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Interlaken

Interlaken

$880,527 Average Value
$628 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

Interlaken is a rural corner of an out-of-the-way coastal town

Interlaken is a little-known neighborhood in Watsonville, California, a town that is itself often overlooked, despite its convenience to places like Santa Cruz, Monterey and even San Jose. “Watsonville in general draws a lot of people because of the prices,” says Realtor Winnie Kepler, owner of Coastal Properties of California, who has over 47 years of experience in the area. “There actually used to be more multimillionaires in Watsonville than anywhere else in California because of all the ranches that were out there.” Interlaken is just north of Watsonville, and is a collection of suburbs, custom lakeside homes and farmland in the shadow of Mount Madonna. It is the quietest, farthest-flung part of a quiet coastal town.

Suburbs near Green Valley Road, lakeside homes on Cutter Road

The communities on the neighborhood’s west side sprawl off Green Valley Road, wrapping around into tight clusters of single-story homes on green suburban lots. “Along Green Valley Road, you’ll find older tracks of homes,” Kepler says. These tend to be ranch-style homes with Modern Traditional features, many built between 1970 and 1990. Houses near Kelly Lake are often the most popular in the area. “A lot of people whose family used to own ranches in the area choose to live on Cutter Drive, by Lake Kelly,” Kepler adds. Home prices typically range from around $610,000 to $930,000, varying based on square footage, the year it was built and the number of bedrooms. Lakeside houses and some of the largest properties in the area can reach prices of over $2 million.

Public schools in Interlaken mostly receive C-range grades

Students in Interlaken attend schools in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which receives a B-minus from Niche. In this district, students may attend magnet schools, apply for open enrollment or transfer to other districts, with selection based on capacity. Ann Soldo Elementary School, which serves most of the neighborhood, earns a C-minus. Lakeview Middle also scores a C-minus. Parajo Valley High, rated C-plus, offers expanded learning programs every weekday after regular hours.

Kelly Lake offers scenic views but limited recreational access

Although houses on Interlaken’s Kelly Lake are desirable, the water feature is not known for outdoor recreation. “Kelly Lake is very small and private. It’s surrounded by homes, and there’s even a castle on the lake – and when I say a castle, I mean literally a castle,” Kepler says. The views of the lake from Cutter Drive are scenic, but as Kepler puts it, “If you had three boats out at the same time, they’d bump into each other.” Pinto Lake on the west side of Interlaken is more popular for row boats and fishing, and the attached park has a baseball diamond and basketball court. Popular surf spot Manresa Main State Beach is about a 20-minute drive from the area.

Residents can shop local or head over the mountain to San Jose

Nearby supermarkets include Safeway and the Vallarta Supermarket in Freedom. Residents can also make quick trips to Harvest Moon Market to pick up breakfast and lunch, including tortas and burritos. The closest Target is located in downtown Watsonville. The city is also the closest hub for local eateries like Miyuki Restaurant and Wooden Nickel Bar and Grill, although many residents often travel northeast over the mountains. “Most people who really want to shop will go over to San Jose,” Kepler says. One of the most popular shopping centers in San Jose is Eastridge Center, an indoor mall with over 145 restaurants and retailers.

Interlaken locals depend on the highway and surface streets

California Route 152, also known as Lake Avenue, is Interlaken’s primary highway, connecting the neighborhood to downtown Watsonville and across the mountain to Gilroy. From Gilroy, commuters can take U.S. Highway 101 to San Jose. California state Route 1, or the Pacific Coast Highway, is the best way to get from Watsonville to Monterey. The only public transit in the area is the No. 72 bus line, which runs along Green Valley Road.

Hugh Taylor
Written By
Hugh Taylor

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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

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Monterey Regional

42 min drive

Bus

E Lake & Bridge

Bus

Green Valley Rd & Mesa Verde Dr

Bus

Mark Ave & Arroyo Dr

Bus

College Rd & Taylor Rd (Drew Lake)

Bus

Green Valley Rd & Minto Rd

Bus

Green Valley Rd & Holohan Rd

Bus

Green Valley Rd (Hispanic Sda Church)

Reviews

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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Interlaken US
Homicide 3 4
Sexual Assault 2 4
Assault with Weapon 3 4
Robbery 3 4
Burglary 3 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 3 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 2 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Interlaken Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$825,000
Median Sale Price
$820,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$815,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
15
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
7%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$628

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
1,248
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1970
Months of Supply
3.20
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,446
Significantly below the national average
1,927
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,567
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,840

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
6,627
Median Age
35
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$122,257
Significantly above the national average
$79,601
Average Household Income
$138,097

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
74.2%
Below the national average
89%
College Graduates
20.8%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
7.5%
% Population in Labor Force
71%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
23''
Average Winter Low Temperature
40°F
Average Summer High Temperature
73°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

48 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

16 / 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

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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Interlaken