$4,552,647Average Value$2,033Average Price per Sq Ft2Homes For Sale
Suburban Silicon Valley
Community Center is a residential area in Palo Alto known for its highly rated schools and recreational spaces. “Community Center feels like its own neighborhood, away from the bustle of downtown and busier areas of Palo Alto,” says Josh Rubin, a realtor with Compass who has sold multiple homes in this neighborhood. “It has some remarkable infrastructure,” says Molly Foy Rich, a Realtor with Midtown Realty and over 20 years of real estate experience. “Lots of people walk and bike. There’s an amphitheater and children’s theatre all within walking distance, and because the schools are really close, kids’ friends are all in the neighborhood.” Community Center receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 3 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4, and local venues include the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, Palo Alto Art Center and Rinconada Cultural Park. “If you live in Community Center, you almost have to know what Palo Alto has to offer because so much of it is on your doorstep,” Rich says. Nearby houses of worship include Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Single-family homes along tree-lined streets
“The starter home in Palo Alto is 3 million, and in this area, it’s probably more,” Rich says. “It’s a mix of homes—lots of new builds, lots of little cottages, a few Eichlers.” Along tree-lined streets, homes here are mostly early-to-mid-20th-century single-story cottages and new traditional homes built after 2000; most front lots feature traditional grass lawns or drought-tolerant landscaping. “The other thing to say about this neighborhood is there are a lot of trees. Palo Alto is very protective of their canopy, and there’s a lot of redwoods, oaks and beautiful trees.” A three-bedroom bungalow can start at $3 million, while a six-bedroom new traditional can cost $5.5 million. “It’s a very beautiful part of Palo Alto, everyone sort of knows each other, and it has a little bit more of a friendly vibe.”
Community Center offers large Craftsman homes on beautiful tree lined streets.
Many modern homes can be found in Community Center.
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Palo Alto Unified School District receives high marks from Niche
“People are buying three things in Palo Alto: sunshine, dirt and schools—the house is included. The schools are a huge driving factor in Palo Alto,” Rich says. Community Center is part of the Palo Alto Unified School District, ranked the best school district in California and an overall A-plus by Niche. Local kids can attend Walter Hays Elementary, Frank S. Greene Middle and Palo Alto High, all rated A-plus. At the latter, teens can enroll in academic pathways that cater to their interests, like child development, social justice or design, visual and media arts; in the child development pathway, students graduate ready to apply for a teaching certification. “Palo Alto has truly fantastic schools,” Rubin says. “Many residents moved here primarily for the schools, then stay for years after their children graduate.”
Palo Alto High School is a high ranking public school located in Community Center.
Walter Hayes Elementary School in Community Center features a large playground and lawn.
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Exploring neighborhood parks
At the 19-acre Rinconada Cultural Park, residents can practice their serve on the tennis courts, take a dip in the swimming pool and lounge on grassy fields dotted with oak and redwood trees. “Rinconada is definitely used by the community, but it’s also used by everyone in Palo Alto,” Rich says. “Eleanor Pardee Park is more of the community park that the neighborhood goes to.” Less than a mile north, Eleanor Pardee Park is a relaxing respite for residents; its 9 acres of grassy fields include paved jogging paths, picnic tables and playgrounds. “You often see people doing tai chi in the park,” Rich says.
Rinconada Pool is a public outdoor pool in Community Center.
Enjoy the serene surroundings at Eleanor Pardee Park just north of Community Center.
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Shopping and dining in Downtown Palo Alto
For groceries, residents head to Whole Foods, about a mile west in Downtown Palo Alto. Nearby, locals enjoy a rotating seasonal menu at Thyme, an upscale restaurant with a curated wine selection and locally sourced ingredients. A mile south, Town & Country Village Shopping Mall is an outdoor retail plaza of national chains, local businesses and restaurants, like Wildseed, popular for its vegan menu and friendly atmosphere. For dessert, Tong Sui Desserts & Drinks offers boba tea and an assortment of after-dinner treats, like coconut pudding and mochi. On Saturdays, residents can buy fresh produce from the Downtown Palo Alto Farmers Market.
A popular burger stand is not far from Community Center.
Community Center shoppers have access to nearby upscale stores.
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Getting around Palo Alto
“Community Center’s really good in terms of commuting,” Rich says. Route 101 is about 2 miles north, and tech hubs like Sunnyvale, Cupertino and San Jose are within 20 miles. “I would say, in general, people in Palo Alto don’t use a lot of public transportation, but we have some really good options.” Locals typically drive, walk or bike to get around, but Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority buses and Palo Alto Link also service the area. “Palo Alto Link is like an Uber, but just within Palo Alto. For seniors, it’s a dollar to ride.” Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford Medicine, a general hospital, are about 2 miles southwest. Palo Alto Airport, a public airport with no commercial flights, is 2 miles northeast; San Jose Mineta International Airport is 15 miles southeast.
Local attractions in Community Center
The Palo Alto Children’s Theatre puts on musicals and plays year-round while offering acting classes and camps for youngsters. The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is popular for its animals, children’s science classes and creative exhibits, like the interactive California Dinosaur Garden, where kids can dig for fossils. Nearby, the Palo Alto Art Center features exhibits from local and touring artists, and offers classes, like ceramics and metalsmithing. “The art center is just one of those things that, even after years of living in Palo Alto, you’re amazed at the resources there. It’s a really neat center, and it has a beautiful community garden, too,” Rich says.
Lucie Stern Theatre in Community Center is home to West Bay Opera.
Community Center kids line up for flamingo feeding at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo.
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
On average, homes in Community Center, Palo Alto sell after 22 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Community Center, Palo Alto over the last 12 months is $6,000,000, up 71% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
In the heart of Palo Alto's Community Center neighborhood, this modern residence blends stylish design, abundant natural light, and seamless indoor/outdoor living. The main level features an open-concept floor plan and Ipe decks at both the front & rear that extend the dining & living rooms outdoors. A chef's kitchen showcases Caesarstone countertops, custom cabinetry, and premium appliances.
The Dreyfus GroupGolden Gate Sotheby's International Realty
Lincoln Avenue Estate Palo Alto Offered at $17,500,000 | Lot size: 20,000 sq. ft. | 6 Bedrooms | 61⁄2 Bathrooms | 3-Car Garage Experience unparalleled luxury on Lincoln Avenue in the heart of Palo Alto. This stunning 6-bedroom, 6 1⁄2-bath estate offers a gourmet kitchen, vaulted ceilings, and sun-filled skylights throughout. Entertain in style with formal living and dining areas, a finished
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
