Moraga California, 2004
Moraga’s story
140 years in pictures
Census counts: 14,205 in 1970, 16,870 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 8 maps from 1897 on.
- 1886Moraga is settled
Photo: en:User:JD Lisa · Public domain
Population
16,322
2025 Census estimate · −3.2% since 2020
Typical home
$1.61M
+3.3% in a year
Household income
$216K
median
Median age
40.1
years
Jobs based here
3,739
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#8 of 841 in CA
Is Moraga a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Moraga grades A overall, 8th among California's 841 graded towns. Residents are healthier than 98% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Its schools outperform 97% of the state's and crime is low: it reports less per resident than 78% of U.S. towns. The catch is cost: the typical home is worth about $1.6 million, 11.8 years of the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income. 82% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Moraga, against 29% in California’s towns and 29% across U.S. towns. Moraga is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 92% of U.S. towns. Moraga is home to Saint Mary's College of California.
What makes Moraga stand out
Where Moraga beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Moraga Elementary schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Donald L. Rheem Elementary | K–5 | 441 |
| Los Perales Elementary | K–5 | 366 |
| Camino Pablo Elementary | K–5 | 340 |
SchoolsA+
#10 of the 847 California towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD
Earthquakes and inland flooding at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
College town
16% of Moraga is in college
College Scorecard · IPEDS
How Moraga grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Moraga is from typical.
HealthKaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek 4.8 miles awayA+Open →SchoolsA+Open →Cost of livingD−Open →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.9 of 20; 0.8% of households have no car; 9.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →SafetyA−Open →Jobs & income$216K median household income; 3,739 jobs based hereA−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4% conserved landB+Open →History7 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life5.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 260 attractions →Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and 226 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Moraga. Close and well known come first.
Big draw16 mi MuseumAlcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Big draw11 mi MuseumUSS Hornet
Big draw15 mi Stadium & arenaChase Center
Big draw15 mi Stadium & arenaOracle Park
Big draw16 mi LandmarkLombard Street
Big draw19 mi GardenPresidio of San FranciscoSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary: druchoy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · USS Hornet: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0 · Chase Center: Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Oracle Park: User Coasttocoast on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lombard Street: The original uploader was Y6y6y6 at English Wikipedia., Public domain · Presidio of San Francisco: Robert Campbell, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Moraga: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Moraga, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEBMUDNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpCounty or districtA county or regional provider runs trash and recyclingTown site
SchoolsAcalanes Union High School DistrictMoraga Elementary School District2 districts serve Moraga; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereContra Costa County Elections DivisionContra Costa County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP codes94556, 9457594556 94% · 94575 6%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Moraga.
Moraga has schools in the top 5% of California, fares better on crime within California than nationally and has less no health insurance than most of California.
HousingCost of living grade D−
For cost of living, Moraga earns a D−
At 11.8 years of the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income, the typical home (about $1.61M) costs more against local pay than in 85% of California towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living. The typical value, about $1.61M, is 8% below its June 2022 peak.
Moraga’s median rent is $2,895 a month. The typical Moraga home is worth about $1,607,000, up 3.3% in a year, about twice the California typical home. 83% of households own their home in Moraga.
$1.61MZillow home value
| Moraga | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,895 a month | $1,895 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 83% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Moraga$1.61M
California$762K
Market temperature
12
days on market
101.5%
sale-to-list price
+3.3%
value change, 1 year
21
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA+
For schools, Moraga earns an A+
Its A+ ranks #10 of the 847 California towns we grade for schools. Its A+ for schools comes with a D− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.61M.
Its public schools are run by the Moraga Elementary school district. Two of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Campolindo High, with 1,340 students.
97%of CA districts it outscoresA+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joaquin Moraga IntermediateLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 658 | – |
| Campolindo HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,340 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HealthA+
A smaller share of adults in Moraga smoke cigarettes than in the typical California or U.S. town
Its widest gap with California is no health insurance: 3.5% of those 18–64 have no health insurance, against 10.6% statewide. Against the 770 U.S. towns with household incomes like Moraga’s, it is healthier than 62%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
5.9% of Moraga adults smoke cigarettes. Moraga beats the California average on 22 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 17% of Moraga adults get no exercise outside work.
