Los Altos Neighborhoods
Los Altos is predominantly single-family, with a one-quarter-acre minimum lot size for most residential housing and commercial uses limited to downtown and small centers along Foothill Expressway and El Camino Real. Local convention divides the city into about eight neighborhoods, from North Los Altos and Old Los Altos near downtown to Woodland Acres/The Highlands and the unincorporated Country Club area in the foothills.
9 neighborhoods across 3 areas. For current market data, schools and buying strategy, see the Los Altos real estate guide. Browse other cities on the Silicon Valley neighborhoods page.
North Los Altos & Downtown
North Los Altos
Area bounded by Adobe Creek, El Camino Real, El Monte Avenue and Foothill Expressway, largely built with ranch homes in the early 1950s that are increasingly replaced by Craftsman and Mediterranean houses, many with basements; most lots are slightly over a quarter acre. It includes Hillview and Lincoln parks and the 8-home San Antonio Court Eichler cul-de-sac on Parsons Way (1974).
Schools: Los Altos School District (Almond, Santa Rita, Covington or Gardner Bullis Elementary; Egan Junior High); MVLA HSD (Los Altos High) · Eichler homes
Old Los Altos
Older area near the downtown 'Village' and along University Avenue on the far side of Foothill Expressway, with tree-lined sidewalks and a few homes more than 100 years old. Shoup Park (3.9 acres) connects by a creekside path along Adobe Creek to the 5.9-acre Redwood Grove nature preserve.
Schools: Los Altos School District; MVLA HSD (Los Altos High)
Central & South Los Altos (south of El Monte)
Central Los Altos
Part of the area south of El Monte Avenue where many original ranch homes have been renovated or rebuilt; lots on Parma Way and Echo Drive average nearly 15,000 sq ft.
Schools: Los Altos School District; MVLA HSD
Rancho
Neighborhood around the Rancho Shopping Center with single-story ranch homes on quarter-acre lots, many updated inside rather than fully remodeled.
Schools: Los Altos School District; MVLA HSD
Loyola Corners
Neighborhood around the Loyola Corners commercial district, a 17-acre area along Foothill Expressway and Permanente Creek governed by a city specific plan since 1990. Surrounding homes are mostly single-story ranches on quarter-acre lots.
Schools: Los Altos School District (Loyola Elementary); MVLA HSD
South Los Altos
Southern neighborhood near Highways 280 and 85 with mid-century ranch homes, Eichlers, and two-story Mediterranean and Craftsman houses. School attendance is split between the Los Altos and Cupertino Union districts.
Schools: Los Altos School District or Cupertino Union SD, depending on address · Eichler homes
Fallen Leaf Park
Eichler tract of 28 homes built in the late 1960s in southeastern Los Altos, just west of Fallen Leaf Lane along Clay Drive, with a few homes on Alexander Way.
Foothills (west of Foothill Expressway)
Country Club
Area bounded by Magdalena Avenue, Foothill Expressway, Permanente Creek and I-280, around the private Los Altos Golf & Country Club (18 holes on 155 acres). Lots generally range from a quarter acre to a full acre, with original 1940s homes alongside newer builds.
Schools: Los Altos School District (Loyola Elementary, Blach Intermediate); MVLA HSD (Mountain View High) · Largely unincorporated Santa Clara County (Loyola census-designated place) with Los Altos mailing addresses; served by the county sheriff.
Woodland Acres / The Highlands
Area bounded by Permanente Creek, Foothill Expressway, Beechwood Lane and I-280: Woodland Acres has mostly single-story ranch homes on quarter- to half-acre lots on former farmland, while The Highlands has many two-story homes on curving streets and cul-de-sacs, some with views. Montclaire Park and the Woodland Branch Library are here, and Rancho San Antonio is nearby.
Schools: Cupertino Union SD (Montclaire Elementary, Cupertino Middle); Fremont Union HSD (Homestead High)
Neighborhood names follow city sources where they exist; informal names are noted. School assignments can change, so confirm by address with the district. Source: City of Los Altos.
Questions about a street or tract in Los Altos? Call 408.373.1660 or email homes@boyenga.com.