Our updated East Bay Home Price Map offers a high-level snapshot of median home prices across Alameda and Contra Costa counties, based on the most recent 12 months of closed sales. While the map highlights the full East Bay, it’s especially useful for understanding how Lamorinda — Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda — continues to stand apart from surrounding markets.
Why Lamorinda Consistently Ranks at the Top
On the map, Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda are clearly positioned among the highest-priced markets in the East Bay. This is not a short-term trend. These communities have long commanded premium pricing due to a combination of factors that remain firmly in place:
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Highly regarded public schools
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Low turnover and limited housing supply
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Strong owner occupancy
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Convenient access to BART, Highway 24, and employment centers
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A consistent preference for single-family homes over higher-density housing
Because inventory in Lamorinda is structurally constrained, prices tend to be more resilient here than in many nearby East Bay cities during market slowdowns.
What the Median Price Actually Represents
The prices shown on the map are medians, not averages, and they are calculated across all home types sold in each city over the past year. In Lamorinda, this matters.
Sales activity is dominated by single-family homes, but the size, condition, lot value, and location within each town can create wide pricing ranges. For example, a turnkey home near downtown Lafayette or the Orinda Country Club will behave very differently from a hillside or fixer property, even though both contribute to the same median statistic.
In short, the map shows direction and relative positioning, not a precise value for any individual home.
How Lamorinda Is Performing Compared to the Broader East Bay
While some East Bay markets have experienced more noticeable softening over the past year, Lamorinda has generally seen:
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Smaller price swings
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Fewer distressed or discounted sales
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Continued buyer competition for well-located, well-priced homes
Homes that are updated, thoughtfully priced, and located near schools or town centers are still selling efficiently, even as buyers have become more selective.
At the same time, days on market have increased compared to peak years, giving buyers more breathing room and making pricing strategy more important than it was a few years ago.
What This Means for Buyers in Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda
Buyers should not expect Lamorinda pricing to track perfectly with broader East Bay headlines. While opportunities do exist — especially on homes that need work or are priced ambitiously — demand remains deep for quality inventory.
The most successful buyers today are:
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Highly prepared financially
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Focused on micro-locations, not just city names
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Willing to move quickly when the right property appears
What This Means for Sellers
For sellers, the map reinforces an important point: Lamorinda remains a premium market, but it is not immune to shifts in buyer behavior.
Accurate pricing, strong presentation, and a clear understanding of current competition matter more than ever. Homes priced based on peak-market expectations are likely to sit, while homes priced in line with recent comparable sales are still attracting serious interest.
Bottom Line
The East Bay Home Price Map confirms what long-time residents and buyers already know — Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda continue to hold their position as some of the most desirable and valuable communities in the East Bay.
For anyone considering buying or selling in Lamorinda, city-level data is only the starting point. Neighborhood-level trends, recent comparable sales, and buyer demand within specific school zones ultimately determine value.
