Alameda, California, is located near Oakland and San Francisco. The city sits on two islands, Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is the reason it’s sometimes called the Island City. The city is known for being the home of the Alameda Works Shipyard, one of the biggest shipyards in the U.S. Until 1997, the city was also home to the Naval Air Station Alameda, which was home to a number of aircraft carriers. Today, the station’s runway is often used in filming TV shows and movies.
Alameda is a nice alternative to living in San Francisco, and according to the 2010 Census, there are a good number of same-sex married couples living in the city. The entire town is considered to be a gay-friendly neighborhood. Alameda is perfect for those who want the small town feel yet want to live close to San Francisco. There are some great boutiques, restaurants, and parks in Alameda, but contrary to what you might expect, the only sand beach is situated on San Francisco Bay.
Condos in Alameda start at around $250,000 and can reach as much as $1.7 million. Single-family homes range from $320,000 to $2.3 million.
