North Highlands, CA

North Highlands grew up alongside McClellan Air Force Base, and that aviation background still shapes the community today. Thousands of civilian workers and military personnel settled here during the 1950s and 1960s, turning the area into an established residential suburb. After the military base closed in 2001, the airfield transitioned into McClellan Park, a large business and industrial campus that remains a major local employer. Today, North Highlands is an unincorporated Sacramento County community of roughly 50,000 residents, offering some of the most budget-friendly housing in the greater Sacramento region.

The local housing stock consists largely of mid-century single-story ranch homes, duplexes, and apartment complexes. Streetscapes can vary quite a bit from one block to the next in terms of lot size, mature tree cover, and proximity to retail plazas. Because North Highlands is unincorporated, Sacramento County manages zoning, road upkeep, and law enforcement, while local children attend schools primarily in the Twin Rivers Unified School District. When touring properties, buyers should take a close look at roof condition and the age of the cooling system, as Sacramento summers bring plenty of triple-digit heat.

Local parks and gathering spots give the neighborhood its day-to-day personality. The North Highlands Recreation and Park District maintains more than a dozen facilities, including Freedom Park right beside McClellan. The park features sports courts, picnic pavilions, and a popular aviation-themed splash pad for kids during the warmer months. Nearby, the Aerospace Museum of California showcases historic aircraft and flight exhibits. The North Highlands-Antelope Library on Antelope Road is another helpful resource, offering computer access, multilingual collections, and regular programs for families.

Getting around the Sacramento metro from North Highlands is relatively straightforward. Interstate 80 borders the area, giving drivers a direct path to downtown Sacramento in one direction and Roseville in the other. Watt Avenue serves as the main north-south commercial artery, lined with supermarkets, fast-casual restaurants, and local services. Sacramento Regional Transit runs bus routes through the neighborhood and connects to the Watt/I-80 light rail station for rail commutes downtown. Most residents get around by car, making it a good idea to test out the commute along Watt Avenue during rush hour when shopping for a home.