The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals
February 2, 2017

The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals

The Sacramento area has a thriving young professional crowd. With a lively culture, an upbeat nightlife, artsy venues, creative eateries, and wonderful work places, it’s no wonder Sacramento and its surrounding neighborhoods are ideal places for 20- and 30-somethings to call home.

And the working professional will be pleased to discover that in 2015, Forbes named Sacramento the #2 happiest U.S. city to work in!

But where exactly should young professionals live in Sacramento? The following neighborhoods, suburbs and cities in and around Sacramento are popular amongst young professionals for a variety of reasons. Find out what makes them especially attractive!

The Best Neighborhoods for Young Professionals in Sacramento Include:

1. Midtown

The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals: Midtown

Midtown is perhaps the most popular area for young professionals due to its proximity to the heart of downtown, its robust culture and overall hip vibe. While Midtown residents may access downtown in a matter of minutes, there is so much going on in this area that they don’t need to travel far to have a good time. Perhaps the most notable pull for young professionals to live in this area is the abundance of restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops, bars, and other locally owned businesses so quintessential to the heartbeat of this area. Within a matter of minutes, residents can walk out their front door, along tree-lined streets dotted with Victorian-era homes to their favorite coffee shop, bookstore or eatery just around the corner.

Midtown Hotspots

Food: Zocalo, The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar + Paragary’s

Drinks: 58 Degrees & Holding Co., LowBrau + Der Biergarten

 

2. Land Park

The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals: Land Park

Land Park has an overtly artistic and historic feel, which is something the younger generation values and pursues. Land Park and Curtis Park are included among the city’s oldest historic areas, and considered one of the most delightful areas to call home. Land Park is filled with charming 1920s, 1930s and 1940s homes located just steps from the activity along Broadway at the northern tip of Land Park. This popular street is packed with lots of bars and restaurants — particularly ethnic restaurants! Young professionals in this area appreciate the diverse culture of this neighborhood, and its easy access to downtown and other surrounding communities.

With all this activity along Broadway, the southern part of Land Park should not be ignored! William Land Park is a major hub for community activity. The 166.5 acres of developed land includes an amphitheater, a basketball court, a golf course, a jogging path, lakes, picnic areas, several sports fields and more — including the Sacramento Zoo!

Land Park Hotspots

Food: Tower Cafe, Masullo Pizza + Iron Grill

Drinks: New Helvetia Brewing Company, Track 7 Brewing Co. + Joe Marty’s Bar & Grille

 

3. Curtis Park

The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals: Curtis Park

Similar to its neighbor, Land Park, Curtis Park has the historic feel and upbeat vibe most young professionals are after. In fact, Curtis Park was named one of the 10 hottest neighborhoods in the entire country out of about 200,000 neighborhoods! Many consider Curtis Park a well-kept Sacramento secret, but people all across the country are beginning to notice this area’s obvious draw. With a slightly lower cost of living than Land Park, and the same access to nearby Land Park attractions — and a slew of its own hotspots! — Curtis Park is emerging as a popular area for young professionals to call home. Additionally, the long park in the center of the neighborhood, appropriately named Curtis Park, is a coveted area for homebuyers. Young professionals in this area enjoy easy park access for jogging, dog walking, picnicking and local community events.

Curtis Park Hotspots

Food: Meet & Eat, Dad’s Kitchen + Andy Nguyen’s Vegetarian Restaurant

Drinks: Pangaea Bier Cafe + Cafe Dantorels

 

4. Davis

The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals: Davis

With a heavy concentration of college students in Davis, this city is naturally made to accommodate young professionals with a diverse selection of eateries, breweries and shops. The active lifestyle and overwhelming bike culture of this area is also particularly attractive to this crowd, as Davis has been called the “Bicycle Capital of America” since 1964. The city was built with bikes in mind, featuring more than 100 miles of bike paths and trails winding their way through town. The buzz on the UC Davis campus and throughout Davis adds a certain spark to this community, which certainly attracts the young professional crowd.