98%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Moraga | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 5.9% | 11% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 9.7% | 14% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 29% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 22% | 19% |
32 measures vs. California
22 better9 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Moraga | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 3.5% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 6.4% | 17.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.9% | 6.4% |
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek
4.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
96th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsB+
4.5% of Moraga is conserved land
15 miles of trail in 6 parks and preserves. The trail density in Moraga is 1.6 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Mulholland Open Space Preserve, at 136 acres.
#233for trails in CA
| Moraga | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.6 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.5% | 4.2% | 4.3% |
4.5%
conserved · 273 of 6,036 acres
15 mi
of trails · 1.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Painted Rock | 1.5 mi | 89 |
| 2. Harvey Ranch Preserve | 1.2 mi | 80 |
| 3. Moraga Commons Park | 0.3 mi | 29 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Moraga faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by earthquakes
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 86% of U.S. communities. Since 1982, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Moraga.
86risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
2
paid flood claims since 1982
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyA−
Moraga stands out in California and nationally: property crime there is lower
At 8.8 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 97% of California’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 159 to 49 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Among 437 California towns, just 5 have a lower property crime rate than Moraga.
78%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Moraga | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.3 per 1,000 residents | 13.4 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.6 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Moraga0.6
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Moraga2.3
California18.2
U.S.15.5
78th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
97th
percentile among CA towns
10
violent crimes reported in 2025
39
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Moraga has 0.6 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
39.8% of workers work from home, against 17.2% across California.
Most working residents leave Moraga for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are San Francisco (19%), Oakland (10%) and Berkeley (5%). Half commute less than 15 miles.
6%work in town
| Moraga | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 40% | 14% | 11% |
| Median household income | $216,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Moraga6%
San Francisco19%
Oakland10%
Berkeley5%
Walnut Creek5%
15 mi
median commute distance
3,739
jobs based in Moraga
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Moraga has mild winters and pleasant summers
Moraga has warm winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 40° and snow is almost unheard of.
83°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter41–57°
Spring47–68°
Summer56–82°
Fall51–74°
Dec 22
typical first frost
Mar 8
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
83°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Moraga
20pages on Moraga
The big questions
SchoolsA+Beat 97% of CA districts · 6 schoolsSafetyA−0.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA+Better than CA on 22 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$1.61M typical home · up 3.3% in a yearWork & commuteA−$216K median household income · 3,739 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 86% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
24 within 15 miles of the center of Moraga
Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · MoragaIn town$57,803 tuitionMerritt CollegeCommunity college · Public · Oakland4.6 mi$1,258 in-state tuitionUniversity of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · Berkeley7.7 mi$16,347 in-state tuition
College town 16 of every 100 Moraga residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Moraga for work
Where Moraga’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,739jobs based in Moraga
6%of working residents work in town
15 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Moraga
7 notable people were born in Moraga.
M
Matt BiondiAmerican swimmer · born 1965
P
Peter VarellasAmerican water polo player · born 1984G
Gar FormanAmerican basketball player-coach · born 2000H
Henry CorralesAmerican mixed martial arts fighter · born 1986About Moraga
City in California, United States
Moraga is a town in Contra Costa County, California, United States. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the town is named in honor of Joaquín Moraga, member of the famed Californio family. As of 2020, Moraga had a total population of 16,870 people. Moraga is the home of Saint Mary's College of California.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 9.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 499 ft
- ZIP code
- 94556, 94570, 94575
- Area code
- 925
Moraga’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Moraga.
LafayetteOrindaMoraga
How the neighbors grade
Questions about Moraga
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Moraga, CA a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Moraga grades A overall, better than 89% of U.S. towns and #8 of 841 in California. It grades A+ for health, A− for safety and A+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Moraga, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.
What is Moraga, CA known for?
7 notable people were born here, including Matt Biondi and Erika Henningsen.