Move here for the schools and the convenience. Stay for the small-town charm and beautiful natural setting. This is a comfortable community to safely raise a family and enjoy an excellent lifestyle. The city does a lot to make a person feel at home here. There are many public parks. The library, a part of the Santa Clara County library system, is a great place to get information. There are many festivals, parades, and community functions people can partake in such as First Friday, Club 55 and the annual Easter egg hunt. A thriving senior center and new community center are all hubs for people to feel a sense of community.

The downtown, also known as “The Village,” is manageable for both young and old as compared to other nearby downtowns. Within a few blocks, there are three grocery stores, a pharmacy, numerous quaint shops and restaurants and many spots for sitting to watch the world go by. But the activity in the Village tends to end early in the evening. For large, big-box stores, movie theaters and more nightlife, Mountain View and Palo Altoare just minutes away. A conscious effort has been made to develop more townhomes and condos in the Village.

Los Altos has one of Silicon Valley’s most intelligent population as measured in percent with a Bachelor’s degree or more. It is only natural then that there is a lot of civic pride in the performance of the schools and sense of responsibility for the children, even among most empty-nesters who live here. Civic engagement is a recognized sport here. There is always some Town issue being debated in earnest in the local paper, The Los Altos Town Crier, and at City Council meetings.

Lot sizes in Los Altos tend to be very generous as compared to other communities “in the flats.” The typical lot size in Los Altos is 10,000 square feet. For the same house and price in Palo Alto, the lot will be around 6,000 square feet. In Mt. View, the lots tend to be smaller around 6,000 to 8,000 square feet. Los Altos does not have streetlights or sidewalks except on major traffic areas leading to and from the schools and in the major commercial areas. It is all part of the rural character the town likes to keep.

There are many distinguishing characteristics of probably a dozen sub-neighborhoods within Los Altos. But the major neighborhoods in Los Altos are:

• North Los Altos (including Dos Palos and Old Los Altos)

• South Los Altos (including West of Fremont)

• Country Club Area

• The Highlands and Woodland Acres

The big delineators for the various neighborhoods are, 1) what is your school district, and 2) Can you walk to the Village? Los Altos is served by two school districts, Cupertino (Fremont Union High School District and Cupertino Elementary School District) and Los Altos (Mt. View / Los Altos High School District and Los Altos Elementary School Districts). The Highlands and Woodland Acres feed to the Cupertino Schools, as does the part of South Los Altos west of Fremont Avenue. It is generally considered better to live walk to the Village and therefore North Los Altos properties, generally, command a higher price than those located in South Los Altos and generally, the homes feeding to Mountain View Los Altos High School district sells for more than those that feed to the ‘Cupertino’ schools. The Country Club area is more eclectic in terms of house and lot size. But its pride is the friendly Los Altos Country Club. You can get a golf and tennis membership or just a social membership.

Old Los Altos marks the first section of town developed when Paul Shoup, the baron of the Southern Pacific Railroad,purchased the land from Sarah Winchester. Part of the arrangement was the development of what is now called Old Los Altos. Beautiful Shoup Park is in this neighborhood. Whereas the majority of Los Altos began a sprawling ranch-style home community, Old Los Altos is full of rich history and the highest concentration of historic Victorians, Craftsman and Spanish style homes.

No matter what neighborhood you choose to call home, Los Atos is a relaxed and friendly town with a little something for everyone.

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