Photo above: Aerial view of Pleasant Hill with I-680 and the Walnut Creek channel, looking north toward Martinez and the Carquinez Strait, September 2018. Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
For a lot of buyers, yes, if the numbers work. Pleasant Hill sits right on I-680 in central Contra Costa County, with a new library, a Saturday farmers market and a large park district, but the median sale price was $948,372 in August 2026 and the nearest BART station is just outside city limits.
Here is the straight list. Check each one against the way you live.
What are the biggest pros of living in Pleasant Hill?
A central location, parks run by their own district, and a downtown with things going on most weeks.
- I-680 runs through the middle of town. The city describes Interstate 680 running north and south through Pleasant Hill and connecting it with Highway 24 toward Oakland and San Francisco (City of Pleasant Hill, Economic Development page, checked September 24, 2026).
- A park district just for this area. The Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District is a separate agency from the city, founded in 1951, with an elected board. It maintains 269 acres of parkland and offers over 2,300 classes, programs and activities (Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District, About Us page, checked September 24, 2026).
- A newer library. The Pleasant Hill Library opened July 30, 2022, with 24,000 square feet inside and a rooftop solar array. It is open six days a week and closed Sundays (City of Pleasant Hill, Pleasant Hill Library page, checked September 24, 2026).
- A college in town. Diablo Valley College’s main campus is at 321 Golf Club Road (Diablo Valley College, dvc.edu, checked September 24, 2026).
- Something on the calendar. The farmers market runs year-round at City Hall on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (City of Pleasant Hill, Festivals & Events page, checked September 24, 2026). More on that in our answer on what there is to do in Pleasant Hill.
What are the biggest cons?
Price, a BART station that is not actually in the city, and change coming to the zoning map.
- It costs real money. Redfin shows a median sale price of $948,372 for August 2026, with homes selling at 101.8% of list price on average (Redfin, Pleasant Hill housing market page, August 2026, checked September 24, 2026).
- BART is next door, not in town. See the next section. You will likely drive, bike or bus to the station.
- More building is planned. Pleasant Hill’s state-assigned share of regional housing need is 1,803 new homes for 2023 to 2031, and the city rezoned properties to make room. If a quiet street matters to you, look up the zoning around the house before you buy.
- Not much nightlife. Downtown has restaurants and events, but for a bigger night out you will probably head to Walnut Creek or farther.
- A city sales tax on top. The total sales tax rate in the city is 9.25%, the same as Walnut Creek, versus 8.75% in unincorporated county areas such as the BART station block (California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, rate lookup, checked September 25, 2026). Part of that is Measure K, a half-cent city tax voters approved in November 2016. It took effect April 1, 2017 for 20 years, and the city says it brings in over $4 million a year for streets, storm drains, sidewalks, bike paths, the new library and other city services (City of Pleasant Hill, Measure K page, checked September 24, 2026).
Is Pleasant Hill BART in Pleasant Hill?
No. The station is called Pleasant Hill / Contra Costa Centre, but BART lists its address as 1365 Treat Blvd., Walnut Creek, CA 94597 (BART, Pleasant Hill / Contra Costa Centre station page, checked September 24, 2026). It sits in Contra Costa Centre, unincorporated county land just south of city limits. The county’s general plan update profiles Contra Costa Centre as the community next to the station (Contra Costa County, Envision Contra Costa 2040, Contra Costa Centre profile, draft of October 14, 2024), and the state’s sales tax agency lists the station address as unincorporated Contra Costa County (CDTFA rate lookup, checked September 25, 2026).
What that means for you: the station is close, but for most addresses in the city you will drive, bike or ride a bus to it. It is on the Antioch to SFO/Millbrae line. Daily parking was $3.40 and a monthly reserved spot was $93.80 when we checked, and BART listed parking capacity as available at all times (BART station page, checked September 24, 2026). BART also notes the Iron Horse Trail, buses and Highway 680 all meet at the station, so biking there is an option for some streets.
One more thing. Homes near the station can carry a Walnut Creek mailing address and still sit in the county, not a city. The mailing address does not decide your city, school district or tax bill. The parcel does. Check it with the Contra Costa County Assessor before you write an offer.
How much does a home in Pleasant Hill cost right now?
About $948,000 at the middle of the market. Here is what Redfin reported for August 2026, all home types together (Redfin, Pleasant Hill housing market page, August 2026, checked September 24, 2026):
| Measure | August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Median sale price | $948,372 (up 0.6% from a year earlier) |
| Homes sold | 97 |
| Median days on market | 18 |
| Sale price vs. list price | 101.8% |
| Homes that sold above list | 43.2% |
| Homes with a price drop | 23.8% |
| Median price per square foot | $609 |
That median mixes condos, townhouses and houses. A single number will not price the house you like. Our Pleasant Hill market update walks through how to get a real number for one home.
