Palo Alto, California

Old Palo Alto.

Palo Alto's most prestigious address, where landmark estates line canopied streets and the city's history lives in every garden wall.

Explore the neighborhood Meet Simon

The neighborhood

The premier mile

Old Palo Alto's streets — Lincoln, Melville, Waverley — are the ones Palo Alto is measured by: grand historic homes, meticulously kept gardens, and a canopy of heritage trees. Gamble Garden sits at its heart, and downtown's dining is a pleasant stroll away.

This is the market's summit. Sales here define Palo Alto's ceiling, turnover is generational, and buyers arrive with architects and landscape designers in tow. PAUSD schools and Stanford proximity complete the definitive Peninsula offering.

Landmark estates historic grand homes

Heritage canopy century-old street trees

Palo Alto's summit the market's premier tier

At a glance: Old Palo Alto

Old Palo Alto is Palo Alto's most prestigious neighborhood of landmark estates and heritage gardens, centered near Gamble Garden with PAUSD schools.

A sense of place

Why Old Palo Alto endures

There is exactly one Old Palo Alto. Its combination of architectural pedigree, downtown proximity and PAUSD schools has no substitute at any price.

Storied streets Lincoln, Melville and Waverley Avenues.

Gamble Garden A 2.5-acre public garden at its heart.

Generational holds Homes trade rarely, and dearly.

01 / Education

Schools near Old Palo Alto homes.

Public school placement is determined by the local districts and can change. Confirm the exact property address directly with the district before relying on an assignment.

District resources

Schools serving Old Palo Alto

Old Palo Alto is served by the Palo Alto Unified School District, among California's finest. Stanford's cultural riches are minutes away.

Palo Alto Unified School District

One of California's top-ranked public districts; verify assignment by address.

Official site

Stanford University

World-class university shaping the city's culture, lectures and arts.

Official site

Foothill College

Highly regarded community college in Los Altos Hills, minutes away.

Official site

City of Palo Alto

Libraries, recreation programs and community services.

Official site

02 / Parks

Parks near Palo Alto homes.

Palo Alto pairs dense village life with an extraordinary park system, from baylands marshes to foothill preserves.

Gamble Garden

A beloved 2.5-acre public garden in Old Palo Alto, free and open daily.

Official site

Baylands Nature Preserve

1,940 acres of marsh, trails and birding along the Bay.

Mitchell Park

Magical Bridge playground, library and playing fields.

Park hours and facility access can change seasonally. Check the city's official pages before visiting.

Nearby outdoors

Trails around Palo Alto.

Foothill ridges, bay levees and campus paths give Palo Alto residents trail options in every direction.

Pearson-Arastradero Preserve

10+ miles of rolling grassland and oak trails off Arastradero Road.

Baylands trails

Flat levee loops for running, cycling and sunset birdwatching.

Stanford Dish loop

The iconic 3.5-mile hill loop above campus (open select hours).

Trail conditions, seasonal closures and access rules can change. Check the linked official resources before heading out.

03 / Local life

Everyday life in Old Palo Alto

Downtown dining, Gamble Garden's blooms and the Baylands' trails shape the week.

Landmark estate in Old Palo Alto — The Old Palo Alto estate

Grand historic home in Old Palo Alto — Streets that define Palo Alto

Gamble Garden

Free public garden, open daily, in the neighborhood's heart.

Downtown Palo Alto

University Avenue's restaurants a stroll away.

Baylands trails

Marsh loops for morning exercise.

Map & getting around

Getting around Old Palo Alto.

Old Palo Alto sits just south of downtown, between University Avenue and Embarcadero Road, with immediate Caltrain and 101 access.

6 min

Downtown Palo Alto

6 min drive · Palo Alto area

Directions

8 min

Palo Alto Caltrain

8 min drive · Palo Alto area

Directions

10 min

Stanford University

10 min drive · Palo Alto area

Directions

10 min

Stanford Shopping Center

10 min drive · Palo Alto area

Directions

12 min

Googleplex, Mountain View

12 min drive · Palo Alto area

Directions

12 min

Meta, Menlo Park

12 min drive · Palo Alto area

Directions

22 min

San Jose Airport

22 min drive · Palo Alto area

Directions

Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic. Tap Directions for live routing.

Market snapshot

Home values in Old Palo Alto.

Old Palo Alto defines Palo Alto's ceiling: citywide the median is about $4.13M, but Old Palo Alto estates trade far above, with the city's high-end sales exceeding $10M. Land value underwrites everything.

$260K

Median household income

Citywide approx. · U.S. Census data

$4.13M

Median home price

Citywide approx. · Realtor.com, Sept 2026

$10M+

High-end price point

Citywide approx. · recent luxury-tier sales

Figures are approximate as of Sept 2026. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.com market data.

Buyer guidance

Buying a home in Old Palo Alto?

Buyers: Old Palo Alto is a relationship market. We maintain presence on these streets so you hear about estates before they surface, and we help you underwrite land, heritage and expansion envelopes.

Sellers: your home deserves an editorial launch. We produce magazine-grade photography, architectural storytelling and discreet private marketing to qualified buyers worldwide.

Call (650) 274-1134 Email Simon

Seller guidance

Selling your Old Palo Alto home?

Buyers: diligence the heritage protections. Landmark homes and heritage trees shape what's buildable — we verify early with the city and arborists.

Sellers: provenance is quantifiable here. We document architectural history and present it the way estate buyers expect.

Call (650) 274-1134 Email Simon

Buyer & seller questions

Old Palo Alto real estate FAQ.

What is Old Palo Alto known for?

Old Palo Alto is known as Palo Alto's most prestigious neighborhood, with landmark historic estates, heritage gardens and storied streets like Lincoln and Melville.

Which schools serve Old Palo Alto?

Old Palo Alto is served by the Palo Alto Unified School District. Confirm assignment by exact address with PAUSD.

How much do homes cost in Old Palo Alto?

Old Palo Alto defines the city's ceiling, trading far above the ~$4.13M citywide median, with premier estates exceeding $10M.

What is Gamble Garden?

Gamble Garden is a 2.5-acre nonprofit public garden in Old Palo Alto, free and open daily, beloved for its blooms and events.

How close is downtown?

Very close. Much of Old Palo Alto is a pleasant walk or short bike ride to University Avenue and the Caltrain station.

Continue exploring

Explore more Palo Alto neighborhoods.

Local guidance

Explore Old Palo Alto with Simon Sahi.

Discuss Old Palo Alto's landmark market in a private consultation with a trusted advisor. Call or email to begin.

Visit SimonSahi.com (650) 274-1134 SIMON@SPSILICONVALLEY.COM CA DRE #01953287