Porterville

Southwest Porterville is experiencing a surge in residents, much like the rest of the city. According to the United States Census Bureau, Porterville's population has increased by 15.6% since 2010 and has nearly doubled in size in the past 20 years. “I think people are coming here because of the prices,” says Janet Uresti, Commissioner of the Porterville Parks and Leisure Department. “Things have become so expensive everywhere else in California, but prices here are still relatively low compared to most of the Valley, and all the development is in the southwest end.” Much of the land making up the neighborhood is farmland, but a large concentration of subdivisions have sprouted up new builds just west of South Main Street. Most of the homes in Southwest Porterville are ranch-style Craftsman houses built in the 2020s. These houses are priced between $230,000 and $450,000. Some have Mediterranean-inspired stucco facades, while others are brick. A handful of homes built in the 1920s have recently been remodeled to current standards. Houses are clustered into subdivisions and feature small yards and multicar garages. Homeowners should take note that there is a good chance that flooding of the Tule River will be an issue for homes nearby. While Porterville Municipal Airport is only used for learning, there still may be the issue of noise. Kids in the neighborhood attend the Porterville Unified School District, beginning at Vandalia Elementary School, which has a B-minus grade on Niche. Next is Pioneer Middle School, which also has a B-minus overall grade. Niche gives Pioneer Middle School teachers an A grade and the school features a 20-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Porterville High School is one of the oldest in the area, dating back to 1896. The school has a B-plus Niche grade and an Academy of Health Sciences for students who want to have a career in the field. Also nearby is Porterville College, a public community college offering a plethora of degrees. “My favorite event is the Freedom Fest,” says Uresti. “Every last Saturday in June, we put on a huge fireworks display, and tons of local vendors come out.” Southwest Porterville is also home to the Porterville Fair, hosted each May. With a history dating back to 1948, the Porterville Fair is the neighborhood’s premiere event, featuring five days of livestock shows, live music and carnival rides. Near the fairgrounds is the Eagle Mountain Casino, where locals can enjoy over 1,700 slot machines and 20 table games. Residents head to the Porterville Sports Complex, which features three playgrounds and a dog park. The complex also serves as home to many youth sporting events, with 11 soccer fields and three football fields. Porterville Municipal Golf Course is a public 9-hole course with special twilight rates later in the evenings. Residents looking for an indoor workout can head to the nearby Planet Fitness. Most of the dining and shopping is found on the neighborhood’s north end off Olive Avenue. Locals start the day with a quick cup of coffee or a pastry from the Human Bean. Black Bear Diner is a local chain spot with large servings of classic American fare. The mountain-themed eatery serves breakfast around the clock. El Maguey offers Mexican classics and fun iced and frozen cocktails. For more dining and boutique shopping, downtown Porterville is just minutes away. Grocery shoppers hit Smart & Final, a local chain for food for the week ahead. Travel is easy as Highway 65 intersects the neighborhood from the north and south, providing access to Visalia. In addition, Porterville TransPORT is an on-demand transit service, much like Uber, in which locals can arrange rides. For travel around the neighborhood and the rest of Porterville, Tulare County Area Transit buses have frequent stops.

