Neighborhood Guide · El Dorado County
El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County
Where foothill views, resort-grade master plans, and some of the region's best schools meet.
El Dorado Hills has a lot to offer people who want a taste of foothill living and the quality, amenities and lifestyle of an upscale bedroom community. "Foothill Living" means it's above the Sacramento Valley floor and the first step into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It sits in the hills above Folsom Lake to the north and along Highway 50 to the south. It's the best-known address in El Dorado County for one simple reason; it does the master-planned thing better than almost anyone. If you value great schools, amenities you will actually use, and a home you are proud to pull into, this guide will tell you exactly why this community matters, and the trade-offs you should know before you fall in love.
What It's Like to Live Here
A Quality of Life in the Foothills
In the not too distant past, El Dorado Hills was a hard sell. It was too far out from Sacramento, with little to no restaurants or shopping, and even closer-in Folsom had very little retail. The closest large shopping was the Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights. But the one thing EDH always had was gorgeous properties on hilltops overlooking the valley, the city, and the lake. People who wanted to get away from the city built nice customs on the choice hilltops, and slowly some premier custom neighborhoods sprang up.
Everything Changed in 1997
Then in 1997 it all changed when Bill Parker announced the master-planned community of Serrano to the world. Serrano would be built around a championship golf course and country club, with a large custom home neighborhood surrounding it and many of the region's best production builders putting their neighborhoods in close by. I was invited to the announcement party at the ranch and barn where the Library and park now sit, with helicopter rides to show brokers and players what he imagined. The property sat in valleys and ridges between hilltops covered in grasslands and rattlesnakes, but not many trees. In fact, I only remember trees where the Ranch and Barn sat, though there must have been more. He was a bigger thinker than I was, and it was hard to imagine, but he had on his side several friends and partners who were the region's best builder-developers. It was a huge hit and the race was on.
The Bay Area Effect
Serrano was marketed really well in the Bay Area and San Jose. People could sell a very small home there, buy a new McMansion in Serrano, put a couple hundred thousand in the bank, and so they came. At the time, around 1999, 42 to 45 percent of our area's homebuyers were coming from the Bay Area and San Jose, and many were headed to Serrano.
They Built the Downtown Too
One thing EDH and Serrano didn't have, along with water, was the quaint turn-of-the-century Old Town that most surrounding cities had. So they built one. Town Center, with wide streets and sidewalks, water features, restaurants, shops, a theater, and high-end groceries, was born. At the same time, the site of a long-promised Folsom Mall became The Palladio outdoor shopping center, and luxury living moved east from Sacramento.
What EDH Offers Today
Today EDH has maybe the only true, complete country club in the region, with a great golf course, tennis, pools, spa, gym, and a beautiful restaurant. Excellent schools that compete with the region's best. A truly premier community feel throughout, with some stunning neighborhoods closer to and overlooking the lake. And one big thing most people never think about: at higher elevation, EDH sits above and out of most of the winter fog that plagues the valley, and some of the summer smog. Temperatures run slightly lower on the steamiest valley days too.
On pricing: the least expensive homes run about $450K to $800K, typically small, older, or on smaller lots. The $800K to $1M range covers a wide mix of neighborhoods, many of them subdivision properties. Premier and luxury homes sell between $1M and $4.5M and make up roughly 45% of sales, and there are plenty of super-premium custom properties from $2M to $4.5M.
An Insider's tip:
Here's a local's secret: the fog thing is real...seriously. On those gray December & January days when Sacramento's been socked in for a week or two, you can drive up Highway 50, pop above the marine layer, and the sun's been out the whole time. People who live in the valley know when it's time to head for the hills.
Typical Homes & Prices
What Your Money Buys
Typical Price Range
$800,000 – $2,000,000
This is the broad, market-grade picture across the community. Country-club and lake-view lots run well above the top of that range.
Typical Homes
Custom estates and high-end production homes in Tuscan, Spanish, and modern foothill styles, most built in the last 30 years. Think 3,000 square feet and up, with pools, views, and resort amenities the norm on the upper end.
Who It Suits
Families chasing the best schools, luxury and golf-course buyers, relocating executives, and long-term investors who want a premium foothill asset that holds value.
The Practical Stuff
Commute, Schools & Everyday Life
Commute
Highway 50 is your lifeline: downtown Sacramento is roughly half an hour but can get backed up at commute time. Tahoe is a weekend trip, which locals use shamelessly.
Schools
Buckeye Union School District handles K-8 and is well regarded, then El Dorado Union High School District takes over, with Oak Ridge High in town. Address-based boundaries matter, so we verify the exact assignment.
Everyday Life
The El Dorado Hills Town Center is a genuine walkable downtown with dining, shopping, and events. Folsom Lake is minutes away, golf courses are everywhere, and the trails from the El Dorado Trail network keep cyclists and hikers busy year-round.
Steve's Take
The honest assessment
What I Love
- 1. School quality is the real headline. Families move here for the schools and stay for the lifestyle.
- 2. The Town Center gives EDH a downtown most master plans only promise. Weekend evenings here feel alive.
- 3. Elevation and lake proximity mean the views and the microclimate are worth a premium. When the valley bakes, EDH breathes.
- 4. Long-term value is proven. Good lots in good pockets rarely sit long, even when the market cools.
Honest Trade-Offs
- 1. The commute down Highway 50 is a daily factor you will plan around. The corridor backs up in a way that will test your patience.
- 2. You pay a foothill premium. The same square footage costs decidedly less on the valley floor in Roseville or Folsom.
- 3. Many of the best addresses sit inside HOAs with dues and architectural approvals, but many do not. You gotta know which is which.
- 4. It is a drive to the airport and to Sacramento's urban core. Great for raising a family, but gotta plan if you want a Downtown Sac night out.
Hidden Gems & Local Spots
Where Locals Actually Go
Skip the chain strip. These are the places EDH residents tell their friends about.
Selland's Market-Cafe
The Town Center gathering spot. Sandwiches, salads, and a market counter that make it the reliable local lunch, every time.
Town Center BlvdMilestone Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
Date-night energy in the Town Center. The patio is the place on a pleasant evening, and the cocktail list punches above the foothills.
Town Center BlvdSouth Fork Grille
When it's time to unwind, locals look for someplace with a great bar, food and friends. Located in a perfect spot in Town Center, on the water with a patio, they find it at South Fork Grill.
Town Center BlvdTwo Free Favorites
The lake, obviously. Folsom Lake is minutes up Green Valley Road and it is a four-season playground, from summer swimming to fall hiking. And the El Dorado Trail: park once and walk or ride for miles on pavement through the oaks, a much better use of an afternoon than the mall.
Thinking About El Dorado Hills?
Let's Find Your Piece of the Ridge
I know the neighborhoods, the schools, and the lots that will hold their value here. Tell me what you are looking for and I will tell you honestly whether EDH is the right fit, or which neighbor to consider instead.