Are you planning a move? We know that finding the right place to call home can be difficult, so we have created these helpful guide pages that will answer some of your questions and make your move a lot easier.

What's it like to live in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto is a beautiful, California city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Santa Clara County. Situated just 14 miles north of San Jose and 35 miles south of San Francisco, Palo Alto offers a relaxing lifestyle with an easy Caltrain commute to two large, metropolitan cities. Recognized as a leader in successful high-tech industries with good jobs, Palo Alto attracts a diverse mix of highly-educated, young professionals and business owners in cutting-edge technology fields. Stanford University, also located in Palo Alto, creates a vibrant, lively atmosphere throughout the city. The character of Palo Alto is reflected by a mixture of innovative businesses, historic buildings, and charming residential areas. You'll love the charming downtown area with tree-lined streets and old Spanish architecture that reflects the city's 100 year old history. There are unique shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, special events, and year-round community activities that take place. Residential areas are made up of family-friendly neighborhoods with excellent schools, lovely community parks, and recreational facilities with year-round activities for the kids.  

What types of homes are in Palo Alto?

Since Palo Alto's history dates back to 1894, there's an abundance of older condos and single-family homes with quaint charm and unique architecture. Most homes have transitional and ranch-style floor plans with two to five bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and formal living spaces. Many smaller homes have been updated to include new kitchens, large family rooms, additional bedrooms, and bathrooms. Properties in Palo Alto are well-maintained with established landscapes that include lots of trees, flower gardens, and private terraces or decks. Neighborhoods have a variety of different size homes, but you'll find the city's Spanish heritage reflected in many homes with stucco exteriors and tile roofs. Whether you need a home for two or a family of six, you'll find a home that reflects your style and meets your needs in Palo Alto. 

What's unique about Palo Alto?

Palo Alto is one of the few California cities that actually owns and operates its own city services such as electric, gas, water, sewer, storm drainage, and trash collection services. This allows the city to pass along very competitive service rates to Palo Alto residents. Palo Alto was established by Leland Stanford, the founder of Stanford University. After the university opened in 1891, many of the first faculty members settled in the Professorville neighborhood, which is now a registered national historic district. The city includes portions of the Stanford campus and is headquarters to a number of high-technology companies like Hewlett-Packard, Tesla Motors, Skype, and Palantir Technologies that help support university research.  

Where are the good schools in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto schools fall under the Palo Alto Unified School District, with elementary, middle, and high schools ranked as some of the best in California.

• Walter Hays Elementary School | Grades K-5 | 1525 Middlefield Road

• Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School | Grades 6-8 | 480 East Meadow Drive

• Palo Alto High School | Grades 9-12 | 50 Embarcadero Road

Stanford University is actually located one mile, walking distance, from downtown Palo Alto. As a homeowner, close access to one of the country's most prestigious universities is a major perk for family education and home values.  

What are the best things to do in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto offers things to do for all ages. A visit to the Stanford University campus provides many enjoyable attractions for the family. You can see Hoover Tower, Cantor Arts Center, and the Rodin Sculpture Garden. The Computer History Museum in Mountain View provides history on the development of the Silicon Valley. If you love looking at beautiful things, head to the Palo Alto Art Center where you can view art from many local and Bay area artists. Gardening enthusiasts will love the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto, the Sunset Magazine Gardens in Menlo Park, and the Filoli Estate & Gardens situated on a beautiful private estate about 15 minutes north in Redwood City. The kids will enjoy a visit to the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo and the small Museum of American Heritage in downtown Palo Alto. For a fun day, head to Great America, an amusement park that's located about 10 minutes south of Palo Alto on Highway 101. Take the entire family to the Winter Lodge in the Palo Alto shopping district where you can ice skate outdoors from October through April.  

Is Palo Alto right for me?

Palo Alto is a city that offers the perfect blend of job opportunities, great schools, diverse culture, and natural beauty. With major Fortune 500 companies, technological research facilities, and Stanford University all in your back yard, job and business opportunities are outstanding. Highly-ranked schools and community involvement provide a supportive, family-friendly atmosphere for a healthy family lifestyle. The cultural diversity and natural beauty of Palo Alto provide many exciting things to do both indoors and outdoors. When you combine all these great lifestyle benefits with beautiful housing and perfect year-round weather, who wouldn't want to live in Palo Alto?