Community Center
Neighborhood in Palo Alto, California
Santa Clara County 94301
$4,540,252
Average Value
$1,989
Average Price per Sq Ft
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.”
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.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.
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Written By
Travis Rocha
Photography Contributed By
Anthony Lindsey
Video By
Kellan Beaver
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Alex Wang
Alex Wang
Responds QuicklyRainmaker Real Estate
(650) 977-2448
180 Total Sales
2 in Community Center
$3.9M - $6.5M Price Range
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Phil Chen
Phil Chen
Responds QuicklyChristie's International Real Estate Sereno
(650) 718-8234
133 Total Sales
1 in Community Center
$5,100,000 Price
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Michael Repka
Michael Repka
Deleon Realty
(650) 381-0224
796 Total Sales
10 in Community Center
$3.6M - $7.5M Price Range
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Annie Watson
Annie Watson
Coldwell Banker Realty
(650) 374-0097
97 Total Sales
3 in Community Center
$4M - $4.9M Price Range
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Leannah Hunt
Leannah Hunt
Christie's International Real Estate Sereno
(650) 549-9817
18 Total Sales
3 in Community Center
$4.3M - $5.6M Price Range
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Derk T. Brill
Derk T. Brill
Compass
(650) 670-3116
37 Total Sales
2 in Community Center
$3.6M - $6.8M Price Range
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
- K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Heritage Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Scott Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Cogswell Plaza
- Picnic Area
Lytton Plaza
- Picnic Area
Rinconada Park
- Grills
- Picnic Area
- Pool
Eleanor Pardee Park
- Bike Trails
- Grills
- Picnic Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Community Center | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Community Center Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Community Center, Palo Alto sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Community Center, Palo Alto over the last 12 months is $6,000,000, up 67% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$6,250,000
Median Sale Price
$6,000,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$6,000,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
24
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
67%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$1,989
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
410
Median Year Built
1946
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,260
Above the national average
1,933
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,969
Distribution of Home Values
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,243
Median Age
48
Population Density
10 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.8%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$246,269
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$229,726
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99.9%
College Graduates
90.9%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
66.2%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
66.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
14''
Average Winter Low Temperature
39°F
Average Summer High Temperature
80°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
81
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
54
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
34
/ 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Crescent Park
Character-rich homes near downtown Palo Alto and Stanford University
University South
Historic district near Stanford University and downtown Palo Alto
Duveneck-Saint Francis
Midcentury modern homes near Duveneck Elementary and Rinconada Park
Old Palo Alto
Luxury living near Stanford University and top-rated schools and restaurants
Linfield Oaks
A peaceful respite in a convenient pocket of Silicon Valley
Menlo Oaks
Upscale Silicon Valley suburb with history and natural scenery
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