Palo Alto

Crescent Park, one of Palo Alto’s most coveted neighborhoods, is where Silicon Valley’s tech giants choose to settle down. The homes here aren’t mega-mansions; they’re single-family, character-rich homes located near the shops and restaurants of downtown Palo Alto, highly rated schools, and several tech headquarters. “Crescent Park is quintessential Palo Alto,” says Nicholas French, a broker associate at Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno who’s sold homes here for 23 years. “Every house is a little bit different.” Stanford University is also nearby; the school enrolls over 17,000 students and employs over 2,000 faculty members, including 20 Nobel laureates. Crescent Park’s largest homes can be found along University Avenue and on streets near San Francisquito Creek; these are mostly early 20th-century revival styles like Tudor, Spanish and Colonial, with a few International-style homes mixed in. Craftsman and Mediterranean-style bungalows are more common in Crescent Park’s southwest. Yards are typically large enough for landscaped gardens, mature shade trees and paved driveways. Residents can enjoy an evening stroll or morning jog along the neighborhood’s wide streets and well-maintained sidewalks. “People in Crescent Park don’t move very often, so the inventory doesn’t turn over a whole lot,” French says. In April 2024, the median single-family home price was $5.3 million, 44% higher than Palo Alto’s median; prices here are up 6% from 2023. A two-bedroom Mediterranean-style bungalow can start at $1.8 million, while a six-bedroom Dutch Colonial can cost as much as $16.7 million. Local kids can start at Duveneck Elementary, then attend Frank S. Greene Middle; both earn an A-plus from Niche. At the A-plus-rated Palo Alto High, also known as Paly, kids can enroll in the design, visual and media arts career pathway. Students here get hands-on experience in writing and designing for publications like The Campanile newspaper, which publishes eight to 10 issues of local news each year, and Viking Magazine, a sports-focused magazine with six issues a year. Popular private options include the Stratford School, which serves pre-kindergarten through Grade 7, and the Castilleja School for kids in Grade 6 through Grade 12; both earn an A-plus. At the 10-acre Eleanor Pardee Park, residents can stroll around the community gardens or rest in the shade of a eucalyptus tree while watching the kids play on the playground. The 19-acre Rinconada Park includes a swimming pool and tennis courts. Golfers can spend an afternoon at the public Baylands Golf Links, a par-71 course designed by Forrest Richardson. Residents can head downtown to catch a movie at the Stanford Theatre, a classic 1920s movie palace. Residents are a short bike ride away from downtown Palo Alto, which has locally owned boutiques and national retailers like Apple and Chico’s. There’s also a variety of restaurants. “One of my favorite restaurants is TAVERNA,” French says; diners here can savor classic Greek dishes like moussaka and avgolemono. Residents can enjoy views with a cocktail at President’s Terrace, Palo Alto’s only rooftop bar. “It was an old hotel used for Stanford,” French says. “They’ve totally redone it and it’s beautiful. I love that they kept that history.” Local produce is available at the weekly Downtown Palo Alto Farmers Market and the family-owned Market at Edgewood. U.S. Highway 101 borders Crescent Park to the north. The regional Caltrain’s Stanford station is 2 miles south. There are three bus options: SamTrams, the Valley Transportation Authority and the free Stanford Marguerite shuttle. With dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks, Crescent Park is friendly for cyclists and pedestrians. The Menlo Park VA Medical Center is 2 miles northwest, and Stanford Medicine is 4 miles southwest. The Palo Alto Airport, a general aviation municipal airport with no commercial flights, is 3 miles east, and San José Mineta International Airport is a 15-mile trip Over 250 artists, crafters and food vendors line University Boulevard each August for the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts. The Italian Street Painting Expo is a highlight; residents can watch chalk artists create large masterpieces on Tasso Street over two days. While Crescent Park is at low risk for wildfires, the Santa Cruz Mountains to the south and the Diablo Range to the east are at high risk. Though property damage from wildfires is unlikely, residents might see ash and smoke. The last major wildfires were in 2020 when almost 400,000 acres burned in the Diablo Range to the east and almost 90,000 acres burned in Santa Cruz County to the south.

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. 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. “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. 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. 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.” 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. 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. 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.

