$3,327,205Average Value$1,736Average Price per Sq Ft11Homes For Sale
Historic area in downtown Palo Alto
Before Palo Alto was known as Silicon Valley, it was a college town, and University South’s distinctive architecture, walkability and highly rated schools maintain the city’s college feel. The neighborhood includes Professorville, a historic district named for the Stanford University professors who built their homes here in the early 20th century.
“University South and Professorville are more walkable than any other area in Palo Alto,” says Jennifer Buenrostro, a Realtor with Compass who’s lived in Palo Alto for over 33 years. “It’s walkable to downtown, Town and Country Village, Stanford University and Stanford Shopping Center. There are people who move here and never want to leave because of that.” University South has several Christian houses of worship, including St. Thomas Aquinas Church and All Saints Episcopal Church.
Hamilton Ave in Downtown Palo Alto is just minutes away from University South.
Hoover Tower at Stanford University is a beloved landmark in the University South neighborhood.
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Michelin restaurants within walking distance
Downtown Palo Alto is a short walk away. At Tamarine, residents can savor Vietnamese-influenced dishes, including shaking beef and curried long beans, in a chic dining room that doubles as an art gallery. Evvia Estiatorio is a local staple that serves traditional Greek cuisine like lamb meatballs and moussaka in a rustic atmosphere. “These two restaurants anchor downtown,” Buenrostro says; both are included in the Michelin Guide.
Residents can also walk to upscale shopping areas and grocery stores. Town & Country Village includes national retailers like Sur La Table and Faherty. Stanford Shopping Center has more options, including Anthropologie and Burberry. Local produce is available at the weekly Downtown Palo Alto Farmers Market; other grocery options include Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s.
Trader Joe's is a great place to get your weekly grocery in the University South area.
Whole Foods Market is a great place to get fresh produce in the University South area.
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Professorville’s iconic homes
“Professorville has some of the most historic homes in the city,” says Nicholas French, a broker associate at Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno who’s sold homes here for 23 years. “It’s really hard to buy a house and tear it down here, so there are a lot of turn-of-the-century homes with a lot of character.” Professorville is east of Heritage Park; the Craftsman and Colonial Revival homes here often have brown shingle siding and gambrel roofs. The neighborhood’s age can be felt in the tree-lined streets and tall hedges. Late 20th and early 21st century homes become more common near University Avenue, where buyers can also find condos.
In April 2024, the median single-family home price was $5.1 million, 37% higher than Palo Alto’s median. A two-bedroom bungalow can start at $2.4 million, while a six-bedroom Craftsman home can cost $7.6 million. Condos are available close to University Avenue; a two-bedroom can range in price from $1.1 million to $3.9 million.
This Colonial style home is in the University South area.
This beautiful Colonial home in the University South area is an art piece.
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Celebrate spring at the May Fete Parade
The sounds of high school marching bands, local youth groups and cheering neighbors fill University South during the annual May Fete Parade. The parade ends with a fair at Heritage Park, where residents can check out live local music, kids’ games and food trucks. In August, the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts brings over 250 artists, crafters and food vendors to University Boulevard, and chalk artists take over Tasso Street for the Italian Street Painting Expo.
Heritage park is a great place to bring your kids in the University South area.
The Pets in Need Organization was at the May Fete Parade.
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Live theater at Lucie Stern Community Center
Kids can play conductor on the train-themed playground at the 2-acre Heritage Park. The 19-acre Rinconada Park has a redwood grove called the Magic Forest, sports fields and a swimming pool. The Lucie Stern Community Center is home to Palo Alto’s community theater scene; residents can enjoy a professional show from TheatreWorks, and kids can join the fun at the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre. The Stanford Theater downtown “plays old classic movies,” Buenrostro says, “and there’s an organist that comes up on a lift and plays before the shows and during intermissions.”
Stanford Theater in University South overflows with charm with its vintage style and character.
There is a playground in Heritage park located in the University South area.
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Easy access to the Caltrain
University Avenue and Embarcadero Road are the main roads through University South; both connect to U.S. Highway 101 less than 2 miles north. The regional Caltrain’s Palo Alto station is in the neighborhood’s west. There are three bus options: the Valley Transportation Authority, SamTrams and the free Stanford Marguerite shuttle. With bike lanes and sidewalks, University South is friendly for cyclists and pedestrians. Stanford Medicine is 2 miles southwest, and San José Mineta International Airport is a 16-mile trip.
The Caltrain is the easiest option to get to San Francisco in the University South area.
University Ave in University South is masterfully laid out for easy access in and out.
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Social justice career pathway at Paly
Local kids can start at Addison Elementary, which earns an A-plus from Niche. “Addison Elementary is one of the top schools in Palo Alto,” Buenrostro says. “It has a particularly active group of parents and lots of activities for families and students. I have friends who met when their kids went there 20 years ago, and they still get together.” Kids can then attend Frank S. Greene Middle before advancing to Palo Alto High; both earn an A-plus. At Palo Alto High, also known as Paly, kids can enroll in the social justice career pathway, a three-year program in which students complete self-directed projects to solve real issues in their communities. Stanford University is within walking distance; this top-ranked school enrolls around 17,000 students, and its faculty includes 20 Nobel laureates.
Greene Middle School is one of University South's public middle school options.
The front entrance at Palo Alto High School in University South is flanked by petit palm trees.
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Wildfires in the Santa Cruz Mountains
University South is at low risk for wildfires, but residents may experience reduced air quality from fires in nearby high-risk areas, including the Santa Cruz Mountains to the south and the Diablo Range to the east. The last major wildfires were in 2020 when almost 90,000 acres burned in Santa Cruz County to the south.
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.
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On average, homes in University South, Palo Alto sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in University South, Palo Alto over the last 12 months is $2,875,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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