Best Places to Live in Silicon Valley - 2026 Guide

For those lucky enough to move to Silicon Valley, the next step is finding the perfect home to complete the move. While the region attracts many young professionals, there is something for everyone in this sunny slice of California.

Located in the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley is home to some of the most cutting-edge research institutions and innovative technology companies. That means it attracts top-tier engineers and executives looking for the best homes to buy. 

Luckily, between San Mateo and San Jose, there are great cities and towns with downtowns filled with boutique shops and farm-to-table restaurants, a wide range of housing styles, and plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. 

But figuring out where to start your search for a home can seem overwhelming. That is why our team at Prevu Real Estate introduced a quick list of the best towns and cities to live in Silicon Valley. 

Best places to live in Silicon Valley

• Palo Alto
• Los Altos
• Cupertino
• Menlo Park 
• San Mateo
• San Jose

Palo Alto 

Home to the prestigious Stanford University, Palo Alto draws many people planning to attend school and get a taste of life in the Bay Area. 

From storied Mediterranean-style construction to elaborate sculpture gardens, art is part of daily life in Palo Alto. That beauty extends to the homes in the area, where terracotta-tiled roofs and large plots of land are standard. 

You can find old Storybook-style homes in Old Palo Alto, while newer post-modern compounds are in the hills south of Stanford. But you can also find great condos for sale closer to El Camino Real. 

This street acts as the main commercial corridor in Palo Alto, where you can find students sipping on coffee between classes and locals grabbing groceries after a day of work. The top firms in Palo Alto are Tesla, VMWare, Palantir Technologies, and HP Enterprise. 

But if you need to commute to other cities for work, Caltrain has a stop right off El Camino Real to head north towards San Francisco or south towards San Jose. 

Los Altos

While all of Silicon Valley offers affluent lifestyles, Los Altos is a step above the rest. 

The city is one of the most expensive in America and has high median home prices. But, considering the natural beauty, charming homes, and proximity to other Silicon Valley cities like Mountain View, it is easy to understand why living in Los Altos commands a lofty sale price. 

With hot and dry weather dominating the forecasts, Los Altos stays temperate throughout the year. Though traffic can get a bit hectic during rush hour, locals may avoid most of it thanks to the Foothill Expressway. Residents can also use the Junipero Serra Highway to the west to skip the rush hour crunch. 

The western side of Los Altos is stunning, as the rolling hills of the Foothill Nature Preserve and the Rancho San Antonio County Park create a backdrop to the city. You can find the centralized shopping district in North Los Altos, just off North San Antonio Road; this is where locals might go for groceries at Draeger's Market or clothes shopping at Olivia Boutique. 

The streets surrounding this area are all residential, offering beautiful single-family houses and newer custom-built homes. Commuting options include easy access to major highways and the Caltrain for commuting to other parts of Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.

Cupertino 

Cupertino lies in the heart of Santa Clara County. 

While all of Silicon Valley has a strong  tech industry presence, Cupertino is a name brand, making it a popular destination for homebuyers. Apple is the most well-known of the tech firms in Cupertino, but other firms, like Seagate Technologies, also call the city home. 

When folks are searching for properties, houses range from modern takes on the Craftsman-style home and other single-family homes in the suburbs to large compounds near the city's edge. While many people may move here for work, they often come to love the area for its high quality of life. 

Green spaces like Stevens Creek County Park and Blackberry Park provide a respite from city life. Folks who enjoy the arts will fall in love with the Flint Center for the Performing Arts, which puts on shows, concerts, and other year-round performances. 

Locals pride themselves on the city's commitment to sustainability and environmental initiatives, making it a green and eco-friendly community. As such, the city has plenty of dedicated bike trails, rideshare programs, and several Valley Transportation Authority bus stops. But with easy access to the 280 and the 85, drivers can quickly head out to other Silicon Valley cities. 

Menlo Park 

Right in the middle of the west side of the San Francisco Bay Area is the city of Menlo Park. 

The area stretches from the 280 freeway to the shores of the Bay. If you commute to the East Bay, you'll want to consider Menlo Park, as the Dumbarton Bridge can take you across the Bay to Cabrillo. 

If you don't drive, there is a Caltrain station to take you north toward San Mateo and San Francisco or south to San Jose. But a popular reason most people move to Menlo Park is the career options and community. Meta is the largest firm in the area, but financial tech companies like Robinhood and venture capital firm Sequoia Capital help create a healthy and varied job market in Menlo Park. 

Neighborhoods like The Willows and Linfield Oaks offer single-family homes on suburban streets for homebuyers. But if you are looking for the ultimate seclusion, you will want to search for a mansion in Atherton, which boasts homes far from the street on an acre of land. 

El Camino Real is the central commercial district in Menlo Park and offers a local Trader Joe's and plenty of  boutique shops. 

San Mateo 

San Mateo is a convenient option for those who plan to split their time between Silicon Valley and San Francisco. 

The city’s prime location is one of the top reasons people move there. The San Mateo-Hayward Bridge can get you to East Bay, while the 280 and 101 can get you north and south in the West Bay. 

While the commuting options are great, the wonderful community keeps people in San Mateo. The city is quite diverse, attracting folks from all over the world with its great weather and proximity to tech centers and higher education. As such, residents can expect a wide range of cuisines, ranging from Japanese to Italian to Indian. 

San Mateo's Downtown is based around San Mateo Drive, just off South El Camino Real. It is known for its vibrant atmosphere, with a wide array of local businesses, boutiques, and eateries. It’s also where you’ll find the Hillsdale Shopping Center, which offers a variety of shopping and dining options. 

San Mateo is a bustling city, but locals can escape the noise at the Japanese Gardens at Central Park or relax by the waterfront at Laurelwood Park. 

San Jose 

San Jose is the largest and one of the most well-known cities in Silicon Valley. 

Located in the middle of the Santa Clara Valley, the city hosts the headquarters of leading names in tech, such as Adobe, Cisco Systems, eBay, and PayPal, which are huge drivers in the local economy. While many people come here for work, they end up falling in love with the bustling but laid-back vibe of the city. 

Folks living in San Jose work hard and play harder, spending their off time at theaters, art galleries, or out in the foothills of Santa Cruz Mountains. But if frolicking in nature is not your vibe, you can head to San Pedro Square Market in Downtown San Jose and take in a show or concert. Even San Jose’s Downtown offers top-notch outdoor escapes, such as Columbia Park and Guadalupe River Park. 

When it comes to finding a home, buyers have a wide range of styles to choose from. Bungalows, Craftsman, and Victorians are staples in neighborhoods like Willow Glen and Rose Garden. But if you're looking to live Downtown, plenty of townhouses and condominiums are for sale. Once you get into Almaden Vallet, Los Gatos, Evergreen, and Silver Creek Valley, you will start to see luxury homes boasting spacious floor plans, upscale finishes, and premium features.

Interested in buying a home in Silicon Valley? Browse listings and see how much you can save with Prevu’s Smart Buyer Rebate.