To walk through Duveneck-St. Francis is to be transported back in time. This popular Palo Alto suburb is part of the historic Green Gables subdivision, a 1950s community developed by acclaimed architect Joseph Eichler, a pioneer of midcentury modern architecture. The subdivision is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and many Palo Alto residents still call this part of the city Green Gables, including lifelong local Nicholas French, a broker associate at Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno who’s sold homes here for 23 years. “Green Gables has an entry-level price point, so there are lots of families,” he says. “People play basketball in the streets, and there’s less traffic than in other neighborhoods, like Crescent Park. It’s very active during the holidays, and trick-or-treating is really fun.” This family-friendly area is also well known for its highly rated schools, including Duveneck Elementary, and its proximity to the California Avenue shopping district and Rinconada Park. Stanford University, the Googleplex, and the Meta headquarters are also close by. Duveneck-St. Francis’s age can be felt in its trees; the mature oaks and eucalyptus trees shade the neighborhood's gently curving streets, sidewalks and landscaped yards. Most of the area’s midcentury modern homes are Eichler originals, characterized by exposed beams and floor-to-ceiling windows. Buyers can also find 1940s ranch-style homes and cottages with attached garages or carports. In April 2024, the median home price was $3.7 million, 7% higher than Palo Alto’s median; prices here are up 6% from 2023. A two-bedroom cottage can start at $2.4 million, while a four-bedroom two-story modern home can cost up to $5.1 million. A four-bedroom Eichler home can range from $2.6 million to $4 million. Local kids can start at Duveneck Elementary, which earns an A-plus from Niche. “Duveneck Elementary is a really big draw,” French says. “People love it there, and it’s a really tight community. You can almost call it a destination school—people say, “I want Duveneck.’” 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 design, visual and media arts career pathway. Students here get hands-on experience in graphic design, photography and video production. Popular private options include the Stratford School for kids in pre-kindergarten through Grade 8, and the all-girls Castilleja School for Grades 6 through 12; both earn an A-plus. “Rinconada Park has swimming, tennis, a zoo, a museum and a library,” French says. “There’s all kinds of stuff right there, and it’s within walking distance.” The park offers 19 acres of sports fields and green space, including a redwood grove called the Magic Forest. Near Rinconada Park, kids can get up close and personal with the animals at the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo. The 10-acre Eleanor Pardee Park is another popular way to get outside, with a playground, open fields and community gardens. At the Palo Alto Art Center, creative kids and adults can learn new mediums, including ceramics and digital photography. California Avenue’s locally owned shops and restaurants are a short bike ride away. “Mediterranean Wraps has the best falafel in all Santa Clara County,” French says. “There's a really good brunch place: Joanie’s Café. People from out of the area come here, and it’s always crowded.” Other popular restaurants include Terún, known for stellar Neapolitan pizzas, and Zareen’s, serving Pakistani and Indian dishes like paneer tikka masala and chai tea. Local produce is available at the weekly California Avenue Farmers Market, and nearby grocery options include Country Sun Natural Foods and The Market at Edgewood. Duveneck-St. Francis is bordered by U.S. Highway 101, the Oregon Expressway and Embarcadero Road. The regional Caltrain’s California Avenue station is 2 miles south. There are three bus options: SamTrams, the Valley Transportation Authority and the free Stanford Marguerite shuttle. With dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks, Duveneck-St. Francis is bike- and pedestrian-friendly. The Menlo Park VA Medical Center is 4 miles northeast, and Stanford Medicine is 4 miles southeast. The Palo Alto Airport, a general aviation municipal airport with no commercial flights, is a mile away, and San José Mineta International Airport is a 14-mile trip. Music fills California Avenue at the monthly 3rdThursday music festival, which has up to six local bands performing along the street; past acts have included the Jack Tuttle and Friends Quintet, a bluegrass band, and ALEGRITUDE, playing instrumental Brazilian music. Most of Duveneck-St. Francis is in a flood zone; home buyers here may be required to purchase flood insurance and receive special permits for construction projects. Residents here may also experience the effects of nearby wildfires, including ash and smoke. The last major wildfires in the area were in 2020 when almost 400,000 acres burned in the Diablo Range to the east and almost 90,000 acres burned in Santa Cruz County to the south.