Most of Porterville’s major shopping and dining establishments sit within Porterville Northwest, making it one of the city’s most popular places to live. “On the west side, you have easier access to the shopping centers, and the homes are newer,” says Jared Davis of Downtown Realty, a Porterville native still there today. “It’s more popular to live on that side of town, but it all comes down to preference.” This suburban neighborhood in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains has ranch-style architecture, a mobile home community for seniors and easy access to big-box retailers and restaurants near West Henderson Avenue and Highway 65. “Porterville is a small town,” says Gunner Seher of Downtown Realty, who has over half a decade of experience in the city. “We’ve only got one Target, one Walmart, so being close to those is a big deal.” Porterville Northwest’s suburban streetscapes have a wide variety of ranch-style homes, including traditional models from the 1970s and modern builds with stucco facades and tile roofs. These homes feature private driveways, attached garages and lots have a median lot size of nearly 8,000 square feet. Prices range from $300,000 to $450,000, with newer builds being on the higher end. Most homes are clustered toward the eastern edge of the neighborhood, and homes to the west have more land, sitting on multiple acres. Within Porterville Northwest is Westwood Village, a mobile home community for residents over 55. Multi-bedroom homes here are about 400 square feet and cost between $125,000 to $130,000. Locals can grab a bite to eat at Generals Café & Grill, which serves classic diner fare and has old-time décor like washboards and black and white photos on the walls. Habi Sushi is a sleek, dimly lit spot with black leather chairs that offers dozens of specialty rolls and sake. Residents head to Thai Kitchen for dinner and can grab dessert at Spoons, a popular frozen yogurt shop where customers build their own sundaes. Shopping is convenient and easy, as Target and Walmart have locations in the neighborhood. Grocery shoppers have a choice between Save Mart and Food 4 Less and boutique shopping and dining options are available downtown, which is five minutes away by car. Locals head to Veterans Park for fun and exercise. The area has Porterville’s only skatepark and a shaded playground for children. There’s also a 1.66-mile paved trail for walking, running and biking. Pickleball, tennis, and volleyball players hit Zalud Park to play each other. The park also has fitness equipment and a nine-hole disc golf course. Residents can bowl a few frames at the Porterville Lanes and Sports Center off Highway 65. Also in the heart of the neighborhood is the Galaxy Theatres. Each April, the Porterville Chamber Spring Festival takes over Main Street, just a block east of the neighborhood. The festival includes live music, cooking competitions and over 100 local vendors. Kids in Porterville Northwest attend the Porterville Unified School District, beginning at Belleview Elementary, which holds a C-plus grade on Niche. Sequoia Middle School has a B-plus rating and is considered one of the top 10 public middle schools in Tulare County. In addition, Sequoia Middle features a 19-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Teens attend Monache High School, which has a B-plus Niche grade. Monache is known for its marching band, which has performed at the Rose Parade and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Locals can get around town on Porterville Transit buses. While Highway 65 is the prominent shopping thoroughfare in town, residents can also use it to drive 50 miles to Bakersfield in the south. Highway 65 also provides quick access to Visalia to the north. The closest international airport is in Fresno, about 75 miles away.

Porterville Northeast provides proximity to some of the city’s best attractions while also offering a sense of seclusion. “Porterville is a small town, but we have some nice restaurants along Main Street, and some of the homes in the area are within walking distance to those spots,” says Gunner Seher of Downtown Realty, who has over half a decade of experience in Porterville. Main Street is located in the western end of the neighborhood and is the main drag for all things dining and entertainment in, but there is plenty of quiet space available in the northeast part of town. “It’s still largely agricultural on that side,” says Seher. “There has been a lot of development over the past few years on the western side of town, but the east has remained relatively untouched.” Just a mile east of the neighborhood is Lake Success, a major recreation destination during the warmer months of the year. “It’s just minutes away and an awesome spot for camping, boating, water sports, and just relaxing,” says Mikayla Chaney, Porterville native and Realtor with Modern Broker. For those who choose to stay local, there are a pair of parks within walking distance of many homes. Murry Park was established in 1908 and is the oldest in Porterville. The 20-acre park features a pair of playgrounds, a community pool and a nine-hole disc golf course. There’s also a nine-hole disc golf course at Zalud Park, as well as lighted pickleball and tennis courts, baseball fields and fitness equipment. For a traditional round of golf, locals head to Porterville Municipal Golf Course, which has twilight rates throughout the week. “It’s a shorter course, but the views are amazing, and it’s very well taken care of,” says Chaney. Each year, Main Street hosts the Porterville Chamber Spring Festival, which has roots dating back to the early 1900s. The festival features a chili cook-off, live music and dancing and over 100 local vendors. Many of Porterville's best shopping and dining options are found in the neighborhood. Locals can start the day at The Mud House for a cup of coffee or grab some breakfast from Yum Yum Donuts. Residents hit the popular Vault Bar & Grill to try a flight and sample a few of the dozens of beers on tap. The restaurant also features American classics like burgers, sandwiches and more. Mariscos El-30 is a Mexican spot with plenty of seafood specials on the menu. Giovanni’s Pizzeria is a great place to grab a slice, and the restaurant’s large arcade is a popular spot for parties. Retail shoppers can find plenty of boutiques lining Main Street, and grocery shopping is easy with a Grocery Outlet nearby. Houses in Porterville Northeast are largely ranch-style and tri-level builds. Prices range from $240,000 to $480,000 for newly renovated houses. As is the case in most established neighborhoods, the lots are larger than they would be in newer developments. Many homes feature driveways and sizeable yards for entertaining guests, and a few have backyard pools. Houses that sit along Main Street will have to deal with some noise throughout the day, but life is quieter farther east. This has been a popular neighborhood with investors, as over 50% of the residents rent. The Porterville Unified School District serves all kids in the city. Those in Porterville Northeast head to Los Robles Elementary, which has a B-minus grade on Niche. Next is Bartlett Middle School, which Niche gives a C-plus ranking. Bartlett features a 16-1 student-teacher ratio. Teens go to Granite Hills High School, which opened in 1999. Niche gives Granite Hills a B-plus overall ranking and notes its strong teachers. The school has an Academy for Law, Justice and Ethics, where students can explore career opportunities in those fields after graduation. Porterville Transit buses provide public transportation throughout the city via a fleet of vehicles that operates out of a centrally located transit center downtown and has stops in the neighborhood. State Route 65 connects directly to Bakersfield 50 miles south. The Visalia Municipal Airport is 36 miles from the neighborhood, while the Fresno Yosemite International Airport is about 75 miles away.

