Mountain View

With the blue waters of the San Francisco Bay to the north and the rising peaks of the Santa Clara Mountains to the south, Cuesta Park sits in the heart of one of the most desirable cities in the Bay Area. The residential community lies in the southern half of Mountain View and is a neighborhood that feels complete. “Cuesta Park has got great schools, friendly neighborhoods, and an off-leash dog park,” says Lori Orion, Realtor at Sotheby’s International Realty. Along with award-winning public schools, residents are close to other Bay Area amenities and bustling urban centers. One stroll down Cuesta Park’s tree-lined streets and it is easy to see why the neighborhood is so desirable. “There is a very competitive market,” Orion says. Mountain View is recognized as a Tree City USA Community by the National Arbor Day Foundation, and classic California Ranchers sit under the shade of towering oaks. Orange trees are a common sight amongst the well-manicured landscaped lawns, complete with local shrubbery and colorful flowers. Ranchers may be the predominant style, but mid-century moderns and Spanish Revivals with stucco exteriors can still be found throughout. Contemporary townhouses begin pricing at $2 million, while larger, renovated builds can top $4 million. Immediate shopping can be found at the Grant Park Plaza, where Ranch 99 Market and Nob Hill Foods supply residents with weekly groceries. However, Castro St in downtown Mountain View is the place to go. The street has locally owned shops, boutiques, restaurants, and breweries. Wine lovers can head to Savvy Cellar Wine Bar for a glass of white or red. Cascal is a pan-Latin restaurant that has become a neighborhood favorite, while nearby Ludwigs Biergarten serves up classic German cuisine in an outdoor setting. Residents can access award-winning health care at the El Camino Health Mountain View Campus, which sits directly south of the neighborhood. The Hospital is a significant employer in the area and has been recognized by numerous medical organizations, including the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, for its distinguished standard of care. Summers are filled with the sound of live music as the Cuesta Park Neighborhood Association sponsors a Concert in the Park series from May to August. Admission is free to the public, and donations are encouraged to support the concert’s local artists. For a year-round event, residents head to the nearby Mountain View Farmers Market to peruse the fresh California produce and artisanal goods. Schools are a large draw as the highly rated Mountain View Whisman School District serves the neighborhood's younger residents. Education begins at Benjamin Bubb Elementary School and Isaac Newton Graham Middle School, both of which received an A rating from Niche. Older students may continue on to Mountain View High School and enroll in any of the 35 honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The school received an A-plus rating from Niche and was ranked the 27th-best public high school in the state of California. Parents looking for a private school option may consider Saint Francis High School, which received an A-plus rating from Niche. Located in the center of the neighborhood, Cuesta Park is a tranquil public green space from which the neighborhood gets its name. Residents can lace up their hiking shoes to enjoy the winding shaded trails, while sports enthusiasts will feel right at home on the park's tennis courts and soccer fields. K-9 companions can also get in the action at the adjacent off-leash dog park. Recreation opportunities surround Cuesta Park as the neighborhood is sandwiched between the San Francisco Bay to the north and the Santa Clara Mountains to the South. While one may never want to leave Cuesta Park, the neighborhood’s convenient location allows for an easy commute to nearby urban centers. “You’re really close to downtown Mountain View,” says Orion. “You can hop on the freeway to get to San Francisco or San Jose.” Highway 85 runs just east of the neighborhood and can be used to reach downtown San Jose or San Jose Mineta International Airport, 15 miles away.

