The Willows
Neighborhood in Menlo Park, California
San Mateo County 94025
Renovated midcentury homes
The Willows offers an eclectic mix of spacious Craftsman homes, ranch homes and California bungalows on tree-lined streets. These modest dwellings typically include two to three bedrooms, and most have been renovated with modern amenities and upscale interiors. Because of its prime location, small ranch homes can fetch upwards of $3 million while large, luxury homes that have been built more recently can fetch more than $5 million. “The homes more of an entry-level price point for Menlo Park. You’ve got a lot of homes that were built in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, but there are also some brand-new homes as well,” Pappalardo says. Single-family homes are the most common housing type here, but there’s also a cluster of two-story apartment buildings on Okeefe Street, near the Bayshore Freeway.
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Willows Oaks Park
For outdoor activities and relaxation, residents can visit Willows Oaks Park. This three-acre neighborhood gem features a playground, benches and paved walking paths beneath voluminous tree canopy. It’s also where locals bring their furry friends to play at an off-leash dog park. There’s also nearby Bedwell Bayfront Park, a sprawling open space that overlooks the San Francisco Bay. From its grassy, hilltop vistas, locals enjoy panoramic views of the waterfront.
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Stellar public and private schools
Students can attend stellar public schools like Laurel Elementary School, Hillview Middle School and Menlo-Atherton High School, all of which have received accolades like the California Distinguished Schools award and the National Blue Ribbon award. Laurel Elementary and Menlo-Atherton High both hold “A” ratings from Niche, an online school review website. The high school is known as one of the best college prep schools in California. The neighborhood is also home to the Silicon Valley International School, a private K-12 academy where students can learn a variety of languages and cultures, including Chinese, French and German. Stanford University’s campus is less than a mile away. “You’ve got a variety of options for school. There are great public schools nearby, but you’ve also got some really good private schools within walking distance,” Pappalardo says.
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Getting around the Bay Area and beyond
The Willows is traversed by the Bayshore Freeway, a major Peninsula travel corridor. It’s about 30 miles to downtown San Francisco and 20 miles from San Jose. It’s also just a few minutes from the Dumbarton Bridge, offering an easy connection to the East Bay. The neighborhood is served by SamTrans, the public transit authority with bus lines across San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto. It’s also just 20 miles from the San Francisco International Airport.
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The Willows Market
The Willows has several convenient restaurants and markets tucked away on residential streets. For all your grocery needs, residents can head over to The Willows Market for fresh produce, craft beer, wine and a popular local deli counter. Spicy, savory flavors can be found at Dosa Point, an Indian bistro, while Mediterranean classics are available at Mardini’s Deli Café, a local eatery serving falafel, kababs and pita. There’s also Café Zoe & Neighborhood Pizza Guy for early morning espresso and pastries, and pizza in the evening. For everything else, the neighborhood is walking distance to vibrant downtown Palo Alto, which is brimming with shops, grocery stores and restaurants. Art galleries, movie theaters, upscale eateries, cafes and chains have made it a regional hotspot.
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Written By
Daniel Berti
Photography Contributed By
Kenyon Gerbrandt
Video By
Michael Carey
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Stephan Skots
Stephan Skots
USKO Realty
(279) 529-5267
100 Total Sales
1 in The Willows
$2,280,000 Price
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Jim Enes
Jim Enes
Responds QuicklySequoia Real Estate
(650) 955-6064
38 Total Sales
1 in The Willows
$3,550,000 Price
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William Harrigan
William Harrigan
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hawaii Island Properties
(669) 202-2320
2 Total Sales
1 in The Willows
$2,325,000 Price
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Julie Flouty
Julie Flouty
Compass
(650) 414-5474
183 Total Sales
1 in The Willows
$2,104,000 Price
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Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Compass
(650) 977-1442
78 Total Sales
1 in The Willows
$3,850,000 Price
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Lyn Cobb
Lyn Cobb
Coldwell Banker Realty
(650) 667-7810
26 Total Sales
1 in The Willows
$3,880,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Bell Street Park
Johnson Park
- Basketball
- Bike Trails
- Picnic Area
Seminary Oaks Park
- Trails
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Hopkins Creekside Park
- Bike Trails
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Willow Oaks Park
- Tennis
- Trails
- Playground
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | The Willows | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
The Willows Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in The Willows, Menlo Park sell after 21 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in The Willows, Menlo Park over the last 12 months is $2,975,000, up 23% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$2,688,000
Median Sale Price
$2,975,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$3,150,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$2,308,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
-6%
Last 12 months Home Sales
72
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
23%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$1,643
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,212
Number of Homes for Sale
5
Median Year Built
1948
Months of Supply
0.80
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,615
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,051
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,246
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,534
Open Houses
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Saturday, Jun 141:30 - 4:30pm
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Saturday, Jun 142 - 4pm
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Saturday, Jun 141 - 4pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
3,737
Median Age
43
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
Population under 18
25.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$233,042
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$227,654
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.7%
College Graduates
82.8%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
52.1%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
64.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
18''
Average Winter Low Temperature
41°F
Average Summer High Temperature
81°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
82
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
76
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
40
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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