Small Villages in the Heart of Silicon Valley
Tree-lined streets and small village atmospheres characterize Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. They are located side-by-side in the heart of the world-famous Silicon Valley. Combined, the two have a population of a little over 40,000. Forty miles south of San Francisco, they sit at the eastern edge of San Mateo County. Many homes fetch $4 million and higher, putting the city at No. 9 on Forbes’ “Most Expensive ZIP Codes in America” list in late 2021.
In January of 2023, the median sold home price is $3.4 million and the median listing price per sq. foot is $1,600.
Smaller Towns on the Peninsula
A seven-square-mile village, Los Altos is developed with small businesses, schools, libraries and churches. It is mostly residential and strives to maintain a semi-rural atmosphere. The civic center sits in the middle of an orchard, a remnant of those that once covered the area. The downtown is a triangle with arterials on all sides that enable most through traffic to bypass Main Street. If you’re looking to live in a smaller town on the peninsula, we suggest living here.
Public Schools
The high schools are consistently ranked in the top 1% of high schools nationally. In the MVLA district, 98 percent of the graduates matriculate to college.
School District
Mountain View Los Altos High School District
Restaurant Recommendations
Hungry? We recommend you check out these local restaurants:
Los Altos Coffee Shops
Little Sky Bakery
You say you are going there for a cup of coffee, but Little Sky Bakery has the best bread too. We dare you to just get one bakery item. And even better, Little Sky delivers its baked goods locally.
Little Sky Bakery has locations in Los Altos and Menlo Park and is a frequent staple on the Farmer’s Market circuit throughout the Peninsula. Sign up for their newsletter so you know where they are and when.
Manresa Bread
Another great coffee shop that has the best bakery items is Manresa Bread in downtown Los Altos. Maybe you are just going for a quick cup of coffee. But you’ll stand in line and pretty soon, you’ll be ordering scones, danishes and three types of bread. In addition to Los Altos, you can also find them in Palo Alto, Campbell, Los Gatos and Santa Cruz.
Scientific Claim to Fame
Los Altos may have a legitimate claim to having the first scientifically designed sound baffle in 1970. Santa Clara County undertook a seminal study to calculate the effects of alternate sound wall designs along the Foothill Expressway. The resulting wall brought about the predicted reduction of seven to 10 decibels in noise pollution levels experienced by adjacent homes.
Barn Lighting
Spend the afternoon in the fresh air at Westwind Community Barn on December 4, 2022 (be on the look out for this in 2023!). Sample cookies and hot cider and/or wine tasting while kids participate in seasonal games, craft tables, face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo. Santa Claus will be available for last minute holiday wish lists and photos. A community countdown to light up the Barn will begin at 5:00 pm. For more: click here.
Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade
MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the infamous Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade on Nov. 26, 2023. If you love holiday parades, you can watch a replay throughout the year. KMVT’s Carol Starbuck and Bobby Chastain do an excellent job commentating.
Los Altos / Los Altos Hills Neighborhood Maps
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