Davis Hotspots

Food: Crepeville, Sophia’s Thai Kitchen + The Mustard Seed

Drinks: de Vere’s Irish Pub, Burgers & Brew + VINI Wine Bar

 

5. Folsom

The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals: Folsom

Folsom is the perfect area for the young professional who wants a taste of the suburban life. Like many surrounding neighborhoods of Sacramento, Folsom has plenty of residents who commute into the city each day. However, the city’s robust business community means some don’t have to travel far to work. Furthermore, Folsom residents are able to keep up with the area’s higher cost of living because they average the third-highest pay scale for those with a bachelor-level education. Folsom’s internal economy is quite strong as well, as there are lots of local businesses supported by residents and visitors alike. With a thriving downtown area filled with shops, eateries and local pubs, the young professional can maintain a robust social life. Additionally, active Folsom residents enjoy an abundance of outdoor activities available at nearby lakes, including Lake Folsom and Lake Natoma, in addition to an abundance of parks and natural areas.

Folsom Hotspots

Food: Marly and Moo, LO (Land Ocean) Restaurant + Sutter Street Steakhouse

Drinks: Manderes, Pete’s Restaurant and Brewhouse + Back Wine Bar & Bistro

 

6. Downtown

The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals: Downtown

With all of this talk of surrounding communities, we cannot ignore downtown Sacramento as a popular place for young professionals to live. Living in a trendy apartment or condo in the heart of the city means there is never a shortage of things to do and places to go. This is one of the best ways to truly experience the culture of this exciting city with lots of community events, farmers’ markets, concerts and shows, and some of the best dining destinations in the country. Plus, young professionals who live downtown usually won’t have a lengthy commute to work! Some residents walk a few blocks to work, travel a block or two to a lush green city park, and are within walking distance (or a cheap Uber ride!) to any of their favorite local spots where they can meet up with friends or coworkers. This sounds like a dream for the young professional with an active lifestyle and busy social calendar.

Downtown Hotspots

Food: Grange, Cafeteria 15L + Blackbird.

Drinks: Dive Bar, R15 + Ruhstaller Brewery + Taproom

 

7. “Wavis”

The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals: Woodland

While Woodland and Davis are both amazing towns for young professionals, it’s the newly developed area in between that has our attention. This area, known by some as “Wavis”, includes a newer and more affordable set of homes with an up-and-coming downtown area filled with breweries, shops and upscale restaurants. Additionally, this collection of homes is located on Woodland’s east side close to I-5, so residents may access the downtown area, the attractions in Woodland, and other surrounding communities in a matter of minutes.

“Wavis” Hotspots

Food: Kitchen428 Restaurant, Morgan’s On Main + Savory Cafe

Drinks: The Burger Saloon, Stack’d & Brew’d + Father Paddy’s

 

8. Arden-Arcade

Arden-Arcade is often overlooked, but is certainly an ideal area for young professionals to call home. Newcomers to the city will have no problem meeting other young professionals, as it has the area’s fourth-highest percentage of residents between 22 and 29, most of which have a bachelor’s degree. This large pool of educated young people means young professionals are in good company in Arden-Arcade. Additionally, this neighborhood maintains the perfect distance from the heart of Sacramento as residents may access the downtown area with a short drive but have plenty of do right outside their front door. With about 33 neighborhoods making up the Arden-Arcade area, there is a wide selection of homes and locations for young professionals to choose from that will best fit their lifestyle.

Arden-Arcade Hotspots

Food: The Kitchen Restaurant, Tasty Thai + Abyssinia Restaurant

Drinks: Liaison Lounge, Field House American Sports Pub + Capitol Beer and Taproom

 

9. Elk Grove

The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals: Elk Grove

According to a recent study by SmartAsset, Elk Grove was ranked #2 in the cities where millennials are buying homes throughout the country. Since 2000, the population of Elk Grove has increased by over 100,000, with many people attracted to the city’s relative affordability and proximity to jobs in both Sacramento and San Francisco. Clearly, there is something attractive about Elk Grove within this age group if they are so readily committing to buying homes! With an abundance of creative eateries, breweries, shops, parks and an active community calendar, Elk Grove makes a lively hometown for its young professional homeowners.

Elk Grove Hotspots

Food: Boulevard Bistro, Satori Sushi & Teriyaki Grill + Paesanos

Drinks: Tilted Mash Brewery, Flatland Brewing Company + Sage Mill

Category Davis, Elk Grove, Folsom, Neighborhood Guides, Real Estate, Sacramento

Lyon Real Estate