Los Altos, CA Homes for Sale

Towards the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula and northwestern part of Silicon Valley lies Los Altos, a medium-sized city in Santa Clara County. Once largely agricultural land, summer cottages and apricot orchards, Los Altos today is an affluent community with diverse features and commercial zones limited to the downtown area.  Purchased by an executive of the Southern Pacific Railroad from Sarah Winchester in the early 1900’s Los Altos was made a commuter town linking Palo Alto and Los Gatos.

Living in Los Altos, CA

For several reasons, Los Altos makes a fabulous place for families. It offers a combination of low crime rate, ethnic diversity, good public schools, excellent outdoor activities, supportive and educated neighbors, and higher homeownership (predominantly single-family homes). Although the housing market is expensive, $2 million or more, Los Altos strives to maintain a semi-rural atmosphere.  There are few sidewalks except for commercial zones, minimum lot sizes of one quarter acre, and no street lighting with dirt shoulders on most streets.

As previously mentioned, the city provides several great features families look for in raising their kids. It may not have nightlife, but Los Altos is a stable community with many things to enjoy.

There are lightly traveled streets, and the downtown is a walkable distance. But most errands require a car or bike, or you can use public transportation for more convenience.

Working in Los Altos, CA

Los Altos is undeniably an affluent city with the workforce predominantly employed in technology. It is home to most urban sophisticates like Sergey Brin (Google), Charles Geschke (Adobe), Andrew Grove (Intel), Steve Jobs (Apple), and Shirley Temple.  It’s a city of professionals, managers, and office workers. Most common industries here include:

  • Health care
  • Educational services
  • Computer & electronic products
  • Professional, scientific, technical services
  • Data processing, finance, real estate, and more.

Common occupations for both men and women comprise:

  • Engineers
  • Top executives
  • Computer specialists
  • Management occupations
  • Advertising, marketing, sales, PR, and manufacturing, etc.

Top employers in the city are Los Altos School District, Whole Foods Market, Coldwell Banker, and Adobe Animal Hospital.

Schools in Los Altos, CA

Top public elementary/ middle schools include Almond Elementary, Ardis G. Egan Junior High, and Bullis Charter School. Most primary and middle school students attend the Los Altos School District, one of the districts to have the highest Academic Performance Index scores in CA. Many of the Los Altos high school graduates continue to study at well-known universities.

For higher education, it’s the Los Altos High School and Mountain View High School that rank the best. Several highly regarded private schools also serve the city, and you can find many of those near you. Talking of the nearest college/ universities, Foothill College, De Anza College, and Stanford University make it to the list.

Things to Do

There are many places to see and experience. You can enjoy at the parks, recreation hubs, and shopping centers. Los Altos History Museum, farmer markets, wineries, antique shops, Sierra Azul Preserve, Los Altos Library, and San Andreas Fault Trail make the outdoors even more exciting.

There are several dining options. Parents can also send their kids to a variety of youth-oriented sports programs and organizations.

Los Altos had many year-round activities. Summertime wine and art festivals, library events, parades, and holiday festivals contribute to this city’s unique feel – you’re going to love it here.

Find out more about Los Altos here: City of Los Altos.

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