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San Jose, CA, sits at the far southern tip of the San Francisco Bay Area within the Santa Clara Valley. It’s considered one of the best places to live on the West Coast. Those looking for California real estate are typically attracted to San Jose’s sunny Mediterranean climate, highly-rated school system, and comfortable urban and suburban living mix.
San Jose is noteworthy for its high-income lifestyle, cultural variety, gorgeous natural setting, and booming tech-focused job market. The Northern California city has been nicknamed “The Capital of Silicon Valley” for the many international tech companies headquartered within or near its borders, like Apple, Google, Zoom, Netflix, Cisco, eBay, LinkedIn, Adobe, and PayPal (to name a few).
Like the high-tech industry businesses it welcomes, the neighborhoods of San Jose are pretty diverse. Many young professionals love the high-rises, cosmopolitan atmosphere, and conveniences of the downtown area in Central San Jose, but for those looking to raise a family, all the paths lead to the comfortable suburbs, with its peaceful, walkable tree-lined streets, abundant family-friendly amenities and activities, and beautiful historic architecture.
With a large and thriving population of around 1M, the San Jose real estate market offers a wide range of housing choices, making it tough to determine which areas are the best to relocate to. If you are moving to Jose, check out our list of the best 5 suburbs of San Jose:
1. Los Gatos
With its artsy vibe and European flair, Los Gatos is one of the most sought-after areas to live in south San Jose, particularly for relocators looking to settle in a suburban area that is not “sleepy.” Located at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 10 miles from San Jose, Los Gatos is known as a place where history meets modernity due to the confluence of charming historic districts and the headquarters of several global tech companies, including Netflix.
The residential areas are predominant in Los Gatos and stretch over 11 square miles. The neighborhoods are clean and pleasant, with a large concentration of single-family homes in quiet, tree-lined avenues and surrounded by well-designed and maintained streetscapes. A highlight of this suburb is the beautiful heritage homes of its historic districts (like Fairview Plaza or Almond Grove), but most of Los Gatos real estate is not more than a century old.
The community has small condominiums and townhomes for sale and single-detached homes ranging from modest entry-level single-family homes to estates with several acres and breathtaking panoramic vistas. The median home price in Los Gatos is slightly under $3M. Still, there are more affordable options across town (mostly condos and townhouses) priced between $700K and $900K, as well as more luxurious alternatives in the multi-million dollar range.
For their everyday necessities, the residents of Los Gatos have two major commercial areas: Los Gatos’ Historic Downtown Area and The Boulevard. There’s also a local farmers’ market every Sunday. Community events and activities like concerts, parades, and film projections, are common in the suburb, and residents also enjoy the many outdoor opportunities provided by the local parks and trails. As for schools, the Los Gatos Union School District and Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District, both with high-quality institutions, serve the local school-age children.
Attractions & Landmarks: New Museum Los Gatos + Art Studio, Lexington Reservoir County Park, Los Gatos Creek County Park, Vasona Lake County Park.
Distance from San Jose: 10 miles / 15 minutes
Median Sale Price: $2.9M
Zip Codes: 95030, 95032
2. Los Altos
Los Altos (Spanish for “The Heights”) is a city in Santa Clara County and one of the best suburbs of San Jose. It occupies a seven-square-mile area that runs from Palo Alto to Sunnyvale and Cupertino, between Mountain View and Los Altos Hills. Los Altos is widely known for providing a nice mixture of rural comfort and big-city excitement. Young families and individuals wanting to live near Silicon Valley are attracted to this suburb’s vibrant sense of community, charming shopping districts, top-performing schools, and over 16 parks and amenities-filled community centers.
Los Altos is almost entirely residential, which helps preserve a serene atmosphere. The city also has an ownership rate of 79%, while only 21% of the dwellers rent. Los Altos real estate is primarily spacious single-family detached homes constructed after the ’40s with three or four bedrooms. For downsizers or buyers looking for maintenance-free living, a limited number of condos for sale in Los Altos is available in the downtown area. Most condo units are in low-rise buildings or complexes, have included amenities, and are close to everything.