What is changing in Pleasant Hill?
The zoning map, mostly. On November 17, 2025, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 978, a full rewrite of the zoning code and a new zoning map to carry out the 2040 General Plan and the 2023 to 2031 Housing Element. It took effect December 17, 2025 (City of Pleasant Hill, Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Amendment page, checked September 24, 2026).
The Housing Element plans for 1,803 new units across all income levels, and the city identified room for more than 2,130 (City of Pleasant Hill, certified 2023 to 2031 Housing Element; state HCD found it in substantial compliance on November 22, 2023). The council holds another study session on possible land use and zoning map changes on October 19, 2026 (City of Pleasant Hill, 2026 General Plan Land Use & Zoning Map Study page, checked September 24, 2026).
We do not give zoning or legal advice. For what can be built on or near a specific lot, ask the city’s Planning Division, and talk to an attorney if you need a legal opinion.
What about schools?
Pleasant Hill is in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, which lists Pleasant Hill among the cities it serves (MDUSD, About Our District page, checked September 24, 2026). MDUSD assigns schools by street address, and it says its School Site Locator is a guideline only, not a binding assignment (MDUSD, Find Your School page, checked September 24, 2026). Verify the school for any address directly with the district before you buy.
What about fire maps and crime data?
Look them up for the exact address. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District adopted updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps effective July 10, 2025 and posts a Pleasant Hill map (cccfpd.org, Local Responsibility Area Maps, checked September 24, 2026). For crime, the Pleasant Hill Police Department posts a monthly Summary of Statistical Activity on the city site (City of Pleasant Hill, Crime Statistics page, checked September 24, 2026). Read the source and decide for yourself.
Questions people also ask
Is Pleasant Hill in a fire hazard zone?
Parts of Contra Costa County are, and the only way to know for one home is to check the map. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District adopted updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps effective July 10, 2025 and posts a separate Pleasant Hill map on its Local Responsibility Area Maps page, checked September 24, 2026. The Natural Hazard Disclosure for any home you buy will also say whether it is in a mapped zone.
Does Pleasant Hill have its own sales tax?
Yes. Measure K, a half-cent city sales tax, was approved by voters on November 8, 2016. It started April 1, 2017 and runs 20 years, and the city says it raises over $4 million a year. The total rate in the city is 9.25%, per the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, checked September 25, 2026. For how any tax affects you, ask a tax professional.
Is Pleasant Hill building a lot of new housing?
The city is planning for it. Its certified Housing Element sets a target of 1,803 new units for 2023 to 2031, and a new zoning map took effect December 17, 2025. The council meets again on the land use and zoning map on October 19, 2026. Check the city’s Planning Division for a specific lot.
Your next step
Pick two or three streets you like. We will pull recent sales, check which side of the city line each one is on, and map the drive to I-680 and BART. Talk to a Pleasant Hill agent on our team or call (510) 949-5525.
More on Pleasant Hill: Pleasant Hill market update · What is there to do in Pleasant Hill? · Search Pleasant Hill homes · What’s my home worth?
By Bill Davis, DRE #01880656, The Davis Team at eXp Realty, Pleasant Hill, CA. Updated September 24, 2026.
Sources
- Redfin, Pleasant Hill housing market page, August 2026: redfin.com/city/14983/CA/Pleasant-Hill/housing-market (checked September 24, 2026)
- BART, Pleasant Hill / Contra Costa Centre station page: bart.gov/stations/phil (checked September 24, 2026)
- Contra Costa County, Envision Contra Costa 2040, Contra Costa Centre community profile, draft of October 14, 2024: envisioncontracosta2040.org (checked September 25, 2026)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, tax rate lookup by address: cdtfa.ca.gov (checked September 25, 2026)
- City of Pleasant Hill, Economic Development, Pleasant Hill Library, Festivals & Events, Measure K, Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Amendment, 2026 General Plan Land Use & Zoning Map Study, and Crime Statistics pages: phillca.gov (checked September 24, 2026)
- City of Pleasant Hill, 2023 to 2031 Housing Element and HCD letter of November 22, 2023: phillca.gov (checked September 24, 2026)
- Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District, About Us: pleasanthillrec.com (checked September 24, 2026)
- Diablo Valley College: dvc.edu (checked September 24, 2026)
- Mt. Diablo Unified School District, About Our District and Find Your School: mdusd.org (checked September 24, 2026)
- Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Local Responsibility Area Maps: cccfpd.org (checked September 24, 2026)