East Sacramento is the established neighborhood east of the Capital City Freeway, bounded by Highway 50 to the south and the American River and Sacramento State to the east. It is known for McKinley Park, the Fabulous Forties, and blocks of Tudor, Colonial Revival, Mediterranean, and Craftsman homes built mainly between the 1910s and 1940s. The 95819 ZIP code covers most of the neighborhood.
- McKinley Park with its 1928 rose garden and library branch
- Fabulous Forties between J Street and Folsom Boulevard
- Tudor, Colonial Revival, Mediterranean, and Craftsman homes
- Sacramento State and the American River at the eastern edge
- J Street and Folsom Boulevard neighborhood commerce
- Gold Line light rail along Folsom Boulevard
Living in East Sacramento
East Sacramento is a neighborhood of mature street trees, sidewalks, and homes from the first half of the 20th century, a short drive or bike ride from downtown. Development began in the 1890s, the area was annexed in 1911, and the old streetcar lines along J and H streets set the pattern of neighborhood commerce that still holds.
J Street is the main commercial spine, with restaurants, coffee shops, and small markets, and Folsom Boulevard along the southern edge adds a second row of businesses. Mercy General Hospital is on J Street. Sub-areas include the McKinley Park blocks, the Fabulous Forties, Elmhurst near Highway 50, River Park toward the river, and Sutter Park, a newer pocket on the former Sutter Memorial Hospital site.
Homes in East Sacramento: the Fabulous Forties, Tudors, and bungalows
East Sacramento’s housing is mostly single-family homes built between the 1910s and 1950s, with the Fabulous Forties as its signature. The streets numbered roughly 38th through 47th between J Street and Folsom Boulevard hold the largest lots and grandest houses: Tudor Revivals, Colonial Revivals, Mediterranean villas, and large Craftsman homes under century-old trees. Ronald Reagan lived at 1341 45th Street as governor.
Around McKinley Park and across the rest of the neighborhood, the stock shifts to Craftsman bungalows, cottages, and smaller Tudors on standard lots with detached garages off alleys. River Park has mid-century ranches on larger lots with direct access to the river and bike trail, and Sutter Park added a small enclave of new homes in the 2010s.
McKinley Park and East Sacramento's green spaces
McKinley Park is East Sacramento’s anchor, a city park established around 1902 and renamed for President William McKinley. It occupies the blocks between McKinley Boulevard and H Street from Alhambra Boulevard to 33rd Street, with a pond, tennis courts, a seasonal pool, and a perimeter path.
The McKinley Rose Garden dates to 1928 and holds roughly 1,200 rose bushes, and the Clunie Community Center houses a public library branch. East Portal Park is a smaller city park within the neighborhood, and the American River Parkway and Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail are reachable from River Park and the Sacramento State campus.
Schools and getting around from East Sacramento
East Sacramento is served by the Sacramento City Unified School District; confirm attendance areas by address, since boundaries do not follow neighborhood lines. Sacramento State is at the eastern edge.
The Capital City Freeway connects to Interstate 80 toward Roseville, and Highway 50 runs east to Rancho Cordova and Folsom and west to downtown and Interstate 5. Gold Line light rail runs along Folsom Boulevard, and downtown is roughly two to three miles west along J or H streets.
What to know before buying in East Sacramento
Age and inventory are the two things to understand. Most homes are 75 to 100 years old, so inspections should cover foundations, electrical, plumbing, sewer laterals, and roofs, and buyers should ask whether additions were permitted.
Few homes come to market in any given month, and prepared buyers move quickly. Neighbors are Midtown Sacramento to the west, Arden-Arcade across the river, and Land Park to the southwest.
Buying or selling in East Sacramento
Nick Sadek Sotheby’s International Realty serves East Sacramento from its Sacramento office on Fair Oaks Boulevard, a short drive across the river, and its Roseville, Woodland, and Nevada City offices. Agents who know the neighborhood can explain the difference between a Fabulous Forties Tudor and a McKinley Park bungalow, and sellers gain exposure through the Sotheby’s International Realty global network.
Search current listings, find out what your home is worth, meet our agents, or contact us. See the Sacramento County hub.
East Sacramento homes for sale
Live East Sacramento listings from MetroList will display here once the property search is connected.
Browse East Sacramento listingsPrefer to talk it through? Call 916.784.7444 and an agent will send you a curated list.
Questions buyers ask about East Sacramento
What are the Fabulous Forties in East Sacramento?
The Fabulous Forties are the numbered streets roughly 38th through 47th between J Street and Folsom Boulevard. The lots are among the largest in the neighborhood, and the homes are Tudor Revivals, Colonial Revivals, Mediterranean villas, and large Craftsman houses under century-old trees. Ronald Reagan lived on 45th Street as governor.
What is in McKinley Park?
McKinley Park has a pond, tennis courts, a seasonal pool, a playground, a perimeter walking path, and the McKinley Rose Garden, planted in 1928 with roughly 1,200 rose bushes. The Clunie Community Center on the grounds houses a public library branch, and the Shepard Garden and Arts Center is on an adjacent block.
What school district serves East Sacramento?
East Sacramento is served by the Sacramento City Unified School District. Attendance areas are set by address and do not follow neighborhood boundaries, so confirm assignments for any specific property with the district. California State University, Sacramento is at the neighborhood’s eastern edge.
How far is East Sacramento from downtown?
East Sacramento begins just east of the Capital City Freeway, and the Capitol is roughly two to three miles west along J Street or H Street. Many residents bike downtown on the flat grid, and Gold Line light rail along Folsom Boulevard connects to downtown and continues east to Folsom.
Ask a East Sacramento agent
Tell us what you are looking for in East Sacramento, or what you are thinking of selling, and a local agent will follow up.