Residents of Monta Loma have formed a close community inside the city of Mountain View. “I like living here because it’s so neighborly,” says Marilyn Gildea, who has lived there for 22 years. She attributes this neighborly feeling partially to how people can call on each other for help. “I told some neighbors I needed a new tray for my microwave, and 20 minutes later, my doorbell rang.” There are several stores and restaurants, as well as a church and mosque. Several synagogues are nearby in Palo Alto. Students can attend Mountain View Whisman School District, which receives an A from Niche. Sidewalks line the residential streets of Monta Loma, allowing neighbors to walk to nearby restaurants, stores and parks. Homes sit at the front of trimmed lawns decorated with mature trees, hedges and greenery, often featuring wide driveways. While most of the neighborhood is filled with mid-century modern ranch styles, there are Arts and Crafts and contemporary houses with low-pitched roofs scattered throughout the neighborhood. Prices for a single-family home tend to fall between $1.5 and $2.5 million. There are also some condos and townhouses in the area, many with Craftsman or Mediterranean influences, which can cost between $850,000 and $1.8 million. Locals can explore the many dining options around Monta Loma. “There are so many local restaurants, it’s unfair to name one,” Gildea says. The Monta Loma Plaza is home to Sushi Jin, which restaurant features omakase dining, where the chef plans the entire meal. Dumpling Garden serves at least 16 types of dumplings, and Rincon Sabroso specializes in Salvadoran food. At the locally owned The Midwife and The Baker, customers can order an array of pastries and breads. Downtown Mountain View, about 2 miles away, also features several eateries, including Crepevine Restaurant, which offers outdoor seating. Residents can walk to Safeway for groceries. “It’s a smaller store, so every month or two, I’ll drive to the larger one,” Gildea says. This larger Safeway is about 2 miles away in the Bailey Park Plaza. Walmart, Target and Trader Joe’s are also about 2 miles outside Monta Loma, in the San Antonio Shopping Center. Lowe’s is approximately 6 miles away. Locals visit downtown Mountain View for events held throughout the year. The Multicultural Festival is an annual celebration that honors the different cultures in the city with live performances and craft booths. At the Sunday Market, a year-round farmers market, people can shop for fresh produce and food from over 70 local vendors and growers. Residents can enjoy live music at the Concerts on the Plaza, held every Friday from June to September. As part of Mountain View Whisman School District, students can start at Monta Loma Elementary, which receives an A-minus from Niche, before attending Crittenden Middle, which scores an A. At Los Altos High School, which earns an A-plus, students can apply to three honors associations: the California Scholarship Federation, the National Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society. Many families will send their children to private schools, such as the A-plus-rated Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School. Thaddeus Park is a small park along West Middlefield Road that features a toddler playground and an open field for kids to explore. Rengstorff Park is within 1 mile of the neighborhood and includes a skatepark and the Mountain View Community Center, with a fitness and dance studio. Families can watch a movie at ShowPlace ICON Theatre, less than 1 mile away. Besides being walkable, Gildea says that many people bike to get around, especially those who work at Google. There is also reliable public transportation, with the San Antonio Caltrain stop along the Central Expressway and the Valley Transportation Authority buses stopping throughout Monta Loma. Residents can also order a ride from the Mountain View Community Shuttle. Locals fly out of San José Mineta International Airport, about an 11-mile drive, or the San Francisco International Airport, about 24 miles away. The El Camino Hospital Mountain View is about 4 miles outside the neighborhood and is one of the closest emergency rooms. It also offers heart, vascular and mother-baby care. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of California recognized the hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care.

Located just across the highway from the massive Google campus, Rex Manor sits in the center of Mountain View. “I always tell people this is the heart of the tech world,” says Jesse Nichols, front of house supervisor at the Computer History Museum and area resident of 20 years. “This is where microchips started. Stanford is an exit or two away, so we’re close to the SLAC Linear Collider and everything around that. It’s pretty much the hub of Silicon Valley.” While Rex Manor is closely connected to all amenities, its quiet streets make it easy to take in the sunny Northern California days in serenity. “As cliché as it is to say, it’s all about location in Rex Manor,” says local property manager Gill Stein. “There are just not enough homes to meet demand. Once people move here, they don’t want to live anywhere else.” Houses in Rex Manor tend to sprawl across modest lots, with a few townhouses scattered about. There is a healthy mix of Craftsman features like exposed beams alongside Spanish Revival homes and a few quirky postmodern builds that defy definition . There are also several condominium and mobile home choices in the neighborhood. Buyers can expect to pay up to $350,000 for a mobile home in Moffet Mobilehome Park, while a one-bedroom condo of 564 square feet can cost up to $650,000. Three-bedroom townhouses start around $1.8 million, and ranch-style houses with shingle roofs and two-car garages can climb to $2.5 million. Residential areas are neatly organized and hemmed in by three highways, and the streets are lined with mature oaks and towering palm trees. Children in Rex Manor attend Theuerkauf Elementary School, rated A-minus on Niche, which works with the Living Classroom Foundation to offer hands-on garden-based education to students. They then move to Crittenden Middle School, rated A. Crittenden Middle sits in the competitive Santa Clara Valley Middle School Athletic League, offering volleyball, basketball, soccer and track and field programs. Students can then finish at the A-plus-rated Mountain View High School, which offers world language courses in Spanish, Mandarin, French and Japanese. The Stevenson School Field