The beautiful city of Napa, California is home to 26 neighborhoods, each with its own charm and history. If you’re planning to buy a home in the area, you’ll want to choose a neighborhood carefully and be prepared for a lot of competition with homes receiving multiple offers. As a renter, you will find good availability in some areas, particularly downtown, but rental inventory in many neighborhoods is limited.
How do you envision life in Napa? Are you looking for stunning views, an exciting nightlife, or a family-friendly Napa neighborhood? No matter what you have in mind, you’ll find it. Here’s a look at the best neighborhoods in Napa with something special to offer.
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Downtown Napa – Best Napa Neighborhood for Millennials
Downtown is one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Napa, CA with mixed commercial and residential space along the Napa River. The neighborhood features a mix of historic architecture and new construction with many exciting places to live. One of the latest additions to Downtown Napa is Register Square, a luxury condo building with high-end features and homes with 2 to 4 bedrooms and up to 2,500 square feet of living space.
If you love urban-style living, you’ll definitely appreciate everything Downtown Napa has to offer. Home prices in downtown start in the $400s and top $8 million.
Things to Do in Downtown Napa: There’s always something fun happening in the heart of California’s wine region. While living downtown, you’ll be within walking distance of recreation, shops, organic markets, award-winning restaurants, and entertainment. Visit the historic Napa Valley Opera House or walk to the Oxbow Public Market and Farmers Market for your morning strolls.
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Downtown Napa offers everything from farm-to-table eateries to fine dining. Miminashi offers Japanese-style izakaya with a Napa twist. Nearby Morimoto is an upscale Napa River restaurant by celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto with sushi, Japanese whiskey, and Wagyu beef. You’ll also love the downtown tasting rooms like WALT Wines and Feast It Forward. When you’re done dining, enjoy boutique shopping at First Street Napa then explore the Uptown Theater, a renovated art deco theater with comedy and music performances.
Browns Valley – Best Napa Neighborhood for Families
Browns Valley is one of the largest neighborhoods in Napa and it’s divided into four different neighborhoods: Central, East, South, and West. The area is known for its family-friendly amenities like parks. In Brown Valley South, you’ll enjoy views of vineyards and rolling hills. Browns Valley West is located in the hills with sweeping views and a range of older developments and new construction.
Silverado Country Club is located in Browns Valley and it’s a popular destination for young families that want the classic Napa Valley lifestyle. The country club offers resort-style living with golfing programs, outdoor activities, and annual events.
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The median home price in Browns Valley is $825,000 although you’ll pay more for country club living.
Things to Do in Browns Valley: Browns Valley offers plenty to see and do. This Napa neighborhood is home to Century Oaks Park, the perfect place for Sunday picnics, soccer games, and playing with four-legged friends. There’s also plenty of shopping and dining in the neighborhood like Browns Valley Market, the Enotrex Winery, Reid Family Vineyards, and Hop Creek Pub.
Westwood – Most Affordable Napa Neighborhood
Napa definitely isn’t known for its affordability. If you’re looking for affordable places to live in Napa, CA, one of the best options is Westwood, a residential neighborhood where you’ll find homes as low as the high $300s and low $400s. Westwood is located east of Highway 29 with many homes built in the 1950s by Devitas.
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Things to Do in Westwood: Westwood isn’t just affordable; it’s also a family-friendly neighborhood in Napa known for the Westwood Hills Park. The hilly and heavily wooded park has three miles of trails through oak tree groves and it’s home to the Carolyn Parr Nature Museum. Westwood is also home to the Napa Premium Outlets, a major outlet mall with 46 stores.
Alta Heights – Great Neighborhood in Napa for Views
Alta Heights is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in Napa. It’s visible from almost every part of town, looming over the eastern edge of Downtown Napa. After the Great Quake of 1906, Alta Heights became known as Little Italy and the neighborhood began to expand. By the 1950s, more homes began to appear on the ridge.
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Alta Heights is known for its unique character with diverse architecture and plenty of open space nearby. Today, Alta Heights is popular for younger people who want the amenities of downtown at their fingertips. You can walk downtown from Alta Heights without the need for a car. The neighborhood has a diverse range of homes from affordable homes to multi-million-dollar estates.
Things to Do in Alta Heights: You’ll find lots of outdoor recreation in Alta Heights and many wineries to explore. Much of the shopping is located along Silverado Trail close to Napa River. In the middle of the residential area of Alta Heights is Esther Deaver Park, a popular amenity for families in Alta Heights. To the south is Lakeview Park which is popular with joggers.
Fuller Park – Napa Neighborhood Known for Historic Homes
Dreaming of living in a beautiful home that exemplifies Napa Valley? Fuller Park is where you want to be. This community was originally settled in the mid-19th century and it’s always been a residential neighborhood. Fuller Park is known for its many examples of beautiful period architecture from the 1870s through the 1920s. On Brown, Randolph, Coombs, Oak, and Seminary streets, you’ll see historic examples of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and Italianate homes that were built to signify status and wealth.
Homes in this Napa, CA neighborhood are sometimes priced under $800k but usually sell for $1 million or more.
Things to Do in Fuller Park: In addition to its stunning real estate, Fuller Park features a park by the same name. Fuller Park is an iconic park with playgrounds, a monument that doubles as a fountain for animals, and plenty of shade. The neighborhood is located between Route 121 and Route 29 with plenty of commercial space and entertainment. You’ll find amenities along Route 29 and S Jefferson Street. Napa Abajo, another Napa neighborhood, separates Fuller Park from the Napa River which is just a short drive away.
Pueblo Park – Large Residential Neighborhood in Napa
Pueblo Park is often overlooked but this Napa neighborhood is known for its affordability. You can find homes for sale in Pueblo Park, Napa for under $500,000, usually in the large part of the neighborhood in unincorporated Napa County. The neighborhood is also home to two elementary schools and a major shopping center at the edge of the boundaries.
Things to Do in Pueblo Park: Pueblo Park is mostly a residential area but it features the centrally located Pueblo Market. There’s a shopping center and commercial area in the northwest corner of the neighborhood at Redwood Rd and St. Helena Highway with great restaurants like La Taquiza Fish Tacos.
Napa Abajo – Fun Neighborhood in Napa for Riverfront Living
Envisioning life along the beautiful Napa River? Napa Abajo may be calling your name. This small neighborhood is located east of Fuller Park and south of downtown. Napa Abajo is mostly residential and known for its tree-lined, wide residential streets, multi-cultural residents, and historic homes. One of the best places to live in Napa in this desirable Napa neighborhood is right along the river, although these homes aren’t often on the market.
Expect to pay several million to live on the water in Napa Abajo. Homes closer to Fuller Park are usually priced at $1 to $3 million.
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Things to Do in Napa Abajo: While Napa Abajo is mostly residential, there’s still plenty to do. The neighborhood is home to the Napa Valley Yacht Club and a popular entertainment and dining area along the river. Grab house brews at Tannery Bend Beerworks or visit the Vinoce & Twenty Rows winery.
Have you found the right Napa neighborhood to call home? Once you’ve settled on the best place to live in Napa, California, Mentors Moving & Storage is here to help you get there. Contact our friendly Napa movers for a free moving estimate to get started!