Homebuyers looking for unique homes for sale in Los Altos will be pleased. The city is known for its high-end houses, which come in various styles. Many of the dwellings in Los Altos are typical California ranch-style homes, featuring single-story living, open floor plans, and plenty of outdoor space; but there are also quaint bungalows, lavish Mediterranean villas with gorgeous desert landscaping, and some contemporary residences influenced by Swiss, German, and Austrian architecture.
Los Altos and neighboring Los Altos Hills abound with natural beauty. Residents appreciate the area’s tree-lined streets and carefully maintained gardens that provide a parklike atmosphere. On any given day, locals can be found running errands or shopping & dining in the local businesses and cafés in any shopping district near downtown.
They also love enjoying some outdoor time at Shoup Park or Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, with many hiking and cycling trails, picnic spots, and playgrounds for the children. Covington Elementary School and Los Altos High School are two exceptional options for students moving to the area.
Attractions & Landmarks: Los Altos History Museum, Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve, Los Altos Golf & Country Club.
Distance from San Jose: 17 miles / 21 minutes
Median Sale Price: $4.4M
Zip Codes: 94022, 94024
3. Saratoga
For its highly safe environment, exceptional life quality, and friendly, like-minded neighbors, it’s completely worth relocating to Saratoga, California. With its beautiful scenery filled with rolling hills and sprawling vineyards, this southern Bay Area gem ranked among the best places to live in California on several occasions. Families and young professionals from San Francisco, San Jose, and other metros in the Bay Area move to this rural retreat for peace and quiet and stunning mountain views while still being close to all the action.
Saratoga real estate is high-valued, but despite the climbing prices, the market remains healthy and highly competitive due to the many perks living in this area offers. The homes for sale in Saratoga sell quickly, often under two weeks after hitting the market, and most of the houses are sizable single-family detached with four, five, or more bedrooms. Homes in Saratoga range from more Mission-style, Mediterranean-style, and Ranch-style homes to spectacular contemporary estates with resort-inspired features and grounds on their own private roads.
The Saratoga, CA, housing was primarily constructed from the ’40s through the ’60s, and aside from large suburban houses, homebuyers can find some limited quantities of Saratoga townhomes and condos for sale. Most units have two or three bedrooms and are located near the city’s downtown, near the Golden Triangle, just minutes from local restaurants, shops, and lush Wildwood Park.
Affluent Saratoga, CA, is home to over 31K people who appreciate all that their vibrant community has to offer. The things to do in Saratoga include hiking, cycling, or nature-viewing in the neighboring preserves, county, and state parks; take a stroll through the quaint downtown area to view Saratoga Historical Park or relax at Blaney Plaza. Other frequent activities include exploring the local wineries or grabbing a bite to eat at Historic Saratoga Village Mall. Saratoga is also home to several golf courses and tennis clubs. For educational opportunities, locals have West Valley College and several high-quality K-12 alternatives, both private and public.
Attractions & Landmarks: Hakone Estate and Gardens, Saratoga Historical Park, Wildwood Park, Kevin Moran Park, West Valley College, Montalvo Arts Center.
Distance from San Jose: 13 miles / 17 minutes
Median Sale Price: $4M
Zip Codes: 95070
4. Palo Alto
From the list of cities in the Bay Area, Palo Alto easily stands out, and not just because it is home to Stanford University. Palo Alto is more than a wealthy college town; it’s one of the best suburbs of San Jose, offering families a laid-back ambiance but with enough energy and activity to avoid being considered a bedroom community. The charter city offers relocators a sunny Mediterranean climate, a vibrant, hip downtown with outstanding shopping, dining, and entertainment, plentiful real estate for sale, a robust school district, and over 4,500 acres of parks and natural reserves.
The cost of Palo Alto real estate is among the highest in the nation but is also one of the most vigorous markets in California, with homes selling after being on the market for only 11 days. If you’re looking to buy a home in Palo Alto, the most abundant housing options are the single-family detached houses with two or three bedrooms.
