Brentwood is a city situated in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay area in Contra Costa County, California.
As of the 2020 census, the city had just under 65,000 residents.
The city is known for its wealth, stately mansions, and the celebrities that live there, like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Travis Scott.
Have you ever considered moving to this upmarket city?
This article will review the advantages and disadvantages of living in this wealthy city with all of its amenities.
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Pros of Living in Brentwood, California
What’s not to love, right?
With so much opulence and wealth all around, there are sure to be a plethora of advantages to living in this city.
1. Climate
It’s no secret that California has one of the best climates in the United States.
And Brentwood is no exception.
For the most part, the city experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year.
However, summers can sometimes get brutal, reaching well into the 90s.
The city sees an average of 260 sunny days per year.
The city sees no snow and only 15 inches of rainfall a year.
Both of these are well below the national average.
The hottest month of the year is July and the coldest month is December
The temperature during the colder months rarely falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fall and spring are both pleasant months with an average temperature between 70 and 80 degrees.
2. Excellent location
Brentwood is conveniently situated between several major world-famous destinations, each only a three-hour drive away.
These destinations include Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Yosemite, and San Francisco, to mention a few.
But there is so much more than just the surrounding famous cities to get excited about.
The city is within a 30-minute drive of several world-famous beaches, lakes, and rivers.
This includes the California Delta system, which is only about a 30-minute drive away.
You can participate in various water activities, such as kayaking, fishing, kite-surfing, and even boating.
There are several parks and facilities near the city where you can get your fix on outdoor activities such as white water rafting, camping, hiking, biking, and walking along scenic trails.
3. Scenic and beautiful
Visually, the city and the surrounding areas are beautiful.
It’s a stunning place to raise a family.
The city has just under 100 award-winning facilities and parks for residents.
There are several miles of beautiful walking and hiking trails in and around the city, including biking trails.
And the city is surrounded by even more beauty.
West of the city lies the foothills of Mount Diablo.
You will find the California Delta waterways on the northern side of the city.
And, to the east lies protected farmlands.
In addition to the beautiful landscapes, world-renowned golf courses are scattered across and around the city.
Many of these facilities are free and family-friendly, making Brentwood the ideal place to raise a family.
4. Good schools
The education system in the city isn’t perfect, but it is decent enough to make it onto the list of advantages.
There are 19 elementary schools in the city, ten middle schools, and nine high schools.
In the past, the state of California was considered the Gold Standard in education.
However, due to changes in taxes, there has been less spending on schools, and as a result, the system has seen a drop in quality.
On the other hand, Brentwood is still considered in the top 20% nationally regarding schooling and quality of education.
5. Good jobs
This one may be a bit of a stretch. Most residents in Brentwood work in the Bay area in cushy tech jobs.
There aren’t a lot of significant positions in Brentwood, but some exceptionally high-paying jobs in neighboring cities are only an hour’s commute away.
Of course, with the hefty price tag on some of the properties in Brentwood, it would be no surprise that residents would need to find good-paying jobs.
San Francisco is known as the headquarters of many international conglomerates. Industries that flourish in this city include aerospace, electronics, IT, tourism, and travel.
Finding a great job isn’t a big concern for residents living in Brentwood.
It’s a matter of polishing your resume and securing an interview, provided that you have the proper skill set.
Cons of Living in Brentwood, California
Sadly, even paradise does have its downsides.
1. Housing prices
Over the past few years, there has been a significant rise in interest in the city.
Many people flock to California in search of a new place to call home.
And Brentwood is no exception.
With so many people moving to the city, housing prices have skyrocketed due to the sudden demand.
That means that housing here is quite expensive.
The median house price for a home in Brentwood is currently $917,294.
That is exceptionally higher than the national average and means that the average person probably cannot afford to purchase a home in the city.
You’d have to be wealthy.
The city had seen double-digit increases since 2013 when the average home price was around $200,000.
2. Extreme weather
Whether you believe in climate change or not, you cannot deny that California has been under fire and threatened by wild and runaway fires for the past few years.
This results from the increasing temperatures and little to no rain experienced in the region.
These fires have claimed countless lives over the past several years.
