Palo Alto, California

Ventura.

Palo Alto's eclectic quarter, where artists' cottages, Eichlers and new builds share streets near California Avenue's easygoing buzz.

Explore the neighborhood Meet Simon

The neighborhood

Palo Alto's creative corner

Ventura — the neighborhood around California Avenue's southern edge — is Palo Alto's most eclectic: modest cottages beside bold remodels, a community center that actually centers community, and a demographic mix the rest of the city envies. It feels lived-in, creative and unpretentious.

Buyers find Palo Alto's gentlest single-family entries into PAUSD, with California Avenue's farmers market and cafes as the local main street. For buyers who want the schools without the formality, Ventura is the sweet spot.

Eclectic streets cottages, Eichlers & remodels

California Avenue farmers market & cafes

PAUSD value accessible top schools

At a glance: Ventura

Ventura is Palo Alto's eclectic, creative neighborhood near California Avenue, offering the city's gentler entries into PAUSD schools.

A sense of place

Why Ventura endures

Character plus value plus schools is Ventura's durable edge. As Palo Alto's prices climb, the neighborhood's relative accessibility keeps demand deep.

Creative mix Artists, founders and families.

Local main street California Avenue's easy buzz.

Community center A true neighborhood hub.

01 / Education

Schools near Ventura 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 Ventura

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

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 Ventura

California Avenue covers dining and the farmers market; Mitchell Park and the Baylands cover green time.

Cottage home in Ventura, Palo Alto — The Ventura cottage

Remodeled home in Ventura, Palo Alto — Creative streets, top schools

California Avenue

Farmers market, bookshops and cafes.

Mitchell Park

Library, fields and playground nearby.

Baylands trails

Marsh loops for walks and rides.

Map & getting around

Getting around Ventura.

Ventura sits in southwest Palo Alto around California Avenue and El Camino Real, with quick access to 101 and Oregon Expressway.

10 min

Downtown Palo Alto

10 min drive · Palo Alto area

Directions

8 min

Stanford University

8 min drive · Palo Alto area

Directions

8 min

Palo Alto Caltrain

8 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

15 min

Meta, Menlo Park

15 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 Ventura.

Ventura offers Palo Alto's most approachable single-family values: citywide the median is about $4.13M, and Ventura's cottages and remodels give buyers a real path into PAUSD.

$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 Ventura?

Buyers: Ventura rewards vision. Cottages with expansion potential are the play — we help you verify zoning and costs before you buy the dream.

Sellers: market the lifestyle honestly. We sell California Avenue mornings, the creative neighbors and the schools — Ventura's authentic story.

Call (650) 274-1134 Email Simon

Seller guidance

Selling your Ventura home?

Buyers: move fast on turnkey homes. Ventura's move-in-ready listings draw bidding wars; we prepare you to compete cleanly.

Sellers: light, bright staging wins here. We present Ventura homes fresh and welcoming for young-family buyers.

Call (650) 274-1134 Email Simon

Buyer & seller questions

Ventura real estate FAQ.

What is Ventura known for?

Ventura is known as Palo Alto's eclectic, creative neighborhood near California Avenue, with cottages, remodels and community spirit.

Which schools serve Ventura?

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

How much do homes cost in Ventura?

The citywide median is about $4.13M. Ventura offers Palo Alto's more approachable single-family entries into PAUSD.

Is Ventura walkable?

California Avenue's shops, cafes and farmers market are walkable from much of the neighborhood.

How is the commute from Ventura?

El Camino Real, Oregon Expressway and nearby Caltrain connect quickly across the Peninsula.

Continue exploring

Explore more Palo Alto neighborhoods.

Local guidance

Explore Ventura with Simon Sahi.

Walk Ventura's eclectic streets with a local expert. Call or email to start.

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