Moving to Antioch: 10+ Things to Know Before You Do

Are you considering moving to Antioch? This article is intended for those who are thinking of do so, and want some information to help them make the decision.

How big is Antioch?

The population of Antioch is about 110,000 and it is a diverse city with about 49% white, 31% Hispanic, 17% African-American, 10% Native American, and 6% Asian. About 28% are less than 18 years of age, and the median age is about 34 years.

What is the cost of housing?

The median home value is about $380,000 and the average rent is about $1,800. There are some smaller homes for about $300,000 and a number of condos for $200,000 or less. Studios, 1BR and 2B apartments are also in Antioch for less than $1800.

Moving to Antioch would probably appeal to people who are being priced out of San Francisco or the surrounding areas like Berkeley, Oakland or Alameda. It also might be an enticing place for those who are renting, but have saved enough for a down payment on a condo or home in Antioch.

Living there for 5 years or so might be a good opportunity to build some equity in a starter home, and then sell it to make some money for a larger down payment on a property that is closer to the San Francisco.

Top employers

Antioch School District
Sutter Delta Medical Center
Contra Costa County Social Service
Wal-Mart
Antioch, City of
Target
Antioch Auto Center
Costco
Macy’s
Kaiser Permanente

What transportation is available?

Amtrak has a station in the Antioch-Pittsburgh area, so it is easy to take a train to the East Bay, Sacramento and beyond. There is a BART station near by in Pittsburgh, so commuting to jobs in the East Bay and San Francisco is more convenient than driving. Moving to Antioch is feasible from the point of view of having access to public transportation.

Antioch is connected by a freeway to an extensive network of highways and roads. Route 4 is easily accessible and it connects with Interstate 80; it also travels east so you can get on I-5, which spans the state of California from San Diego to the most northern parts, and into Oregon.

What about culture and entertainment?

For people who are or might be moving to Antioch, there is a surprising amount of cultural events taking place throughout the year.

Delta Blues Festival – Delta Blues Festival, free event in September.
Holiday De Lights – December parade and tree lighting.
Saturday Summer Concert Series – a number of free concerts, July-August.
Lynn House Gallery – Exhibits local artists.
Deer Valley 16 – a collection of movie theaters in Antioch.

El Campanil Theatre – an historic theater now featuring musical shows and movies.

Antioch is also the home of the Contra Costa Country fairgrounds.

Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco are cities known for the cultural offerings, but Antioch has its own flavors.

How is the food?

Like the culture, Antioch has more food options than you might expect. Here are some of the top-rated restaurants, and some grocery stores.

Zam Zam Mediterranean
Go Vegan
Nature’s Bounty

Stella’s Soul Kitchen
Aracely’s Restaurant and Market
HD Burgers and More
Pho Lan
DaNang Tourane Vietnamese
Jerry’s Hot Dogs
Mac’s Old House
The Red Caboose
Taqueria Salsa
Tokyo & Beijing
Johnny’s Market

Bob Sang Korean BBQ
Las 3 Marias Restaurant
Plates Eclectic Cuisine
Hazel’s Drive In
Muscle Maker Grill
Rick’s On Second
Okawa Japanese Restaurant
Cocina Medina
Go Vegan

Grocery stores

County Market
Raley’s
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market
Safeway
FoodMaxx
Antioch Produce
Bonfare Market
Pacific Oriental Market
Smart & Final
Lucky
Mabuhay Oriental Cuisine & Food Mart

So, a move to Antioch probably won’t be too disappointing from the perspective of food, unless you are very accustomed to the restaurants in San Francisco. Then, it might take some adapting.

How are the schools?

According to Great Schools, the Antioch public schools are rated slightly below average.

For adults, there are many institutions available within a one-hour drive:

Los Medanos College
Diablo Valley College
Las Positas College
Saint Marys College of California
California Maritime Academy
Holy Names University
Merrit College
Mills College
Berkeley City College
California State University East Bay
California College of the Arts
San Joaquin Delta College
UC-Berkeley
University of the Pacific
Chabot College
Laney College
Ohlone Community College

What are some things to do?

A big advantage a person has who is an Antioch resident is the closeness of the San Francisco Bay Delta. Antioch isn’t that big, but it has several marinas:

Antioch City Marina
Bridge Marina Yacht Club
Sportsmen Yacht Club.

If you like wetlands, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, water skiing or boating, you might like the delta. In fact, there are hundreds of miles of waterways in this area to navigate and enjoy — especially during hot summer weather. Boat slips at these marinas obviously are going to be more affordable than ones in San Francisco, Berkeley, San Rafael and Sausalito.

In Sausalito, a liveaboard slip might cost $1,500 a month. In Antioch, the cost could be as little as $400 a month, plus electricity. For the adventurous, it might be possible to buy a used boat for $10,000-$15,000 and then find one of the affordable slips in Antioch.

Moving to Antioch isn’t for everyone, but some folks might enjoy living there after spending a lot to be in San Francisco or similar places.

What about the parks?

Antioch is right on the delta, so it has a connection to natural abundance.
If you like parks, Antioch also has a number of those.

Some of the most popular ones are:

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Prewett Family Park and Community Center
Antioch Oakley Regional Shoreline
Markeley Creek Dog Park
Barbara Price Marina Park
Williamson Ranch Park
In nearby Pittsburg, there is Highlands Ranch Park, and Buchanan Park.

A move to Antioch might actually increase one’s relationship with nature, especially if you are coming from living in urban density.

How is the healthcare?

Antioch has several medical centers and hospitals:

John Muir Medical Group
Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center
Sutter Delta Medical Center
Lone Tree Convalescent Hospital

What about sports?

Antioch has an indoor sports center, which provides volleyball, batting cages, indoor hockey, indoor soccer, skating classes, lacrosse, roller derby, gymnastics, and more.

What are the politics?

Antioch is part of the Bay Area, which mostly votes for Democratic politicians–in fact it’s rare for Republican candidates to win elections in this area. Antioch is no different and tends to vote Democratically too.

Is there storage available?

Yes, we have a storage facility in Antioch and can answer your storage questions.

What is near Antioch?

Lake Tahoe — 159
Sacramento — 59 miles
Napa — 46 miles
San Francisco — 45 miles
Oakland — 36 miles

So, after reading this information, are you still interested in moving to Antioch?

Image Credit: Image no.1, public domain Image no.2, public domain