In Charleston Gardens, the sounds of after-school driveway basketball games fill the air. Located less than 2 miles from Googleplex on Palo Alto’s eastern edge, the neighborhood has become a popular place for Silicon Valley’s families to settle down. “Palo Alto is just an unbelievable place to live,” says Marcie Soderquist, a Realtor with Compass who’s been selling homes for 29 years. “It's home to some of the top schools in the country. There's a lot of grandparents who live with their families, and you see them taking the kids back and forth to school." The Magical Bridge Playground in Mitchell Park is within walking distance, as are the Cubberly Community Center and the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center. Many of the neighborhood’s homes were designed by midcentury modern architect Joseph Eichler, and prices here are lower than in other areas of Palo Alto. “It's a bargain,” says Nick French, a broker associate at Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno who’s sold homes here for 23 years. “The price draws people here, and it has nice streets and trees. It's a great entry-level place to get into Palo Alto and Palo Alto schools.” While prices are still below the area’s average, the neighborhood’s popularity means prices here are up 26% from 2023. Midcentury modern Eichler homes, characterized by low-pitched and slanted roofs, sit side-by-side with traditional ranch styles, some of which have been renovated to add a second story. Eichler homes have a reputation for being high maintenance, but some buyers love their floor-to-ceiling windows and post-and-beam construction. “Some people in Seattle like the fog, and some prefer sun,” Soderquist says. “It's a personal preference. It's the same way with Eichlers. Some people really like midcentury modern, and some prefer a ranch-style home." Most homes are under 1,500 square feet and sit close together along wide, tree-lined streets where driveway basketball hoops are a common sight. A three-bedroom Eichler with 1,200 square feet can start at $2.1 million, while a three-bed Mediterranean ranch-style home with 1,900 square feet can cost $3.4 million. The Greenhouse condo community in the east is 15 acres of low-rise condos with a community green space, a pool and tennis courts. A two-bedroom can start at $868,000, while a three-bed can cost $1.2 million, plus homeowners association fees. The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 4 out of 10, on par with the national average; violent crime receives a score of 2 out of 10. Local kids can start at Fairmeadow Elementary and then attend Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle; both earn an A-plus from Niche. The A-plus-rated Henry M. Gunn High is ranked by Niche as the No. 3 best public high school in California. Students here can join over 35 clubs, including Math Circle, which hosts regular math competitions, and Science Bowl, a STEM-focused club that competes at the National Science Bowl. Private options include the Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School and Kehillah Jewish High School; both earn an A-plus from Niche. The Magical Bridge Playground in the 21-acre Mitchell Park, just west of the neighborhood, is designed for inclusivity; the park’s wheelchair-accessible playhouse, wide slides and climbing ropes are accessible to kids of all abilities. Birdwatching is popular at the 55-acre Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area to the north, which has a half-mile walking trail along the Bay. At the Cubberly Community Center to the south, residents can play tennis, soccer and baseball on the center’s numerous sports fields, or join the weekly ballroom dance lesson at Cubberley Pavilion. The nearby Oshman Family Jewish Community Center offers fitness classes and events like guest speakers, concerts and volunteer projects. There are also many houses of worship in multiple faiths, including the Central Chinese Christian Church of Palo Alto, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto and the Hatemi Mosque. Charleston Gardens is surrounded by local restaurants and big-box retailers. The locally owned Donhatsuten Ramen & Tapas is a popular casual lunch spot that serves Nagoya-style ramen, including vegetarian ramen and their signature Dohatsuten Ramen with spicy pork. Rick’s Ice Cream has been the place to go for a sweet treat since 1956; their 48 ice cream flavors include black raspberry crunch and saffron pistachio. Gardeners can pick up supplies at SummerWinds Nursery, and stores like Ace Hardware, Michaels and PetSmart add extra convenience. Grocery options include Piazza’s Fine Foods and Costco Wholesale. Charleston Garden’s main road is San Antonio Road on its eastern edge, which connects to U.S. Highway 101 less than a mile north and El Camino Real just over a mile south. The Caltrain’s San Antonio station is a mile south, connecting to San Francisco, 35 miles away, and downtown San Jose, 15 miles away. The Valley Transportation Authority bus makes several stops along East Charleston and Middlefield Roads. Dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks make the area bike- and pedestrian-friendly. Stanford Medical Center is 5 miles west, and Palo Alto VA Medical Center is 3 miles southwest. San José Mineta International Airport is a 12-mile trip. The Shoreline Amphitheatre, 2 miles east, is known for the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular with the San Francisco Symphony. Each Independence Day, residents can walk or bike to the venue to listen to patriotic tunes and watch the fireworks show. The amphitheater also hosts regular music festivals and concerts by world-renowned acts like The Black Keys and Willie Nelson. Homes here are located on the 500-year flood plain and have a moderate flooding risk. Residents may also experience the effects of nearby wildfires, including reduced air quality. The last major wildfires in the area were in 2020 when almost 90,000 acres burned in Santa Cruz County to the south.