sits in the center of Rex Manor, offering a paved walking trail that surrounds a baseball field and playground designed for younger residents to enjoy. The pocket-sized Rex Manor Tot Lot also sits in the neighborhood, where kids can play on swing sets or race across the monkey bars. Just 3.5 miles from the community, across Google’s campus, residents can explore the Stevens Creek Shoreline. “If you know the area, you know we have the shoreline lake,” Nichols says. “But tourists aren’t big on heading over there. It’s something mostly only locals know about.” Residents can get all their shopping done in one fell swoop at San Antonio Center, located just under 2 miles from the neighborhood. This outdoor shopping mall is home to a Safeway, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Target. San Antonio Center is also surrounded by dining options like Gen Korean BBQ House, where locals can feast on endless platters of grilled meat and vegetables in a trendy setting. Showplace ICON Theatre Kitchen is also located here, so residents can enjoy dinner from their seat while catching the latest films on the big screen. Residents of Rex Manor are a mere 1.5 miles from the Downtown Mountain View train station, where they can catch the Light Rail Orange Line to Alum Rock in just over an hour. The L5 heavy rail line brings passengers to downtown San Francisco in just under an hour, or to downtown San Jose in 25 minutes. Locals also enjoy easy access to Highway 101, which runs east 11 miles to San Jose Mineta International Airport. Rex Manor residents enjoy a quiet remove from the bustle of the city. “There’s not too much of a nightlife around here,” Nichols says. “People usually would go to San Jose.” SAP Center is just 13 miles from the neighborhood, so locals never have to miss a Sharks hockey game or any of the concerts hosted throughout the year. With Palo Alto to the west, Google’s campus to the north and the Microsoft Silicon Valley campus just above it, Rex Manor is right in the throes of the tech capital of the nation. “There’s a lot of history here,” Nichols says. “The Computer History Museum tries to preserve that. People are carrying computers around in their pockets every day, and we want to give them an opportunity to learn about where and how that started.”

Mountain View stands as one of the most desirable cities for homebuyers in Silicon Valley, and the collection of neighborhoods in Mountain View West embody the city at its finest. “It’s a great city to be in for those looking for a lot of space,” says Spencer Hsu, a local Realtor with eXp Realty. “It’s central to Silicon Valley, and it’s beautiful despite not being as big as some of the surrounding areas like San Jose, but it maintains the Bay Area diversity. Many cultures are represented, and everyone is really friendly.” The varied streets across Mountain View West offer diverse homebuying options for newcomers to Silicon Valley. Between Monroe Drive and Del Medio Ave, an attractive collection of recently renovated Spanish and Contemporary-style New Traditional homes sit in secluded coves and cul-de-sacs with thick trees and white picket fences providing privacy and personality. Most homes in this area range in price from $2.5 million to $4 million. Directly in the shadow of the San Antonio Center sit The Crossings, a collection of tightly lined Mediterranean-style builds featuring uniform designs, and Castro City, where sidewalks connect Colonial Revival estates and unique shotgun-style homes. Prices in both subdivisions largely range from $1.5 million to $2 million. Cross Escuela Avenue for several streets of classic Craftsman ranches and bungalows standing behind sparse trees and compact lawn landscapes, mostly priced in a range of $2 million to $3.5 million. Adjacent to Castro City sits Rengstorff Park, one of Mountain View’s busiest and most beloved parks. This immaculate green space provides residents in Mountain View West with a long list of outdoor recreation activities. Locals from all over town come to the Mountain View Community Center for regular community gatherings and festivals on the park grounds. Head to the Rengstorff Park Pool during the summer months to cool off with the rest of the neighborhood. Thrill seekers flock to the Rengstorff Skatepark to hone their shredding skills on the park’s ramps and half pipes. Add in designated picnic areas, shadow-covered trails and courts for a wide range of team sports, and you have one of Mountain View’s finest parks right at your fingertips. Walk your way to Castro Street to take part in Downtown Mountain View’s exciting town center. These bustling blocks come packed with ways to entertain and engage with trendy restaurants, booming bars and breweries and countless local businesses. Be sure to visit on Sundays for the local farmers’ market, and music fills the air every Thursday night for Thursday Night Live. When you settle down in Mountain View West, you gain easy access to San Antonio Center, Mountain View’s central retail hub. Across this massive mecca for shopping, locals have access to nearly every major retailer, from Walmart and Target to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. When you’d rather have someone else make the night’s meal, turn to one of the many regional chains and local favorites scattered throughout the San Antonio Center. Try Esther’s Kitchen & Beer Garden to unwind after a long week of work, where friendly service comes with a long list of imported beers and traditional German cuisine. If you’re watching your diet, try Veggie Garden, where they offer vegan and vegetarian spins on classic Chinese dishes. Need a destination for date night? Head to the ShowPlace ICON Theatre & Kitchen, where they screen the biggest new releases and serve concessions directly to your cushy reclined seat. Students in Mountain View West don’t have far to go to attend Mountain View’s popular school system. The youngest residents have multiple elementary school options, including Stevenson Elementary in the nearby Rex Manor neighborhood, which Niche ranks in the top 5% of all public elementary schools in the state. Ardis G. Egan Junior High in Los Altos stands as the nearest middle school to Mountain View West, and Niche calls it the No. 5 best public middle school in Santa Clara County. The closest public high school is Los Altos High School, which Niche ranks as the No. 10 best public high school in California thanks to its high graduation rates, championship athletic teams and nationally ranked performing arts programs.

