San Jose, California

San Jose

California’s third-largest city — $1.35M-median homes from downtown condos to Almaden Valley estates, strong schools and the capital of Silicon Valley, home to about a million people.

Explore the city Meet Simon

The city

San Jose, California homes for sale in the capital of Silicon Valley.

San Jose is California’s third-largest city, with roughly a million residents spread across the South Bay from the baylands to the Diablo foothills. Founded in 1777 as El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe — California’s first civilian settlement — it grew from orchard valley into the self-described capital of Silicon Valley, headquarters to Adobe, Cisco, eBay and PayPal.

Buyers get the Bay Area’s widest range of housing in one city: downtown high-rise condos, mid-century ranch neighborhoods like Cambrian, family suburbs like Blossom Valley and Evergreen, and luxury enclaves like Almaden Valley. Sellers trade in a $1.35 million-median market (September 2026) where well-priced homes move in about five weeks and the buyer pool spans every tech campus in the valley.

California’s 3rd-largest city About a million residents in the South Bay

$1.35M median sold Citywide, September 2026 · Realtor.com

Capital of Silicon Valley Adobe, Cisco, eBay, PayPal headquarters

Founded 1777 California’s first civilian settlement

A sense of place

Big city, neighborhood soul.

San Jose refuses to feel like one city. Downtown stacks condos around the SAP Center and San Pedro Social; Willow Glen and Cambrian keep their mid-century, tree-lined calm; Evergreen and Santa Teresa climb toward the foothills; Almaden Valley hides estate streets against the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mornings belong to commuters on 101, 280 and 85; weekends belong to the Rose Garden, the Flea Market, Quicksilver trails and Sharks hockey. Residents describe it as a city of villages — pick yours.

Housing Downtown condos, ranch neighborhoods, family suburbs and luxury estates.

Landscape Baylands to Diablo foothills, with county parks at every edge.

Daily life Tech campuses, the Rose Garden, Santana Row, Sharks hockey.

SAP Center and the San Jose skyline, California — Downtown San Jose and the SAP Center

01 / Education

Schools across San Jose.

San Jose is served by more than a dozen districts — boundaries change street by street, so verify any assignment directly with the district before relying on it.

San Jose public high school campus, California

District resources

District resources for San Jose buyers.

San Jose Unified covers much of central and south San Jose, including Leland High in Almaden Valley. The East Side Union High School District serves the east side’s high schools; Oak Grove, Evergreen Elementary, Berryessa Union and Cambrian districts cover K–8 across the south, east and west. San Jose State University anchors downtown’s east side.

San Jose Unified School District

Central and south San Jose, including Leland High

Official site

East Side Union High School District

East side high schools, including Evergreen Valley and Independence

Official site

Oak Grove School District

Public K–8 serving South San Jose

Official site

Evergreen Elementary School District

Public K–8 serving Evergreen

Official site

02 / Parks

County parks at every edge.

San Jose is ringed by parkland: Almaden Quicksilver’s 4,000 acres of mining history to the south, Alum Rock Park — California’s oldest municipal park — in the eastern foothills, Lake Cunningham’s regional playfields, and the Guadalupe River Park threading downtown.

San Jose regional park with lake and lawns, California

Almaden Quicksilver County Park

4,000+ acres, mining museum and trails · South San Jose

Official site

Alum Rock Park

California’s oldest municipal park · eastern foothills

Official site

Lake Cunningham Park

Lake, skate park and playfields · East San Jose

Official site

Nearby outdoors

River trails to the Bay.

The Guadalupe River Trail runs from the southern neighborhoods through downtown to Alviso and the Bay; the Coyote Creek and Los Gatos Creek trails add car-free miles east and west.

Guadalupe River Trail

Downtown to the Bay at Alviso, fully paved.

Coyote Creek Trail

Valley miles from downtown toward Morgan Hill.

Los Gatos Creek Trail

West side riding to Los Gatos, Campbell and the Bay.

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

03 / Local life

Downtown energy, valley-wide choice.

The SAP Center, San Pedro Social and the SoFA district give downtown its pulse; Santana Row, the Rose Garden and the Flea Market scatter the rest across the city’s villages.

Upscale outdoor shopping district in San Jose, California — Santana Row-style shopping in San Jose

San Jose Municipal Rose Garden in full bloom, California — The Municipal Rose Garden in bloom

Dining

San Pedro Social

The downtown market hall plus Santana Row and the city’s great ethnic corridors.

