Campbell

Campbell, located on the outskirts of San Jose, houses a walkable downtown district with a vibrant shopping and dining scene. Historically, the land was filled with orchards and canneries, and the railroad, which ran through town, allowed farmers to transport their canned fruit around the country quickly. Today, many of the residents enjoy Campbell’s proximity to major technology employers, as well as its active calendar of events. Along neighborhood streets, palm and pistachio trees shade sidewalks from the California sun, and carefully maintained hedges line homes and driveways. With easy access to locally owned shops and a nearby theater and community center, Downtown Campbell is a good fit for homebuyers looking for a bustling small-town feel. Campbell’s downtown area is filled with clothing boutiques and diverse dining options. “We love to go to downtown Campbell on the weekends,” says Erfan Modir, Realtor with Intero Real Estate Services Inc., who was born and raised in Cambrian. “My wife likes to browse the shops, and we can usually find some live music.” Specialty shops like Therapy Stores and Redemption offer clothing and one-of-a-kind home décor. Along with the shopping comes a plethora of places to eat on days spent downtown. Wild Rose Eatery and Bar serves up dishes such as brisket sliders and filet mignon. There is also Naschmarkt, where the chefs prepare Austrian-inspired cuisine for lunch and dinner. For a more casual meal, locals can try Blue Line Pizza, which has received several awards for its deep-dish cornmeal crust pizza. Just blocks from downtown is the Pruneyard Shopping Center, a densely-packed courtyard of popular restaurants. In Downtown Campbell, there’s almost always something happening. Seasonal events such as Oktoberfest, the annual Summer Concert Series and Christmas in Campbell consistently rotate through, keeping the streets lit up with activity and decorations. Every Sunday, the Campbell Farmers Market acts as a mini festival where residents can do business with local farmers and artisans in this popular open-air market. “Campbell also has wine walks periodically,” Modir says. “It’s a great way to sample wines from all the nearby vineyards.” These are just the beginning of what Downtown Campbell offers its residents, as community leaders also organize regular one-off events such as fun runs, parades and many more activities throughout the year. In Campbell’s downtown area, homebuyers will find that the majority of single-family homes were built between the 1950s and 1970s. A 1950s ranch-style or Minimal Traditional residence with three bedrooms may cost just under $2 million. Two-story homes with four or more bedrooms usually run closer to $2.5 million. With a good number of condos and townhouses, first-time buyers have some more budget-friendly options; two-bedroom condos generally cost around $700,000, and a three-bedroom townhouse might go for $1.5 million. Students who live in the Downtown Campbell area may attend Campbell School of Innovation, which teaches transitional kindergarten through eighth grade and scores an A-minus on Niche. There are two area high schools; residents who live east of Winchester Boulevard may attend Del Mar High School, which earns a B-plus and those who live west of Winchester are zoned for Westmont High School, rated an A. Westmont prides itself on offering the only agriculture program in the Bay Area and the most career technical education courses in its district. The Campbell Community Center is a hot spot for local engagement. The sizeable multi-use space holds soccer fields, a community stadium and a pool. The center is also home to the Campbell Skatepark, where local thrill seekers can practice skating in a safe environment. Also within the community center is the Heritage Theatre, a historic performing arts theater that hosts concerts, comedians and performances from local and national touring acts. Other area parks include John D. Morgan Park, a 32-acre space with a playground for children. At Campbell Park, residents can bike the Los Gatos Creek Trail, climb the rope ladder at the playground or challenge friends to a pickup game of basketball. Downtown Campbell offers several transportation options for commuters. There is a Valley Transportation Authority light rail stop off Orchard City Drive. From there, riders can transfer to the Caltrain service, which runs throughout the Bay Area. Travelers can also take State Route 17, an eight-lane divided highway, or the San Tomas Expressway. Nearby houses of worship include the Campbell United Methodist Church and the San Jose Korean Central Church. The Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is less than a 3-mile drive from Downtown Campbell; they offer a Level I Trauma Center prepared for all emergencies. Anyone living in Santa Clara County may face environmental hazards such as heat waves, earthquakes, wildfires and landslides, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Santa Clara created an emergency management team that offers educational resources to prepare residents for these risks.

