Living in Davis Guide 2026
The country's most famous bike-friendly college town, with a legendary farmers market, the UC Davis Arboretum, and a tight green community.
Life in Davis
Living in Davis means joining a community built around bikes, books, and the land. Home to UC Davis, it is America's best-known college town of its size, with more bicycles than cars, a world-famous farmers market, and a green ethos that shapes everything from city government to yard design.
Davis offers an exceptional quality of life: excellent schools, a safe and walkable downtown, the Arboretum and greenbelt paths, and a train ride to downtown Sacramento or the Bay Area. For academics, families, and anyone who loves a smart, human-scale community, it is hard to imagine a better fit.
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The Rhythm of Daily Life
Davis life hums along on two wheels. The flat, tree-lined streets and dedicated greenbelt paths make biking the default way to school, work, and the farmers market. The downtown is compact and walkable, anchored by the Saturday farmers market, which is a genuine regional institution.
UC Davis brings concerts, lectures, sports, and the world-class Arboretum to town, while Central Park hosts picnics, music, and community events. It is an engaged, educated, and proudly quirky community with a pace of life that feels both intentional and relaxed.
Schools in Davis
Local school districts and campuses define everyday life for many families. Here are the districts and public high schools serving Davis.
Davis schools are consistently praised by families, with high parent participation and a wide range of programs from elementary through high school.
- Davis Joint Unified School District
- Davis Senior High School
- Da Vinci Charter Academy
Commutes to Sacramento and Beyond
Where you can get, and how long it takes, matters when you are choosing a community.
Downtown Sacramento is roughly 20 minutes away on Interstate 80.
Amtrak's Capitol Corridor trains connect Davis to downtown Sacramento and the Bay Area from the city's own station.
The university and major employers in West Sacramento and Sacramento are all short drives.
Things to Love About Davis
Parks and Outdoors
- Central Park
- The UC Davis Arboretum
- Greenbelt paths and neighborhood parks
Dining Favorites
Shopping and Daily Life
- Walkable downtown Davis shops
- The Saturday Davis Farmers Market
Community Events
- Picnic Day at UC Davis each spring
- Music and markets in Central Park through the year
The Davis Market Right Now
A qualitative look at conditions, without the jargon.
Davis's market is driven by scarcity: the city is largely built out, so well-located homes in the central neighborhoods are in constant demand. Properties near downtown, the university, and the greenbelts attract strong interest whenever they come to market.
Because inventory is limited, buyers here often need to be patient and prepared, while sellers can expect a smooth process when they present a well-maintained home at a realistic price.
Curious About Davis?
I'd be happy to answer your questions about Davis and help you explore whether it's the right fit for your next chapter. No pressure, just honest guidance.