Beautiful woodlands surround the city, which is also the most significant downside.
When these woodlands catch fire, under the tremendous summer heat, with no rain, it is tough to get the fires under control.
In the past few years, the state has set records for a substantial amount of land burning due to wildfires.
It is believed that the ongoing drought and heat waves will only worsen in the future, resulting in even more catastrophic wildfires in the area.
3. The ongoing drought
It’s no secret that California has been experiencing an ongoing drought for the past several years that doesn’t seem to be letting up.
Great weather may be advantageous, but only if sufficient rain maintains the landscape and prevents wildfires.
The city and the state have seen five consecutive years of drought.
The problem is that if this is what scientists fear the most, a megadrought, then you can expect it to continue for decades.
This is the worst drought the city and state have seen in the past 500 years.
If this situation continues, the state and city may experience water supply issues in the future.
This fact alone may deter people from moving here.
The state has its drought monitor, established in 2000, to monitor the effects of the ongoing drought in the state.
4. Long driving commutes for residents
Many residents of Brentwood have long commutes to work because all the high-paying jobs are in neighboring cities like San Francisco
. This means that the average commute each way is approximately an hour away.
That’s two hours of commuting to and from work.
It’s double the national average.
As previously mentioned, the city has a lot of beautiful farmland.
The problem is that commuting into town or work is a hefty one.
And, while Brentwood itself may not have too much of a traffic problem, the same cannot be said for San Francisco.
The city ranks in the top five positions for the worst traffic in the country.
So, for residents of Brentwood that need to commute to their tech jobs in San Francisco, there is an additional amount of time spent in congested traffic.
5. Earthquakes
California has to be the earthquake capital of the US.
The state sees more than 100 earthquakes a day!
And Brentwood sees at least one micro earthquake a day.
The good news, for now, is that these earthquakes are relatively small and pose no real threat at the moment.
But the state has some notable earthquakes that have made history and are still discussed today.
As recent as 2019, we saw a magnitude seven earthquake hit Ridgecrest, California.
And, last year, a magnitude six earthquake hit the Antelope Valley.
The state and city are a sitting time bomb waiting for the next big earthquake to hit.
I don’t know about you, but those are some pretty scary odds to be against.
Pros and Cons of Living in Brentwood, CA – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Brentwood, California | Cons of Living in Brentwood, California |
|---|---|
| 1. Climate | 1. Housing prices |
| 2. Excellent location | 2. Extreme weather |
| 3. Scenic and beautiful | 3. The ongoing drought |
| 4. Good schools | 4. Long driving commutes for residents |
| 5. Good jobs | 5. Earthquakes |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brentwood, California, known for?
One of the most significant points this city is known for is the celebrities calling it home.
The city is known for its agriculture, such as corn, cherries, and peaches.
But this isn’t the only thing the city is known for.
There are a plethora of scenic outdoor venues and facilities to enjoy in and around the city.
The city boasts a vibrant nightlife, arts and culture scene, and exceptional food and wine.
What is the biggest tourist attraction in Brentwood?
Well, you’re probably going to want to drive past some of the celebrity homes.
The area is also known for its farmlands and wineries that surround the city and are located in the state.
There are a few national parks that are well worth the visit as well.
And many historical sites that you must visit and see.
Is there good wine in Brentwood?
Brentwood is situated in California.
The state is world-renowned for its wine production, specifically chardonnay, produced in the Sonoma Valley area.
The wine from this region is exported to all major countries across the world and the region has won many accolades and awards for its exceptional wine industry.
Also a con, is tge city police and government don’t give a care about you. Just your money.
My family has lived in Brentwood for over 75 years. We were a small country town compared to being cursed into being an overly large city. Agriculture is what made Brentwood, Brentwood and all this growth has destroyed quite a bit of agriculture and open space. Those of us who’ve lived here pre-explosive growth, can no longer afford to live here because of continued growth which leads to higher cost of living, higher taxes, more demand go schools and services. And we have no celebrities living here, although there is the other Brentwood in the LA area made famous by OJ. The destruction of s country town of 3,000 in favor of a large city of 65,000 and counting, is a tragedy that should have never happened.