East Bay city guide

Union City

Union City sits between Fremont and Hayward in southern Alameda County, with a BART station at its center and neighborhoods spread across the flatlands and the eastern hills.

At a glance

  • Where it is: southern Alameda County, along Interstate 880 between Fremont and Hayward.
  • Known for: the Union City BART station and its Station District, the historic Alvarado area, and regional parkland to the east.
  • The environment: suburban, mixing established neighborhoods with newer transit-oriented development.
  • What sets it apart: the city was formed in 1959 by merging two older towns, so it has two historic centers rather than one.

Housing character

  • Post-war and 1970s–1990s single-family homes across much of the city.
  • Newer townhomes and condominiums, especially in the Station District near BART.
  • Hillside homes on the eastern side with valley and bay views.
  • Several HOA-managed developments — dues vary.

Places within Union City

Station District
Newer townhomes, condos, and apartments built around the BART station.
Alvarado
Historic district on the western side with older homes and civic buildings.
Decoto
Established northern neighborhood, one of the city's two original towns.
Mission Hills
Eastern hillside neighborhood with larger lots and views.
Alvarado-Niles corridor
Central neighborhoods along the city's main arterial.

Around town

  • Dry Creek Pioneer and Garin regional parks in the eastern hills.
  • Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area nearby.
  • The Union Landing shopping center.
  • The Alameda Creek Trail running west to the bay.
  • Kennedy Park and the city's community and sports facilities.

Getting around

  • Union City BART station with a bus intermodal center.
  • Interstate 880 on the western side.
  • State Route 84 (Decoto Road) connects toward the Dumbarton Bridge.
  • Alvarado-Niles Road and Mission Boulevard are the main arterials.
  • A Dumbarton rail corridor project has been discussed for years — check current status rather than assuming.

What to check

  • Interstate 880 carries heavy traffic and noise affects nearby blocks.
  • The Hayward Fault runs through the eastern part of the city — Alquist-Priolo zone designations apply to some properties; review the natural hazard disclosure.
  • Hillside terrain and wildfire considerations on the eastern side affect insurance.
  • HOA dues in the Station District and newer developments vary widely.
  • The proposed Dumbarton rail project has no confirmed timeline — do not price it in.
  • Verify current transportation service, school assignment, permit requirements, hazard information, and total housing costs for the specific address.

Nearby guides

FremontThe southern East Bay's largest city — five historic districts, two BART stations, and Mission Peak above it all.HaywardCentral East Bay city with two BART stations, direct San Mateo Bridge access, and one of the widest housing ranges.NewarkSmall bayside city surrounded by Fremont, with the shortest crossing to the Peninsula and its own city services.Castro ValleyUnincorporated hillside community with BART, a boulevard commercial strip, and regional parks all around.