Tech

The capital

Adobe, Cisco, eBay and PayPal headquarters keep the buyer pool deep.

Sports

Sharks hockey

The SAP Center hosts the Sharks plus concerts and events year-round.

Arts

Museums & history

The San Jose Museum of Art, The Tech Interactive and the 1777 pueblo roots.

Map & getting around

Getting around San Jose.

San Jose spans the South Bay from the baylands to the Diablo foothills, stitched by Highways 101, 280, 85 and 87. These are the everyday destinations residents reach most.

10 min

San Jose International Airport (SJC)

10 min drive · via I-880/CA-87

Directions

10 min

Santana Row

10 min drive · West San Jose

Directions

25 min

Stanford University

25 min drive · via I-280 N

Directions

35 min

Santa Cruz

35 min drive · via CA-17 S

Directions

Market snapshot

Home values in San Jose.

San Jose is the Bay Area’s volume market: a $1.35 million median sold price in September 2026, 36 median days on market and rising inventory giving buyers more choice than they have had in years.

$146K

Median household income

Citywide approx. · U.S. Census data

$1.35M

Median home price

Citywide approx. · Realtor.com, Sept 2026

$3M+

High-end price point

Citywide approx. · recent luxury-tier sales

Figures are approximate as of Sept 2026. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), Zillow/Redfin market data.

Buyer guidance

Buying a home in San Jose?

San Jose rewards buyers who think district by district: school boundaries, BART and freeway proximity, and condo HOAs versus single-family lots all move prices block by block. With inventory at multi-year highs, prepared buyers can negotiate — get fully underwritten and compare fresh comparable sales before you write.

Verify school assignment, flood and fire-adjacent zones, and transit access for the exact address. A local read on which villages fit your commute and budget is worth more here than anywhere in the South Bay.

Call (650) 274-1134 Email Simon

Seller guidance

Selling your San Jose home?

San Jose sellers face the most competitive listing environment in years — price cuts are rising citywide, so pricing to the freshest comps from day one matters more than ever. Marketing should lead with the village story: the schools, the commute math, the parks and the specific buyer pool for the neighborhood.

Preparation wins: inspections handled upfront, bright staging and a launch that builds to the first weekend. In Almaden Valley and Cambrian, lifestyle photography earns the premium; near BART and downtown, lead with the commute.

Call (650) 274-1134 Email Simon

Buyer & seller questions

San Jose real estate FAQ.

What is the median home price in San Jose?

The median sold price was about $1.35 million in September 2026, per Realtor.com — with a median listing price near $1.2 million and 36 median days on market. Almaden Valley trades well above; Berryessa and South San Jose offer relative value.

Is San Jose a good place to buy a home?

For buyers who want Bay Area access with the region’s widest housing choice, yes. Inventory is at multi-year highs, giving buyers negotiating power they haven’t had in years — but school boundaries and commute math vary block by block.

Which San Jose neighborhoods are best for families?

Almaden Valley and Cambrian for top-rated schools and yards; Evergreen and Blossom Valley for newer suburbs and strong elementaries; Berryessa for BART-connected value. Each area guide above breaks down prices and schools.

How are the public schools in San Jose?

They vary by district: San Jose Unified, East Side Union, Oak Grove, Evergreen Elementary, Berryessa Union and Cambrian are the major ones, plus strong private options. Always verify an address directly with the district.

How is the commute from San Jose?

Highways 101, 280, 85 and 87 stitch the city; Diridon Station offers Caltrain, ACE and light rail; Berryessa BART reaches the East Bay and San Francisco; SJC airport sits minutes from downtown.

What should sellers know about the San Jose market?

Inventory is up and price cuts are rising — price to the freshest comps from day one. Lead with the neighborhood’s buyer pool: schools and yards in the family villages, commute math near BART and downtown, lifestyle in Almaden Valley.

Continue exploring

Explore San Jose’s neighborhoods.

Every San Jose neighborhood has its own price band, school assignment and character. Start with the area guides below — each one covers homes for sale, schools, parks and what it costs to buy or sell there.

Local guidance

Explore San Jose with Simon Sahi.

For a property-specific view of San Jose homes, school placement and block-by-block differences, begin with the exact address and a thoughtful local conversation.

Visit SimonSahi.com (650) 274-1134 simon@spsiliconvalley.com CA DRE #01953287