With a convenient location for many of the Bay Area’s technology jobs, the Cuernavaca neighborhood is highly coveted. The community has a mix of single-family and multi-family housing; many of the single-family residences lie within the Cuernavaca Homeowner Association. Tall magnolias, palms and evergreens line the sidewalks of Cuernavaca, giving it an established feel. Locals have nearby access to restaurants and shopping, as well as nearby public transportation. In addition, the schools are highly rated and offer opportunities for students who wish to take more challenging courses. There are a few nearby parks and, of course, plenty of other recreation within the greater Bay Area. Much of Cuernavaca’s current housing stock was developed in the 1980s and is part of a homeowners association-controlled subdivision. Homes within the subdivision are two-story, Mediterranean-inspired villas that come with clubhouse amenities like a private park area, a swimming pool and exclusive community events throughout the year. These list for a median price of $2.5 million. “It’s a safe feeling neighborhood,” says Trish Eby, who has sold homes in the community. “Cuernavaca is one of the nicest places to live in Mountain View.” Outside the homeowners association are a few four- and five-bedroom, ranch-style residences that have been modernized since their construction in the mid-1900s; these are valued between $2.1 million and $2.5 million. Buyers may also find two-bedroom condos listed between $850,000 and $1 million. Children living in Cuernavaca can attend Amy Imai Elementary School and Isaac Newton Graham Middle School, which both receive scores of A on Niche. They may then transition to A-plus-rated Mountain View High, which has a 20-1 student-teacher ratio and offers more than 40 Advanced Placement and honors courses. 98% of Mountain View graduates continue their education at colleges of their choice. Cuernavaca residents looking to get some time in the sunshine can find community parks and tennis courts within the subdivision. For those without access to these parks or for anyone looking to take a jog or a bike ride through nature, the nearby Stevens Creek Trail is one option. Locals can connect to the trail via a pedestrian footbridge just off Dale Avenue; after crossing State Route 85, they can follow the paved multi-use trail for over 1 mile or take a side trail over to the shaded area at Sleeper Park. Less than 2 miles west of the neighborhood is Cuesta Park, a large community space with facilities for swimming and tennis, as well as a dog park. "My son always wants me to drive him to Braly Park," says Eduardo Silva, area resident. "It has a little mountain that he races up with his friends. When they get to the top, they push their toy cars down and see which goes the farthest." About 6 miles from Cuernavaca is Seven Seas Park. "This one is really popular — the playground is shaped like a pirate ship, and kids can get a map," Silva says. "The park staff has hidden a few treasures that kids can look for. They also have really nice tennis courts that aren't too crowded." Locals can find annual events in nearby Sunnyvale, which is about 2 miles east of Cuernavaca. Each May, there is a Hands on the Arts Festival, where children can learn different styles of art and their adults can enjoy live entertainment and food. There are also outdoor movie nights in August and holiday programs during the winter months as well. Cuernavaca provides instant access to a wide range of shopping options, many of which are located along El Camino Real. Locals can make their grocery runs at Safeway, which is just a few blocks from most neighborhood homes. They can also pick up some freshly made pastries at Sugar Butter Flour in the same shopping center. Those looking for specialty ingredients can find Nijiya Market and 99 Ranch Market within a 1-mile drive. For other household needs, the area has several big-box national chains like Marshalls, HomeGoods and Best Buy. Local restaurants include A Slice of New York, which specializes in authentic, New York-style thin-crust pies served out of its characteristic restaurant with NYC street signs and graffiti-tagged walls. On the north side of El Camino Real is Himalayan Kitchen, which dishes out Indian cuisine like samosas and tandoori chicken, along with an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. Downtown Mountain View is about 2 miles west, and there are several boutiques and restaurant options. Locals can find Valley Transportation Authority bus stops along El Camino Real. To access the Caltrain, which makes regular trips to and from San Francisco throughout the day, there is a stop located 2.2 miles north of the Cuernavaca neighborhood. Commuters have access to several multi-lane highways, including state routes 85, 237 and 82. The nearest major airport is San José Mineta International Airport, which provides direct service to 40 international and domestic locations; the airport is just over a 10-mile drive for Cuernavaca residents. Santa Clara County has a very desirable climate but is also vulnerable to several environmental hazards, such as wildfires, earthquakes, heat waves and landslides. In order to better prepare citizens for these possible events, the county has an office of emergency management that provides educational materials and organizes drills. “One downside of the Cuernavaca neighborhood is the power lines that run through,” Ely says. “There has been some discussion as to whether or not they pose a health risk.”

