Contra Costa County's most populous city, Concord serves as not only a bedroom community to San Francisco, but as a home for many sizeable companies as well. It's affordable housing makes Concord a draw for first-time homebuyers wanting to move into the area. The biggest employer is Bank of America whose large office complex sits next to the downtown BART station. Chevron is also located in Concord and employs thousands of people. The Hilton, Sheraton and Holiday Inn all have hotels in Concord, located near the city's own airport,  Buchannan Field. Recreation in Concord is easy to find. The Chronicle Pavilion at Concord, pictured here, was recently expanded to accommodate 12,500 people, and draws top-notch acts from all over the world. Pop, rock, jazz, country, classical -- you name it, the Pavilion has it. For general fun, the city has 19 parks, 12 playgrounds, waterslide park, golf courses, a community center, and many fitness clubs. If shopping is what you want, Concord has one of the largest shopping complexes in the county -- the Sun Valley Mall.

Average home price: $599,000.
City of Concord Home Page
Schools

Clayton is an interesting mix of old and new. It's history shows in the quaint downtown area, with old-west and Victorian buildings. Yet, just down the street is Oakhurst, a development of homes, townhomes and duets with a beautiful 18 hole golf course and modern clubhouse, shown here. With over 30 percent of the population under the age of 18, Clayton is family oriented. They have lots of activities for children, including soccer and baseball. Toward the outskirts of town the setting becomes more rural, and homes give way to pastures and horse stables. Clayton is located at the base of Mt. Diablo, and access to hiking and riding trails in the park is readily available.

Average home price: $776,000.
City of Clayton Home Page
Schools

Pleasant Hill is a combination of comfortable, mostly modest to medium-priced homes, and shopping areas. Recently the city has been attracting businesses to the area, and new construction can be seen in many places. The new City Hall, pictured here, is a stunning example of modern architecture, and is setting the tone for the "new" Pleasant Hill. The community is committed to education. Sequoia Elementary and Junior High were two of the first "back to basics" schools in the county, and rank exceptionally high in the state. College Park High School ranks in the 80th to 90th percentile. And Diablo Valley College offers the community college courses students need to move on to the nearby 4-year colleges and universities. The Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District provides plenty of activities, including soccer, tennis, softball, swimming, bowling, dancing, track, basketball and group excursions.

Average home price: $688,000.
City of Pleasant Hill Home Page
Schools

Martinez is the county seat for Contra Costa County. Like many of it's neighbors, the city is a mix of old and new. The downtown area has many old, historic buildings, but has been renovated recently with decorative brick and old-fashioned street lights. The city is known for it's numerous antique shops. Also located downtown are the county offices and courthouse. Governments and institutions are the major employers in this city, although the Shell and Tosco refineries account for more than 1,000 employees. The city is situated at the edge of the Carquinez Strait, the body of water between the Sacramento River Delta and the San Francisco Bay. The marina, pictured here, provides convenient access to these waterways. At the south end of the city you will find more modern homes and townhomes. Martinez was also home to the famous conservationist, John Muir. The John Muir house is now a national park and is open to the public.

Average home price: $597,000.
City of Martinez Home Page
Martinez School District
Mt. Diablo Unified School District

(Average home prices based on 2005 sales figures, rounded to nearest 1000, unless otherwise noted.)