When moving to Livermore, California, you’ll be choosing a city known for scientific research and winemaking. Both go back a long way – the town was founded in 1869 alongside the railway, and the first vineyards were planted not long after.
Livermore’s flourishing economy is bolstered by the presence of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and a thriving wine industry. The city’s educational facilities are a significant draw, and there are several well-regarded schools and academic programmes. Coupled with safe neighbourhoods and a high quality of life, Livermore is an ideal place for families.
Sycamore Grove Park and Del Valle Regional Park are the big draws for hiking, cycling, swimming, and family picnics.
Cost of living in Livermore
The cost of living in Livermore is well above the national average, and above the California average too. Higher costs include higher housing prices, and the local property values and rental rates reflect the city’s desirability and economic health.
Day-to-day expenses in Livermore, like groceries and healthcare, generally line up with the national average. Transport costs in Livermore are another factor to consider. Gas (petrol) and public transport fares are both well above the national average.
On a positive note, the higher cost of living is offset by higher average salaries. What you get for the money is a strong local economy, good amenities, plenty of green space, and a short hop to the rest of the Bay Area.
Cost of living in San Francisco
Cost of living in San Jose
Getting around in Livermore
Getting around in Livermore is easiest by car, although you can reach the rest of the Bay Area by ACE train or BART. Interstate 580 is the main route through the city, and the Interstate 680 interchange is just west of town. San Francisco is about 45 miles (72 km) away, and Oakland and San Jose are both shorter drives. The city’s infrastructure supports an average commute of about 30 minutes, which is respectable by Bay Area standards.
The nearest Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station is Dublin/Pleasanton, roughly a 15-minute drive away. From there, you can get to Oakland and central San Francisco without changing. The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) runs the local Wheels bus network and serves Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton. Several routes end at the BART station.
The Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) is the commuter rail option. From the downtown station, you can ride west to Pleasanton, Fremont, and San Jose, or east to Tracy and Stockton.
Uber and Lyft both operate in Livermore, and there are local taxi firms as well.
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Healthcare in Livermore
Residents of Livermore benefit from a robust healthcare system, primarily served by Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley. This comprehensive network provides extensive medical, surgical, and speciality services.
Health insurance in Livermore is the same as anywhere else in California: cover through an employer, a plan bought on the Covered California marketplace, Medicare for the over-65s, or Medi-Cal, which is the state’s version of Medicaid. Newcomers who arrive part-way through the year can usually enrol outside the normal open enrolment window, since a house move counts as a qualifying life event.
Understanding Health Insurance in the USA
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Schools in Livermore
Schools in Livermore are run mainly by the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, which teaches from kindergarten through to high school. Its STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) provision is a selling point, and Marylin Avenue School is the flagship for it. Joe Michell School and Granada High School even offer International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes.
For those interested in private education, there are a handful of schools in the city, some faith-based and some following a particular teaching philosophy. St Michael’s is the long-standing Catholic option, Valley Montessori and Fountainhead Montessori take the Montessori approach, and Acton Academy East Bay works on a learner-led model.
The Livermore After School Education and Safety Program (ASES) is the main after-school option, and it covers homework support alongside sport and arts activities at district campuses.
Best International Schools in San Francisco
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Weather in Livermore
Livermore enjoys a Mediterranean climate marked by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. That suits you if you want to be outdoors for most of the year. The Diablo Range and the Altamont Hills are between the valley and the coast, so you rarely get the fog and sea breezes that keep San Francisco cool. The heat and the dry air are what make the valley good for vineyards.
Weather in San Francisco
Weather in San Jose
Working in Livermore
Working in Livermore usually means one of four sectors: technology and research, healthcare, education, or local government.
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is the biggest employer in the city, and it hires physicists, engineers, computer scientists, and administrative staff. The lab requires US citizenship and a security clearance for many of its roles, which rules out a good number of new arrivals.
Healthcare is the next biggest sector. Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley is in the city itself, and San Ramon Regional Medical Center is a short drive north. In education, the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District and Las Positas College are the two big employers, and they take on teaching and administrative staff.
Accommodation in Livermore
Accommodation in Livermore is mostly detached family homes, although there are apartments and townhouses closer to downtown. Rents are high by national standards, although you get more space for your money than in San Francisco or Oakland.
Competition is stiff for anything within walking distance of downtown or the ACE station, so have references and proof of income ready before you start viewing.
Downtown Livermore is the busiest part of the city. Shops, restaurants, tasting rooms, and the main theatre are all within walking distance. Granada Woods is quieter and more suburban, and the houses there are larger.
Conversely, Granada Woods offers a taste of suburban life with its spacious homes and communal amenities, perfect for those looking for a more relaxed pace. Carlton Square is gated and suits people who want a close-knit setup. Lindenwood is the pick if you like older houses and mature trees.
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Lifestyle in Livermore
The wine country is the centre of lifestyle in Livermore. Dozens of wineries are within a short drive of town, and most keep tasting rooms open at weekends. The San Francisco Premium Outlets is the big draw for shopping, and shoppers come from across the region.
The wineries also put on the biggest events of the year, and the summer concert series at Wente Vineyards is the best known. The city council funds public art through its artsALIVE and CreativeLivermore programmes, so you will see sculpture and murals around the downtown streets.
Nightlife is concentrated downtown. Wine bars that pour local vintages, lounges, live music venues, and the Bankhead Theater are all within a few blocks. Most places stay open late at weekends, although this is a small city and things quieten down midweek.