With a view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and quick access to Lake Success and Porterville College, Porterville Southeast blends rural living with a suburban vibe. “The southeastern part of town hasn’t seen the development that other parts of the city have already experienced,” says Mikayla Chaney of Modern Broker and Porterville native. “Areas around the college can be busy, but the rest of the neighborhood is perfect for people who want to have some peace and quiet.” Much of the area in the neighborhood’s southern end is farmland, and Lake Success, a popular recreational area a couple of miles away, has nearly no commercial or residential buildings. Porterville Southeast features mainly front-gabled roofed ranch-style homes. Most homes are clustered in the northern portion of the neighborhood, but there are properties with large acreage surrounded by farmland to the south. Prices range from just under $200,000 to $500,000 for single-family homes. Most homes feature a driveway and attached garages. There are a pair of all-ages mobile home communities with two-bedroom homes beginning at $80,000. Potential residents should be aware that flooding is a factor for homes located along the Tule River, which intersects the neighborhood from east to west. Lake Success is just a couple of miles to the east for plenty of outdoor recreation. This reservoir is a popular spot for boating, fishing and swimming. The Porterville Municipal Golf Course is located just south of East Olive Road and is a favorite spot for local golfers. The nine-hole course also has private lessons, a pro shop and plenty of practice areas. “It’s a really popular and well-maintained course,” says Chaney. Just north is Murray Park, which has a splash pad and a community pool. In addition, there’s a stocked fishing pond, a pair of playgrounds and a nine-hole disc golf course. For classic American food in a casual setting, Jenny Lynn’s Café is the spot. The restaurant offers table and countertop service and large portions of burgers, salads and more. El Tapatio Restaurant is also in the neighborhood; locals can sit inside or on the patio, depending on the weather. El Tapatio has traditional Mexican fare and beer and margarita specials throughout the week. Many local and national chains are located off Olive Avenue for more dining options. Grocery Outlet, Aldi and Vallarta Supermarkets all have locations within a few blocks of the neighborhood, and retail shopping is just a few minutes away in downtown Porterville. Kids in Porterville Southeast head to the Porterville United School District. Students begin at John J. Doyle Elementary before moving on to Pioneer Middle School. Both Doyle Elementary and Pioneer Middle have B-minus ratings on Niche. Granite Hills High School has a B-plus Niche grade and is noted by the service as having a strong athletic department. The Grizzlies have won three Boys Basketball League Titles since 2016, and both the Boy and Girls Soccer teams made the Division 5 Valley Championship in 2022. Graduates can move on to Porterville College, a two-year institution offering associate degrees and certificates. “It’s a great place for lifelong learners and it’s a major employer in the area,” says Chaney. As it stands, 58% of Porterville Southeast residents have a high school degree compared to 89% nationally. Residents hop on California State Route 190, which runs on the southern side of the neighborhood, for access to Bakersfield. Fresno is 75 miles north via Highway 99. Porterville Transit buses serve the area with frequent stops in the neighborhood for local travel.