RANK #112 / 1001 NAT · #5 / 43 CA · POP 1,649,473
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +2%
Alameda County, California, is often recognized for its diverse landscapes, stretching from the San Francisco Bay shoreline to rolling hills and vineyards. The city of Berkeley, home to the University of California, Berkeley, stands out for its academic environment and cultural scene. The county offers extensive outdoor recreation, with over 350 parks, including Redwood Regional Park and Lake Del Valle Regional Park, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and water sports. Its mild Mediterranean climate allows for year-round enjoyment of these natural amenities. Commute options include BART, AC Transit buses, ACE Train, Amtrak, and ferry services connecting to San Francisco and other Bay Area locations.
Life in Alameda County offers a blend of urban and suburban experiences. The county is home to a diverse population, with various communities ranging from bustling Oakland to more suburban Pleasanton and Dublin. Families consider the local public and charter schools, such as Alameda High School and The Academy of Alameda, as important factors. The economy is influenced by its position in the Bay Area, with ongoing investment in sectors like advanced manufacturing and energy. The county also focuses on sustainable development and climate action initiatives.
Alameda County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -3.4% runs below the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 22.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Potentia-Viridi Battery Energy Storage System
Levy Alameda, LLC
|
$1,200M | Proposed |
|
Emerita Energy Storage
|
$206M | Planned |
|
Aramis Renewable Energy Project (Solar Farm)
Intersect Power
|
$100M | Operating |
|
Palmetto Energy Storage
|
$76M | Planned |
|
Arroyo Lago Residential Project
|
$50M | Approved |
|
Alameda Marina Project (Housing & Commercial)
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Alameda County ranks #112 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 89/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.9% year-over-year). Median household income here is $129,367.
Affordability is a real challenge in Alameda County. The median home is valued at $1,090,100 — with an income-to-home-value ratio of just 0.12, that's significantly harder to afford than in most U.S. counties. Median rent runs $2,357/month.
Population and employment in Alameda County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs -0.9%. Home values shifted -3.4% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.43% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Alameda County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.