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Location

Clovis is one of the most desired places to live in the entire San Joaquin Valley. Once a city located a few miles outside of Fresno (the 5th largest city in California — San Francisco is the 4th largest), Clovis and Fresno now maintain a nearly indistinguishable boundary. In fact, often times the only way to tell which city you’re in is by the color of street signs (green is Fresno and brown is Clovis) which means Clovis residents are only minutes away from the nearly unending array of retail and dining opportunities of Fresno County.

Clovis Schools

With some of the best schools in the state, the Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) quality of education typically is the primary reason people clamor to Clovis. And why shouldn’t they? CUSD has been honored 29 times by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program and over 80 times as California Distinguished Schools. By comparison, Clovis Unified’s API scores are far higher than Fresno Unified.

Downtown Clovis

The downtown area of Clovis, also referred to as “Old Town Clovis,” has a distinctly western flair where you will find a number of antique shops, tiny boutiques, and coffee shops. Old Town hosts a number of events that attract locals and visitors throughout the region like the Children’s Electric Christmas Parade, the Antique and Collectibles Fair, the Clovis Rodeo Days, Clovisfest, and Big Hat Days. Rodeo Days and Big Hat Days remain among the most popular events, attracting over 125,000 people. Both of these events tie in easily with the Western roots Clovis has strived to protect. Big Hat Days is hailed as the largest event all of Central Valley. Attendees wear the best and biggest hats to combat the sun while they enjoy the myriad of food and crafts booths.

Clovis Homes

Clovis real estate has the best of both rural and city living all at an affordable price. Every year, more than 5,000 new residents take advantage of Clovis’ low cost of housing and great schools and location. For example, in 2010, the median cost of a Clovis home was approximately $230,000 (median Clovis home prices for a 3-bedroom / 2-bath home was $185,000, whereas a 4-bedroom / 2-bath Clovis home was $256,000). Custom homes on larger than average home sites range from under $400,000 to over $1,000,000.

Fortunately, city administrators knew Clovis couldn’t be California’s best kept secret forever. As far back as 1993, two planned communities (Harlan Ranch and Loma Vista) were envisioned that would center around Clovis’ award-winning schools.

One of the more popular and prestigious Clovis communities is a private lakeside community called Quail Lake. For our recommended list of places to live in Clovis, visit “Best Places to Live in Clovis.”

If new construction isn’t your thing, the older homes located near Old Town (downtown) area offer a certain quality of life unavailable in the newer gated Clovis communities. For example, area locals often enjoy a walk in the evening and take advantage of the city’s weekly Farmer’s Markets. Downtown residents can often beat the crowd to some of the area’s most popular restaurants, like the Corner Cafe on Pollasky and the Trelio a California-infusion experience.

For those who do not wish or are not ready to own homes, Clovis has a mix of apartments, town-homes and condos available. These homes provide residents with all the advantages of living in Clovis (such as top-rated Clovis schools).

Population and Future Growth

Although Clovis has doubled its population since 1985 (approx. 100,000 today), the city has been praised for “smart planning” and development. Because it’s close proximity to the mountains, Clovis often called the “Gateway to the Sierras.” Residential developments on the edges of the city offer expansive lots and 1-2 acre sites in the country allow for horses and small farms, providing residents the best of both worlds (country living and city amenities).

Growing at approximately 5% annually, Clovis has the unique challenge of maintaining a small-town atmosphere while providing for a growing residential base. The new high-speed rail train will soon connect Los Angeles and San Francisco through Fresno / Clovis, exposing one of California’s most affordable communities.

Video About Clovis

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