Lafayette
Its own BART station, a lively downtown along Mt. Diablo Boulevard and the Lafayette Reservoir.
Regional guide
Lamorinda: Lafayette, Moraga & Orinda
Three hill towns west of Walnut Creek, linked by Highway 24 and BART.
Overview
Living in Lamorinda
Lamorinda is the local name for Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda: semi-rural hill towns west of Walnut Creek with small-town downtowns, abundant open space and quick access to Oakland and San Francisco.
By Ryan & Denise Quinley, REALTORS® (DRE 02114228, 02120682) · Last updated October 27, 2026
Bay Area real estate experts. Ryan & Denise Quinley are licensed California REALTORS® with Keller Williams Elevate who work as a team (see homes we've sold). They guide buyers and sellers through complex Bay Area transactions, backed by Ryan's deep hands-on construction and renovation expertise and personally guided service, and now serve Walnut Creek, Lamorinda and the San Ramon Valley.
Lifestyle
Small towns, big outdoors
Each town has its own walkable downtown, surrounded by oak-covered hills, Briones Regional Park, the Lafayette Reservoir and EBMUD trail lands.
Schools
Community-centered schools
Each town has its own elementary or K–8 district. High school is in the Acalanes Union High School District: Acalanes (Lafayette), Campolindo (Moraga) and Miramonte (Orinda).
Commute
Highway 24 and BART
BART stops in Orinda and Lafayette on the Antioch–San Francisco line. Highway 24 runs west through the Caldecott Tunnel to Oakland and east to I-680 in Walnut Creek.
Home styles
Hillside homes on generous lots
Expect mid-century ranches, custom hillside homes and updated estates, often on sloped or wooded lots with views and privacy.
What buyers love
Privacy close to the city
Buyers come for the quiet, the trails and the sense of community, with San Francisco and Oakland within reach.
School assignment depends on the exact address and can change. Always confirm with the district before you buy.
The towns
Explore Lamorinda town by town
Orinda
Closest of the three to Oakland and San Francisco via the Caldecott Tunnel, with its own BART station and a village-style downtown.
Moraga
Quiet and residential, home to Saint Mary's College, Campolindo High and the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail.
Nearby: Walnut Creek · San Ramon Valley · Central Contra Costa
What to know
Buying or selling in Lamorinda
- Hillside lots need a closer look. Slopes, drainage, retaining walls and foundations matter more here. Ryan's engineering and construction background helps you read what you see.
- Older homes, renovation upside. Many homes are ready for updates. We help you separate cosmetic projects from costly ones and estimate what work really takes.
- Fire and life safety. Wooded hillsides make defensible space, roofing and access worth checking. Ryan's firefighter training brings a practical eye to these details.
- Confirm schools by address. Attendance boundaries follow addresses, not town names. Always confirm with the district.
FAQ
Lamorinda questions, answered
Last updated October 27, 2026
What towns make up Lamorinda?
Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda.
Which high schools serve Lamorinda?
The Acalanes Union High School District: Acalanes in Lafayette, Campolindo in Moraga and Miramonte in Orinda. The district also runs Las Lomas in Walnut Creek. Confirm assignment by address.
Does Lamorinda have BART?
Yes. Orinda and Lafayette both have stations on the Antioch–San Francisco line.
What should I check when buying a hillside home?
Drainage, retaining walls, foundation and slope stability, defensible space and access. We walk homes with a builder's eye and help you decide what needs a specialist.
Why work with Ryan and Denise in Lamorinda?
We're Bay Area real estate experts with Keller Williams Elevate, combining engineering, construction and fire-safety know-how with personally guided service.
Let's talk
Thinking about Lamorinda?
Whether you're buying, selling or moving from elsewhere in the Bay Area, we'll help you compare towns, understand the homes and plan your next step. Reliable. Honest. Focused.
