Carlton Square, Livermore, CA

Carlton Square is a slim, key-shaped pocket north of downtown Livermore, boxed in by East Stanley Boulevard to the north and El Caminito to the east. A single entrance funnels drivers onto quiet interior streets like Anna Maria, Alice, Elvira and Albert, all lined with late-1960s ranch and split-level homes on level lots. Curb appeal ranges from fresh drought-tolerant landscapes and new paint to original brick trim and well-used driveways, but a canopy of mature pistache and liquidambar trees ties the blocks together. Pleasure Island Park sits on the western edge and works as the neighborhood’s shared green for playground time, dog walks and evening soccer. Cyclists can reach the Arroyo Mocho trail one block north, and a two-minute hop onto East Stanley puts groceries, coffee and downtown restaurants five minutes away by car. Life inside feels calm and kid-friendly, yet buyers should weigh two trade-offs. Traffic on East Stanley brings a steady hum to homes along the northern fence, and the pocket lacks its own retail, so nearly every errand means driving. Still, interior blocks stay quiet, property upkeep is trending upward with remodels, and sale prices are pushing toward the low-to-mid one-million range.