Moraga, CA Properties | Justin Miller

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Moraga is a town in Contra Costa County, California, located in the rolling East Bay hills of the San Francisco Bay Area. Together with Lafayette and Orinda, it forms the Lamorinda region, a trio of affluent, low-density communities strung along State Route 24 between the Caldecott Tunnel and the San Ramon Valley. Moraga's 2020 population was 16,870, and the town takes its name from Joaquín Moraga, a member of the prominent Californio family whose Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados once encompassed the valley. The town's history is closely tied to Saint Mary's College of California. The private Catholic liberal arts college, founded in 1863 in San Francisco, relocated to Moraga in 1928 after a fire destroyed its Oakland campus, and its Spanish Renaissance and California Mission-style buildings have anchored the town's eastern edge ever since. The college's presence gives Moraga a cultural and educational dimension unusual for a town of its size, with collegiate athletics, performances, and academic life woven into the community. Moraga itself is overwhelmingly residential. Single-family homes on generous lots spread across the hillsides, interspersed with parks, open space, and the commercial cluster around Rheem. The town is known for its strong public schools—the Moraga School District for grades K-8 and the Acalanes Union High School District for grades 9-12—which are a primary draw for families. Outdoor access is another defining feature. The Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail, a 7.65-mile paved linear park, runs along the former Sacramento Northern Railway corridor through the town, and surrounding open space offers hiking and ridgeline views. Moraga appeals to households seeking a safe, scenic, school-focused suburb with a semi-rural feel, while remaining within commuting reach of Oakland, San Francisco, and the East Bay's employment centers via Route 24 and nearby BART stations.

Population 16,870

County Contra Costa

Active Listings 49

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Moraga, California in?

Moraga is located in Contra Costa County, California, in the East Bay hills of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is part of the Lamorinda region, together with the neighboring cities of Lafayette and Orinda.

What is the population of Moraga?

Moraga's population was 16,870 at the 2020 census. It is an affluent, largely residential suburban town, with the presence of Saint Mary's College of California adding a collegiate element to the community.

What school districts serve Moraga?

Moraga students are served by the Moraga School District for elementary and middle grades and the Acalanes Union High School District for grades 9 through 12. Campolindo High School is located in Moraga, and the Acalanes Union district is headquartered in the town.

What college is in Moraga?

Moraga is home to Saint Mary's College of California, a private Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1863 that moved to Moraga in 1928. Its Spanish Renaissance and California Mission-style campus sits on Saint Mary's Road on the town's east side.

How do residents commute from Moraga?

Moraga is reached via Moraga Road and St. Mary's Road, which connect to State Route 24 in Lafayette and Orinda. Route 24 leads through the Caldecott Tunnel toward Oakland and San Francisco, and BART stations in Lafayette and Orinda provide rail access to the Bay Area.

City Guide

About Moraga

Real Estate & Housing

Moraga's housing market is dominated by single-family homes on generously sized lots, reflecting the town's hillside, semi-rural setting. The stock includes ranch-style and mid-century homes, newer construction, and custom hillside estates, many with views of the surrounding ridges, open space, and mature trees. Development is low-density and carefully contained, and the community's zoning and hillside geography limit high-volume building, which keeps the housing character consistent over time. Buyers are drawn by the schools, the scenic setting, and the space between neighbors, with attached housing and smaller lots concentrated near the Rheem corridor rather than spread throughout the town's residential hills.

Neighborhoods

Moraga's neighborhoods are spread across the town's valleys and hillsides. Rheem, near the commercial center, is a sought-after area of tree-lined streets and hillside views, with Rheem Valley Manor a prominent pocket. Bollinger Canyon, on the town's western side, offers larger lots and open-space adjacency, while Sanders Ranch and Carroll Ranch reflect the area's ranching heritage with generous parcels. Campolindo and Corliss sit near the high school and Saint Mary's College, and neighborhoods such as the Bluffs, St. Mary's Gardens, Larch, School Tree, Sonsara, and Donald round out a landscape of established, low-density subdivisions. Most are defined by quiet cul-de-sacs, hillside outlooks, and proximity to trails rather than dense street grids.

Lifestyle in Moraga

Moraga offers a quiet, family-centered suburban lifestyle with a strong emphasis on schools, open space, and community events. The town's residential streets wind through the hills, and daily life often revolves around youth sports, school activities, and outdoor recreation. Saint Mary's College brings a cultural and athletic presence, including collegiate sports and campus events, while the Rheem commercial area provides everyday shopping and services. The Lamorinda setting keeps residents close to Lafayette and Orinda's downtowns, BART access, and the broader East Bay, yet the pace in Moraga itself remains noticeably slower and more residential, with an active civic calendar and strong neighborhood identity.

Schools & Education

Moraga is known for strong public schools. The Moraga School District serves students in the elementary and middle grades, while the Acalanes Union High School District—headquartered in Moraga—serves grades 9 through 12 across the Lamorinda and Walnut Creek area. Campolindo High School, located in Moraga, is part of Acalanes Union and is consistently recognized among the region's top high schools. The district structure means elementary boundaries and high school attendance areas follow their own maps, and families often choose Moraga specifically for the school system. Saint Mary's College of California provides higher education in town, and the broader Bay Area offers extensive university and private-school options.

Getting Around

Moraga is reached by Moraga Road and St. Mary's Road, the town's two principal arteries, which connect to State Route 24 in Lafayette and Orinda. Route 24 carries traffic through the Caldecott Tunnel toward Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco, and links with Interstate 680 for routes to the San Ramon Valley and San Jose. Moraga has no BART station of its own, but the Lafayette and Orinda stations are a short drive away, providing rail service across the Bay Area. The town's hilly, low-density layout makes the car the primary mode for daily errands, though the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail and local bus service offer alternatives for recreation and some commuting.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Moraga centers on its open space and trail network. The Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail, maintained by the East Bay Regional Park District, runs 7.65 miles along St. Mary's Road through Lafayette and Moraga, providing a paved route for walking, cycling, and horseback riding. The town's parks, including Moraga Commons Park and Rancho Laguna Park, host sports fields, playgrounds, and community events, while the surrounding hills offer ridgeline hiking and views of the valley. Saint Mary's College adds a collegiate sports scene, and the nearby East Bay Regional Park District lands extend recreation opportunities across the Lamorinda hills and reservoirs, making outdoor activity a daily part of life for many residents.

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