San Francisco Bay Area relocation guide
Moving to Kensington, CA
$1,198,000Median listing price
Contra CostaArea
San Francisco commuteCommute profile
About Kensington
Kensington is an unincorporated hillside community in Contra Costa County above El Cerrito and Berkeley, with about 5,000 residents. Known for its village-like Colusa Circle shopping district, winding streets with bay views, and adjacency to Tilden Regional Park, it offers a semi-rural feel minutes from Berkeley.
Home prices in Kensington
The median listing price in Kensington is $1,198,000.
Top places in Kensington
- Colusa Circle — the village commercial district on the Berkeley border.
- The Arlington Avenue/Amherst commercial district (shown in the Commons photo below).
- Ardmore Path — pedestrian path connecting the hillside streets (shown in the Commons photo below).
- Tilden Regional Park — 2,079 acres of trails and attractions (adjacent).
- Blake Garden — UC Berkeley's public landscape garden in Kensington.
- Kensington Library.
Commuting from Kensington
- BART: no station in the CDP; nearest is El Cerrito Plaza (Red/Orange lines) — roughly 30–35 minutes total to downtown San Francisco (per BART trip planner ranges).
- AC Transit bus service.
- Approximate drive to downtown San Francisco via I-80 and the Bay Bridge: ~30–45 minutes (longer at peak).
Schools in Kensington
Public schools: West Contra Costa 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.
Kensington FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Kensington, CA?
The median listing price in Kensington is $1,198,000. Median listing price (September 2026 research snapshot) - How is the commute from Kensington, CA?
BART: no station in the CDP; nearest is El Cerrito Plaza (Red/Orange lines) — roughly 30–35 minutes total to downtown San Francisco (per BART trip planner ranges). - Which school district serves Kensington, CA?
Kensington is served by West Contra Costa 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.