The Tri-City Region refers to the neighboring cities of Newark, Union City, and Fremont. Located in Alameda County--just southeast of San Francisco--residents of the area enjoy an easy commute into the city and a coastal location without the exorbitant prices of San Francisco real estate. 

Newark

Newark, named for a Scottish town by its developer, J. Barr Robertson, can trace its roots back to the California Gold Rush. Newark rose out of that economic boom, and the town has been a popular destination for Californians to set down roots ever since. 

Only 35 miles south of San Francisco, Newark is situated alongside the southeastern edge of the San Francisco Bay with a population of just under 50,000 residents. The town has its own community center, mall, and several public parks, and its convenient location gives residents of this quiet town easy access to events, museums, and attractions in San Francisco. 

Newark is truly the perfect suburb for those looking to settle down in a town that offers both a small-town feel and a quick commute to San Francisco. 

Union City

Slightly larger than Newark, with a population of just over 70,000 people, Union City is a similarly peaceful suburb with easy access to bustling urban life in San Francisco. Union City has its own BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station, which is a form of public transportation that takes Bay Area residents in and out of San Francisco without having to stress about traffic or find a parking spot downtown. 

Some attractions that Union City has to offer include a historical park from the 1800s called the Dry Creek Cottage and Gardens, an indoor skydiving center called iFly, and trail access to the Alameda Creek Regional Trail. Union City is a diverse town with varied demographics, and it is also going greener, with many pledges to operate more sustainably with green energy and conservation projects. Because of all of this, Union City is a great fit for families interested in a progressive, environmentally-oriented community. 

Fremont

Rounding out the Tri-City Region is Fremont, the largest city of the triad by far. With just over 230,000 residents, Fremont is the fourth largest city in the Bay Area. Fremont is also a tech and startup haven, as its Silicon Valley location and proximity to San Francisco make it ideal for professionals. According to the city’s website, it’s the current home of 1,200 tech companies. 

With easy BART access and an approximately 37-mile drive from the heart of San Francisco, Fremont is a city that offers the best of small-city living and exciting urban life. Fremont also has multiple historical attractions, including the Patterson House, the Shinn House, the Old Mission San José, and more. Not to mention, the city is home to its own art galleries and public art projects, farmers’ markets, and even a waterpark called Aqua Adventure. 

Fremont is the perfect community for professionals looking for low-key urban living with a quick commute to San Francisco and the rest of Silicon Valley. 

Hayward

The city of Hayward is located on the southeastern edge of the San Francisco Bay, just above the Tri-City Region. Its population is just below 160,000 residents, and it’s the sixth-largest city in the Bay Area. Hayward has access to plenty of hiking trails and public parks, as well as its own farmers’ market, art galleries, and a thriving public mural program. It’s also been named the third most ethnically and linguistically diverse city in America. 

Hayward, like Fremont, is perfect for those looking for affordable Bay Area real estate and laid-back urban life. 

San Leandro

San Leandro is a city of around 89,000 people located beneath Oakland, on the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay. San Leandro is a great destination for golf and boating enthusiasts since it has its own marina as well as two golf courses. The city of San Leandro is also very proud of its historical heritage; the city even has a self-guided history walk that you can take to explore the points of interest in the community. 

Popular with commuters, San Leandro is also home to a strong manufacturing industry. This city is a great fit for those in search of a quiet, waterside community close to San Francisco.

The Tri-Valley Region

Not to be confused with the Tri-City Region, the Tri-Valley Region is an inland region to the southeast of San Francisco made up of Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, and Danville. This region is characterized by scenic, rolling hills and is home to several wineries and breweries.

Pleasanton

Pleasanton, as the name suggests, is a peaceful suburb in the Amador Valley. With a population of around 70,000 people, Pleasanton is a tranquil city that is about 40 miles from San Francisco. Pleasanton was named one of the wealthiest mid-sized suburbs in the nation by the U.S. Census. It is a popular destination for tech professionals since it is within commuting distance of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, but it is also home to 4,000 businesses within the city itself. 

Pleasanton has a historic downtown that gives the city a classic small-town vibe, as well as a golf course, a performing arts center, and 1,200 acres of trails and parks. In the summer, Pleasanton has a free concert series. Pleasanton is the perfect destination for those in search of an upscale community that’s brimming with small-town charm. 

Livermore

Livermore is the largest city in the Tri-Valley region, with a population of around 90,000. Like its neighbor, Pleasanton, the city of Livermore is an affluent community with a historic downtown district and small-town charm within a city. 

The city of Livermore is actually known for its wine industry — move over Napa Valley! It was founded in 1869, and according to its website, is the oldest wine region in California. It is home to forty wineries and has its own wine festival every year. 

Other amenities that Livermore has to offer are a golf course, its own public parks and trails, and the Ravenswood historical site. Like the rest of the Bay Area communities, Livermore is a popular destination for those in the tech industry. Livermore is truly the perfect community for nature and history lovers looking for a tight-knit city. It’s also a paradise for wine lovers, of course.

Dublin

Dublin is a small city with a population of around 64,000 people located 35 miles away from San Francisco. It has a joint BART station with its neighboring city, Pleasanton, and is a popular spot among those in the tech industry like the rest of the region. In its early days, Dublin was settled by a large population of Irish immigrants and was named after the capital of Ireland. That heritage has lasted to this day, as the city logo features a shamrock, and Dublin has an annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration to honor its Irish roots. 

Despite its size, Dublin has a tight-knit community. The city has a weekly outdoor movie series in Emerald Glen Park, an annual art, food, and wine festival, and its own farmers’ market. It was even named one of the top best places to live in America by Money Magazine. Like its neighbors, Dublin is perfect for commuting professionals looking for a tight-knit community.

Danville

Danville is a town of around 42,000 people in the Tri-Valley region. Like its fellow Tri-Valley communities, Danville has easy BART access and is within commuting distance from San Francisco. Despite its smaller size, Danville has a rich regional history and boasts a historic downtown district, featuring art galleries, museums, a theatre, and the former home of famous playwright Eugene O’Neill. This town is the perfect fit for commuters in search of small-town charm and historical heritage. 

Ready to Start Your Search?

Now that you’re familiar with the suburban communities of the East Bay, you’re prepared to start searching for a new place to call your own. And while the process of looking for a house can be daunting, it helps to have a good realtor on your side.