and products as witnessed in the town's huge variety of shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and specialty stores. There is a tangible emphasis on community as seen in the services, activities and associations that support and define Lafayette's exceptional texture. 

The Lafayette School District, with four elementary schools and one intermediate school, is one of the finest in California, with students ranking in the top 2 percent statewide. The Acalanes Union High School District also ranks in the top 2 percent. Parents raise hundreds of thousands of dollars every year for programs that enrich every day instruction. If you’re a parent, you are expected to volunteer for school programs and help where you can with school activities. There are many kid activities in this community, a lot of them organized by parents. Close to St, Mary’s College and seven miles from UC Berkeley.

Compared to the rest of the cities in Contra Costa, the commute is very good but it has problems. Downtown traffic is often congested, and you still need to get through the Caldecott Tunnel and over the Bay Bridge to get into San Francisco. Downtown has a BART station.