In the heart of Silicon Valley and ranked by Niche as one of the best places to live in California, Midtown Palo Alto treats residents to highly ranked schools, a vibrant shopping and dining scene, Stanford University and luxury homes. “Palo Alto is hugely in demand, and Midtown gives people looking at this area something accessible but also right in line with what they expect from Palo Alto,” says Susanne Gibson, a Palo Alto property manager and longtime resident. “It’s as homey as it is stylish.” One of the Bay Area’s most highly coveted neighborhoods, this quiet suburb offers easy access to downtown, a quaint business district and much more. These tree-lined streets scream California modern, with contemporary designs detailed with eccentric styles peppering the landscape. Midtown offers Spanish-Mediterranean-style homes, bungalows, ranch-style homes, French-inspired estates and condos. Most homes were built in the 1950s, ranging from $845,000 to $6 million, but there’s also a large portion of modern homes built in the last several years. Condos range from $885,000 in the Oregon Green development to $1.7 million in the Woodcrest Palo Alto subdivision. Midtown homes, most of which are solar powered, offer multi-car garages and a mix of leafy, lush lawns and desert landscaping, with beautifully maintained yards adorned with plants, garden beds and winding stone pathways. Bordered by the Oregon Expressway and U.S. Route 101, residents can conveniently get around the city, including Stanford University and the Palo Alto Airport, both only a 2-mile drive. Downtown Palo Alto is just a short drive away, which residents can access via Middlefield Road or the nearby California Avenue Caltrain station, getting locals around the region. Midtown’s green spaces and unique natural areas are also a big part of its appeal. The 22-acre Greer Park is perfect for hikers or joggers with its long trails, and thrill seekers can shred some payment at its skatepark. At Shoreline Park, a nature preserve and one of the region’s biggest attractions, residents paddle around the lake, fly a kite, let furry companions play in the dog park or catch a show at the famous Shoreline Amphitheater, which attracts some of the biggest names in music and hosts numerous festivals throughout the year. Golf lovers can practice their swing at Shoreline Golf Links, a championship 18-hole course with equal parts beauty and challenge. Let the kids play or shoot hoops at Henry W. Seale Park, or for a serene escape into nature, head to Baylands Nature Preserve, nearly 2,000 acres of undisturbed marshland. One of the best sites for birdwatching, Baylands also boasts a duck pond, a sailing station and an art park. While Downtown Palo Alto is conveniently nearby, Midtown has a diverse selection of cuisine for every palate, mainly along California State Route 82. Fuel up in the morning at Palo Alto Café, which serves coffee sourced from around the world, along with sandwiches and smoothies. INDO Restaurant and Lounge is a local favorite, blending traditional Southeast Asian flavors with California classics. Or head to the San Antonio Center, a shopping center that offers Target, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, CVS, and Pacific Catch, an upscale Seafood restaurant. For nighttime fun, head to the iconic neoclassical Persian-style Stanford Theatre for old Hollywood classics and sip drinks at The Rose & Crown, a laid-back pub offering whiskeys, craft beers and games. The Palo Alto Unified School District serves Midtown Palo Alto and is ranked the No. 1 best district in California by Niche. Students attend El Carmelo Elementary School, which received an A-plus from Niche and offers STEM programs, ice skating parties, and an annual community picnic. Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School also received an A-plus from Niche and is ranked the No. 1 best middle school in the San Francisco Bay area. Ranked the No. 1 high school in the San Francisco Bay area by Niche and earning an overall A-plus, Henry M. Gunn High offers water polo and tennis teams, aeronautics and robotics clubs and career technical education. Area students can also attend Palo Alto High School, which sits in the shadow of Stanford University’s sprawling campus.