One Of California's Wealthiest Suburbs In 2025 Offers Picturesque Parks, Small-Town Charm, And A Walkable Downtown

Move aside, Beverly Hills. There's a new affluent neighborhood in California, and boy, is it rich. Alamo — not to be confused with the famous, albeit disappointing, Texas landmark of the same name — was crowned one of the Golden State's wealthiest suburbs in 2025 by CEOWORLD magazine. Believe it or not, the unincorporated community nearly topped the list, coming in at No. 2 behind the tree-lined haven of Los Altos. 

Alamo sits in the rolling hills of the San Ramon Valley in the East Bay, which lies across the bridge on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay Area. The mean household income in this nook of Northern California is roughly $403,000 — far more than the state average of $136,730, according to Income By Zip Code. But Alamo's past is even richer than any of its upscale streets and massive, multi-million-dollar mansions. The roots of this Contra Costa County enclave stretch back to when Native peoples called the land home. Spanish explorers eventually made landfall sometime in the late 1700s, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Despite its larger-than-life reputation today, Alamo has managed to retain its small-town charm, from its walkable downtown district to its unspoiled, picturesque parks. "Great place to raise a family. A bit uppity, but in a down to earth kind of way," an online review on Niche reads. "Difficult to describe the irony." Straddling Interstate 680, Alamo is only about a 30-minute drive away from the Oakland International Airport (OAK), making it super easy to get to with or without a car, thanks to local transit.

Alamo has an absolute bevy of lush wilderness areas right at its back door. The Oakland suburb stands in the shadow of Mount Diablo, the focal point of Mount Diablo State Park. The roughly 20,000-acre park is arguably one of the most incredible California spots to visit. From hiking trails and picnic areas to campsites and museums, there's certainly no shortage of adventure here. Explore the sandstone wind caves and other craggy formations at Rock City, located near the state park's South Gate entrance. Or make the difficult climb up to the summit to take in the panoramic views. 

Roam the trails of the neighboring Diablo Foothills Regional Park. The 1,000-acre patch of Northern California wilds is home to the Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area, where you can also admire stunning canyon views. Flanking Alamo to the southwest is the Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve, which spans a little over 6,000 acres and is rated the No. 1 attraction in the San Ramon Valley on Tripadvisor. Covering that expansiveness, the park boasts a wide trail system for hikers and horseback riders alike. One review reads: "It has a few trails that are pretty steep (you may want to put your hiking boots on), great for hiking with family and or friends. Also bring along bottled water, hat and some snacks if wanting to go for a longer hike (specially on a hot day)."

The local Hap Magee Ranch Park is far smaller, spanning only 17 acres. But it does have a dog park if you want to let your pup stretch its legs. The former cattle ranch also offers walking paths and picnic areas, as well as age-appropriate playgrounds for the kiddos.

Once you've worked up an appetite with all that walking, venture on over to downtown Alamo. The quaint district spans just a few blocks along Danville Boulevard, but is lined with plenty of eateries nonetheless. Feast on breakfast classics and savory lunch staples at The Peasant's Courtyard or Alamo Cafe. The homey restaurants — located right across the street from each other — are the most popular places to eat in town, according to Tripadvisor. "Best breakfast, best service," a review for the latter reads, while patrons of the former raved about the French dip. If you're craving spicier flavors, grab a table at the nearby Maguey Mexican Restaurant, another local favorite.

More eats can be found at the up-and-coming Alamo Plaza Shopping Center. The sweeping retail space hosts the town's weekly farmers' market, along with a couple of Instagram-worthy murals. It's worth mentioning that the downtown area may be undergoing some changes. As of this writing, developers are looking to put up some new housing across from the shopping center, so if you have a future visit on the horizon, don't be surprised if things look a bit different.

Alamo is beautiful any time of year, but the area does experience all of the seasons. Temperatures typically drop to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months, heating upwards of 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. So, depending on what outdoor activities you'd like to get into, the best time to visit is between April and October.