San Francisco Bay Area relocation guide
Moving to Albany, CA
$639,000Median listing price
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San Francisco commuteCommute profile
About Albany
Albany is a small East Bay city of about 20,000 tucked between Berkeley and El Cerrito on the San Francisco Bay shoreline. It is known for Albany Hill, the Albany Bulb waterfront with its folk-art sculptures and bay views, the Solano Avenue shopping district it shares with Berkeley that.
Home prices in Albany
The median listing price in Albany is $639,000.
Top places in Albany
- Albany Bulb — former landfill turned waterfront open space with folk art and panoramic bay views (shown in the Commons photo below).
- Albany Hill — oak-woodland open space with bay views at the city's north end.
- Solano Avenue — independent shops and restaurants along the Berkeley border.
- Memorial Park — the city's central park with community center and sports fields.
- Albany Waterfront Trail — Bay Trail segment along the shoreline.
- University Village — UC Berkeley family student housing community.
Commuting from Albany
- BART: El Cerrito Plaza station sits at Albany's northern edge (Red/Orange lines); Downtown Berkeley station is minutes south — roughly 25–30 minutes to downtown San Francisco (per BART trip planner ranges).
- AC Transit local and Transbay bus service along San Pablo Avenue.
- Approximate drive to downtown San Francisco via I-80/I-580 and the Bay Bridge: ~25–40 minutes (longer at peak).
Schools in Albany
Public schools: Albany Unified School District. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.
Albany FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Albany, CA?
The median listing price in Albany is $639,000. Median listing price (September 2026 research snapshot) - How is the commute from Albany, CA?
BART: El Cerrito Plaza station sits at Albany's northern edge (Red/Orange lines); Downtown Berkeley station is minutes south — roughly 25–30 minutes to downtown San Francisco (per BART trip planner ranges). - Which school district serves Albany, CA?
Albany is served by Albany Unified School District. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Town links
Schools
Transit
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.