Located in Santa Clara County, San Tomas has a population of about 18,000 people and is close to San Jose. This neighborhood has an urban feel and is considered among its residents to be a convenient place to live. Its proximity to Silicon Valley makes it a popular place for people who work in the tech industry. San Tomas stretches across almost 3 square miles, making it one of the smaller neighborhoods in the city of Campbell. This neighborhood is also known for its abundant housing options, walkability and quiet atmosphere. In addition, San Tomas students are served by a variety of schools in the Campbell Union School District and locals here have access to multiple nearby freeways. The residences in San Tomas exemplify the mix of suburban and urban that is the city of Campbell. Many of the homes share similar styles, with the neighborhood's eastern end being primarily ranch-style homes with enough space for a front and back yard and the western end becoming more two-story and modern homes sporting larger lots to match. Homes also have a range of history, with some homes being built as early as the 1920s all the way up to the 2000s. Prices here range from $1.3 million to $3 million, from a minimalist historic ranch-style home to a modern two-story contemporary home. The 17 and 85 freeways are along the neighborhood's eastern and southern ends, allowing residents to commute to the rest of San Jose or the larger San Fransisco area. The streets are still very quiet within the neighborhood itself, though. The San José Mineta International Airport is 10 miles away for trips outside of California. The El Camino Health - Los Gatos Hospital is just to the south of the neighborhood and offers 29 different services for medical care. The dining options in San Tomas are another popular feature, with many of them sitting along Winchester Boulevard. Effie's Restaurant & Bar is a traditional American restaurant where “both the service and food keep everyone coming back,” says Princess Molina, an associate at Princess Lodge who has worked in the area for over 9 years. Locals can also head to Sorelle Italian Bistro, which uses original family recipes from the owner’s home in Tricarico, Italy. For stocking up the kitchen, Nob Hill Foods is the closest grocery store on the western end of the neighborhood, and for big- box shopping, the local Target is 2 ½ miles to the northwest. San Tomas is close to a wide variety of parks and nature preserves, such as Jack Fischer Park, which offers visitors a playset, a beehive-shaped hill with a walking path, an expansive open playfield and an interactive water feature. Los Gatos Creek Park has paths for nature lovers, dog walkers, cyclists, skaters and people on non-motorized scooters. The park is one of the few urban streams in Santa Clara Valley which remains relatively intact. It is both a booming spot for plants and wildlife and is part of an intricate system of water resources and flood protection. For additional recreation, many residents head to the nearby John D. Morgan Park, which has been “newly renovated and is a great spot for a walk,” Molina says. Students in San Tomas are within walking distance of many of the schools in the Campbell Union School District. They can begin their education at Capri Elementary School, which receives a B-plus rating on Niche. Students then move on to Rolling Hills Middle School, which earns an A-minus. They can finish their education at the A-rated Westmont High School, which won the 2020 DuFour Award as the best Professional Learning Community in the United States. For private school options, there is also Canyon Heights Academy, an A-plus-rated Catholic school that uses the Montessori teaching methods. This approach involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. Residents of San Tomas are close to many restaurants, schools and parks. One popular place located roughly 5 miles from San Tomas is the Winchester Mystery House, a landmark museum. This “haunted house” was once owned by a local family. Residents can also head to the La Rinconada Country Club, a popular golf course that has been serving the community since 1929. Residents of San Tomas can also visit the monthly artisan markets hosted by the Campbell Chamber Community Foundation. These markets feature live music and local arts and crafts vendors. The family-friendly Summer Bash Festival is held in late July and offers music, tropical beverages and a tie-in with a local charity.