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When people talk about the East Bay, the bigger cities often get most of the attention.
But tucked between Fremont and Hayward is Union City—a community that sometimes flies a little under the radar.
And maybe that’s part of its charm.
Union City isn’t trying to be San Francisco, Oakland, or San Jose. It’s a smaller Bay Area city with neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, shopping, BART access, and a location that puts residents within reach of quite a bit of the Bay Area.
So today, let’s take a closer look at Union City—not just the real estate, but what it’s actually like to live there.
Table of Contents
- Location, Location…and More Location
- Getting Around: BART, I-880 and the Reality of Bay Area Traffic
- Parks, Trails and Places to Get Outside
- Food, Shopping and Everyday Conveniences
- A Community That’s Still Evolving
- The Real Estate Side of Union City
- A Few Things to Consider
- The Bottom Line
1. Location, Location…and More Location
One of Union City’s biggest advantages is easy to see on a map.
It’s bordered by Fremont and Hayward, with access toward the Peninsula, Silicon Valley, Oakland and the Tri-Valley.
For households where two people commute in different directions, being somewhere relatively central can be valuable.
Of course, this is still the Bay Area.
A destination that looks close on a map can feel considerably farther away at 8:00 on a weekday morning.
That’s why I always encourage buyers to test an actual commute rather than relying only on mileage.
2. Getting Around: BART, I-880 and the Reality of Bay Area Traffic
Union City has its own BART station, and the surrounding Station District provides commuter and visitor parking options. The city also operates Union City Transit. Union City
For some residents, that means having an alternative to getting into the car for every commute.
For drivers, I-880 is a major transportation route nearby.
Is that convenient?
Absolutely.
Does that mean you’ll never sit in traffic?
If you live in the Bay Area, you already know the answer to that one. 😂
Transportation is one of Union City’s strengths, but buyers should still think carefully about where they travel most often and at what time of day.
3. Parks, Trails and Places to Get Outside
Union City has more outdoor and recreation options than people who simply drive through town may realize.
Charles F Kennedy Park provides open space and community recreation near the BART area, while Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park gives residents access to a very different experience in the hills above the city.
There’s also Veterans Park, and recently renovated Seabreeze Park reopened in 2026 with two new playgrounds, a new dog park and other improvements. Union City
The city is also updating its Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the first time in 25 years, looking ahead at how its parks and recreation system should evolve over the next 15 years. Union City
That’s an interesting reminder that communities aren’t static. The place you buy into today continues to change around you.
4. Food, Shopping and Everyday Conveniences
You don’t necessarily have to leave Union City for everyday shopping, dinner or entertainment.
Union Landing is one of the city’s major shopping, dining and entertainment areas, conveniently located near I-880.
But some of the more interesting local food choices are scattered throughout the city.
For example, Din Ding Dumpling House Union City is a popular neighborhood dumpling restaurant on Decoto Road, while Baldie’s Cafe offers the kind of longtime neighborhood-diner experience that can become part of someone’s regular routine.
That’s one of the things I enjoy about exploring Bay Area communities: sometimes the places that tell you the most about a city aren’t the big attractions.
They’re the places where locals actually go.
5. A Community That’s Still Evolving
One project I found particularly interesting is Union City’s BART Mural Project.
The city is developing murals on BART pillars through the Decoto community, Kennedy Park and toward the BART station. Residents have participated in developing themes intended to reflect the history and character of the Decoto community, and completion is currently planned for 2027. Union City
I like projects like this because they aren’t really about decorating concrete.
They’re about identity.
Every Bay Area city has neighborhoods with their own history and personality, and Union City is no exception.
6. The Real Estate Side of Union City
Now I have to put my REALTOR® hat on for a minute.
Union City offers a mix of housing, and—as with virtually every Bay Area community—the experience can change considerably from one neighborhood to another.
That’s why I wouldn’t tell someone:
“You should live in Union City.”
I’d ask:
What matters to you?
Where do you work?
How much space do you need?
Do you use BART?
Do you want to be near parks?
What’s your budget?
How important is your commute?
Do you want a quieter residential setting or easy access to shopping and restaurants?
Those answers matter much more than simply choosing a city name on a map.
7. A Few Things to Consider
No community is perfect, and I don’t want these city blogs to pretend otherwise.
Union City’s central location also means living near some very busy transportation corridors.
Traffic can be frustrating.
Neighborhoods vary.
And depending on exactly where you’re looking, proximity to BART, freeways, shopping and recreation can be very different.
That’s why I always recommend spending time in a neighborhood before deciding you want to live there.
Visit during the day.
Come back during commute hours.
Drive the route to work.
Walk around.
Grab lunch.
Listen.
Look around.
A house tour tells you about the house.
Spending time in the neighborhood tells you whether you can imagine living there.
8. The Bottom Line
Union City may not always get the attention that some of its larger Bay Area neighbors receive.
But that’s exactly why it’s worth knowing.
It has BART access, established neighborhoods, parks and recreation, everyday shopping and dining, and a location that puts it between several major employment and activity centers.
More importantly, it’s a community—not simply a collection of houses.
And that’s something I want to explore more often on this blog.
Because when you’re buying a home, you’re never really buying just the home.
You’re also choosing the community around it.
Thinking about Union City—or simply curious about how it compares with Fremont, Newark, Hayward or another Greater Bay Area community? I’m always happy to be a resource.
Selma Michael, REALTOR®
DRE #01339617
510-517-2346
selmamichael.com
Serving the Greater Bay Area