Located at the heart of Silicon Valley is Whisman, a tech-centric urban neighborhood home to a Google facility complex, a Samsung corporate campus, and office buildings housing software companies such as Atlassian and Coursera. “The area used to be mostly farmland until they started constructing lots of buildings there in the 1960s during the rise of Silicon Valley,” says local Realtor Kathryn Tomaino with Coldwell Banker, who grew up in the Santa Clara area. Tomaino adds that Whisman is “right next to Moffett Field, an airstrip where the president used to fly into.” Additional tech company complexes are situated on either side of the airfield, including the Meta Sunnyvale Campus and the Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus. Most of the residential properties here are condos and apartments, but a handful of single-family homes still pepper the area. With downtown Mountain View located just a few blocks away, Whisman offers a convenient lifestyle for those seeking proximity to offices, urban amenities and public transit. This neighborhood is home to two light rail stations: Middlefield and Whisman. At both stations, residents can catch a car on the Orange Line, which has stops in downtown Mountain View and Moffett Park. Tomaino adds that locals can find additional public transit options in the downtown area: “People love going to the Mountain View train station and taking the train up to San Francisco; train lines at that station also travel down to Santa Clara and San Jose.” The Mountain View Community Shuttle is a fare-free public transit option that operates on a fixed route with stops in Whisman. For frequent fliers, the San Jose-Mineta International Airport is a 10-mile drive away. In some areas, residents ride their bikes or even walk to their place of work: “It’s a pretty bike-friendly and walkable area, although certain parts are better than others,” Tomaino says. “There’s been a movement lately to get Silicon Valley to cater more towards cyclists.” “It’s mostly condos in Whisman, but there are still some apartment complexes and single-family homes,” Tomaino says. Condo units, townhouses and single-family homes here are often situated in residential communities with private amenities and housing association fees. Properties reflect a mix of traditional and contemporary architecture alongside Spanish-influenced finishings. Although most residential and commercial buildings here are low-rise, Tomaino says that vertical construction has become more popular as space dwindles in the neighborhood. The median price of a property in Whisman is just over $1.5 million, but prices can range from as low as $800,000 to as high as $2.5 million. Although Whisman has seen substantial commercial and residential development since the rise of Silicon Valley, the neighborhood is still dotted with several local parks, a creek and a popular nature trail. According to Tomaino, many of these green spaces are protected from property development because of Hetch Hetchy, the reservoir and water system that originates from Yosemite but runs underground through the Bay Area. Stevens Creek Trail is a 5-mile cyclist and pedestrian path lining the eponymous stream that trickles through the neighborhood. Residents can also head to Creekside Park for a midday picnic and a fully equipped playground area for children. Just up the road is Whisman Park, where sports enthusiasts can play a game of tennis or volleyball, and pet owners can bring their four-legged friends to a dog park. The Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course also partly resides within the neighborhood and features an 18-hole course. Residents can grab a quick breakfast or lunch at the popular Rodger’s Deli & Donuts, a family-owned eatery that serves freshly baked goods and sandwiches. For a morning caffeine boost, Red Rock Coffee Company is a popular local café that often features live music. Less than a mile from Whisman in downtown Mountain View, which offers a wide range of boutique shops and dining options. “People go downtown a lot, there’s a farmers market there that’s popular for selling organic foods,” Tomaino says. Less than 2 miles outside the neighborhood is a Safeway grocery store in the Bailey Park Plaza Shopping Center. Young learners in this neighborhood are served by the Mountain View-Whisman School District, which receives an overall A rating from Niche. Edith Landels Elementary is an A-rated primary school for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. For an intermediate institution, students can attend Crittenden Middle School, which also receives an A rating. Secondary students are served by the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District and attend the A-plus-rated Mountain View High School, which was rated No. 6 in Niche’s 2024 “Best Public High Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area” list. A number of community events take place in Downtown Mountain View at places like the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, which hosts a variety of theatre, dance and music performances. Residents can also head to the Moffett Field Historical Society Museum just north of Whisman to view exhibits covering everything from United States aviation to the history of technology.