The homes are followed by spacious apartments and some small condominiums that cater to younger demographics or downsizers. As expected for a university-dominated area, the homeownership rate in Palo Alto is almost evenly split, with 56% of the locals owning their homes versus 42% of renters.
The homes for sale in Palo Alto typically range from modest wood-siding Craftsman bungalows or well-maintained Cape Cod-style homes costing between $3M and $5M to resort-like grand mansions in country club-like settings with price tags surpassing the $50M mark. On the other hand, the condos for sale in Palo Alto are mostly recently-renovated units on mid or low-rise buildings priced between $800K and $1.1M.
Palo Alto is an excellent choice for those seeking a suburban lifestyle close to all the action of Silicon Valley. Living here means hiking, biking, birding, and kayaking at bayfront Byxbee Park or Baylands Nature Preserve or having a pleasant stroll in Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden. Locals can also participate in the thriving local arts and culture scene, with numerous museums, theaters, and music venues. The Palo Alto Unified School District and VA Palo Alto Health Care System serve the residents of Palo Alto.
Attractions & Landmarks: Byxbee Park, Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, Hewlett Packard Garage.
Distance from San Jose: 17 miles / 20 minutes
Median Sale Price: $3.9M
Zip Codes: 94301, 94303
5. Cupertino
Cupertino is a fast-growing mid-size city directly west of San Jose’s core, on the western side of the Santa Clara Valley, with sections extending into the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The city has been ranked among the happiest places to live in the US and has a well-educated population of almost 60K living in 14 well-rounded neighborhoods. Additionally, relocating to Cupertino, CA, is living in a safe, serene environment near fantastic public schools and the virtually endless outdoor opportunities offered by the local city and county parks and the nearby nature preserves.
The Cupertino real estate market is one of the most competitive in the Bay Area, with relatively affordable home prices by California standards (the median sale price is $1.6M) and properties staying on the market for 15 days on average. Homebuyers looking to take the least out of their budget should purchase homes on the east side of Cupertino, which tend to be more reasonably priced than the west side, which is closer to Silicon Valley giants like Apple and Google.
The single-family detached homes for sale in Cupertino comprise 56% of the city’s housing supply. These homes are typically small Cottage-style or Ranch-style houses and bungalows with impeccable landscaping and simple designs. Most houses are carefully-maintained or beautifully-remodeled large suburban properties with single or two-story floor plans and two, three, or four bedrooms. The Cupertino condos are mostly two-bedroom units on high-rises, while the townhomes for sale are frequently close to downtown.
As the home of Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA, is well-known as a hub for tech innovation, but there’s more to the picturesque city than meets the eye. Cupertino offers a variety of things to do, from exploring the Cupertino Historical Society and Museum to hiking in McClellan Ranch Preserve or Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve or swimming in the two local outdoor pools.
The city offers a performing arts center: The Visual and Performing Arts Center, and many art galleries and museums for those interested in the arts. Cupertino is also home to various dining options, from casual cafés to fine dining restaurants. And for shoppers, the alternatives are plentiful, ranging from local boutiques to expansive malls. For families, the Monta Vista School District is highly sought after in this city.
Attractions & Landmarks: Maisie’s Peak, McClellan Ranch Preserve, Blackberry Farm Recreation and Pool, Fremont Older Open Space Preserve.
Distance from San Jose: 10 miles / 15 minutes
Median Sale Price: $1.6M
Zip Codes: 95014
The Best Suburbs Of San Jose, CA
If you’re looking for a quiet haven in Northern California, a charming city to live surrounded by nature and far from the hustle and bustle of a large metropolitan area, one of these five San Jose, CA, suburbs is sure to suit your needs. When the time comes to begin your awaited home-buying journey, it’s a good idea to work with a local eXp real estate agent who can assist you in locating the best property. There are a few good questions to ask before hiring a real estate agent. Keep them in mind, and you are sure to find the right agent for the job!
