Irish families once built proud Victorians and Edwardians. Urban flight left dilapidated ladies past their prime to be restored by a community of loving outcasts. Then it was embraced as revitalization, now it would be called gentrification. Harvey Milk once set up shop here, but the history runs far deeper than just rainbow colored sidewalks and streetlights.

More About the Castro

Once a predominantly working-class Irish neighborhood, the Castro was transformed by gay men in the 1970s. It was the epicenter of the gay rights revolution that began in the 1970s, led by pioneers such as Harvey Milk (a neighborhood school carries his name today). Today, the thriving commercial center of the neighborhood (radiating out a few blocks from Castro & 18th Street) is chock full of restaurants, shopping, bars, and other entertainment opportunities.

The Castro offers a diverse mix of homes, with a blend of styles and property types from large single-family Victorians and Edwardians to modern condos and tenancies-in-common (TICs). The great weather and open-minded neighbors make the Castro district a destination neighborhood, regardless of your sexuality. There is also a small percentage of unit buildings and small apartment buildings, most of which are clustered along the commercial corridors.

Castro Neighborhood Vibe

The Castro has a rich history and was a predominantly working-class Irish neighborhood before being transformed by gay men in the 1970s. It was the epicenter of the gay rights revolution that began in the 1970s, led by pioneers such as Harvey Milk (a neighborhood school carries his name today). Today, the thriving commercial center of the neighborhood (radiating out a few blocks from Castro & 18th Street) is chock full of restaurants, shopping, bars, and other entertainment opportunities.

Popular Castro Home Styles

The Castro offers a diverse mix of homes, with a blend of styles and property types from large single-family Victorians and Edwardians to modern condos and tenancies-in-common (TICs). The great weather and open-minded neighbors make The Castro district a destination neighborhood, regardless of your sexuality. There is also a small percentage of unit buildings and small apartment buildings, most of which are clustered along the commercial corridors.

Getting Around in The Castro

In addition to several bus lines, the area is served by two Muni subway stations, as well as the street-level F-line with its collection of historic streetcars. It’s an easy neighborhood in which to live car-free, with pretty much everything you need right there in the ‘hood or a Muni ride away. Many homes don’t have parking, so don’t assume you’ll have a place to park if you consider a new home in the Castro.

The Castro FAQs

Where is the Castro?

The Castro is one of the central districts of San Francisco. It is bordered by Twin Peaks to the west, Corona Heights to the north, Mission Dolores and the Inner Mission to the east, and Noe Valley to the south. On an SFAR (San Francisco Association of Realtors) MLS map, the Castro is often called Eureka Valley/Dolores Heights, and is identified as neighborhood 5k.

Are there any notable historical landmarks or sites in the Castro?

The Castro District in San Francisco’s Eureka Valley, often simply called the Castro, was one of the first gay neighborhoods in the United States. Evolving from a working-class area in the 1960s and 1970s, the Castro remains a leading symbol of LGBTQ activism and events worldwide.

Notable landmarks and attractions include the Castro Theater, a movie house built in 1922; the Casselli Mansion, a baroque Queen Anne style building of four stories and multiple towers built in 1891; the F Market streetcar line; Twin Peaks (maybe the oldest gay bar in the country); and the former Castro Camera, a shop owned by Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

What is there to do in the Castro?

Where do we begin? Thai, Greek, and seafood restaurants. Coffee shops. Booming bars and nightclubs. Grocery stores. Sunbathing or dog walking in Dolores Park. Abundant people watching, including the city’s public nudists. Street fairs and street cars. Leg-burning hikes on very steep hills, or flatter strolls to Duboce Park.

How does the community vibe in the Castro contribute to its real estate appeal?

Although it still retains its place as the epicenter of the city’s LGBTQ community, the Castro is an increasingly diverse and lively neighborhood with well-kept single-family homes, apartment buildings, and newer condos. Well-served by both street cars (above Market Street) and MUNI trains (below Market Street), the Castro is a prime location for downtown workers, and a short drive to 280 and the 101 for Silicon Valley commuters.

Where can I find new construction in the Castro?

As an “already built” neighborhood, the Castro is not a neighborhood where you should expect to find substantial new construction projects. Smaller developers may renovate/flip existing single family properties, or may take advantage of recent housing laws to add additional units to already existing housing. Transit corridors and major neighborhood streets are the most likely areas for new construction buildings in already built neighborhoods with existing housing stock.

What are the average home prices in the Castro, and how have they trended?

You can scroll up to see our market charts showing current neighborhood prices and other real estate trends for the Castro. We update these charts dynamically as new data becomes available. Reach out to us to learn more about prices, trends, and possibilities in the Castro.