Portola Valley Neighborhoods

Portola Valley is a rural town on the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains, west of Interstate 280, whose large-lot neighborhoods grew out of former ranches after World War II, beginning with the 1947 Westridge subdivision. It is commonly described as six neighborhoods (Central Portola Valley, Portola Valley Ranch, Corte Madera, Woodside Highlands, Westridge and Blue Oaks), and the unincorporated communities of Ladera and Los Trancos Woods/Vista Verde adjoin it.

10 neighborhoods across 2 areas. For current market data, schools and buying strategy, see the Portola Valley real estate guide. Browse other cities on the Silicon Valley neighborhoods page.

Town of Portola Valley

Central Portola Valley

The town's core around the intersection of Alpine and Portola roads, which forms its small shopping hub, with the library and Little People's Park at 765 Portola Road and Triangle Park nearby. Surrounding homes sit on rolling, oak-covered hills.

Schools: Portola Valley School District (Ormondale K-3, Corte Madera 4-8); Sequoia Union High School District (Woodside High)

Westridge

Created from the 1947 subdivision of the Ormondale Ranch, Westridge guarantees each residence at least 2.5 acres, and changes require approval from the elected Westridge Architectural Supervising Committee. Horse trails run between properties, and Jasper Ridge forms its northern border.

Schools: Portola Valley School District (Ormondale K-3, Corte Madera 4-8); Sequoia Union High School District (Woodside High)

Portola Valley Ranch

Clustered development of 205 single-family homes built from the mid-1970s by developer Joe Whelan on about 435 acres, designed to keep most of the land as open space. Earth-toned houses, no fencing and native landscaping are required, and residents share a community center with pools and tennis courts.

Schools: Portola Valley School District (Ormondale K-3, Corte Madera 4-8); Sequoia Union High School District (Woodside High)

Blue Oaks

Subdivision approved in 1998 on 264 acres of the former Mariani Ranch hillside at the town's south end, reached via Los Trancos Road between Portola Valley Ranch and Los Trancos Woods. It has 36 lots, about 40 homes including below-market-rate duplexes, with most of the land kept as permanent open space.

Schools: Portola Valley School District (Ormondale K-3, Corte Madera 4-8); Sequoia Union High School District (Woodside High)

Woodside Highlands

Neighborhood off Portola Road around Santa Maria and Russell avenues, originally developed as summer cottages for San Franciscans, with smaller lots than most of Portola Valley and narrow, winding roads. Windy Hill Open Space Preserve is nearby.

Schools: Portola Valley School District (Ormondale K-3, Corte Madera 4-8); Sequoia Union High School District (Woodside High)

Corte Madera

One of the six neighborhoods into which Portola Valley is commonly divided; the name is shared with Corte Madera Creek and the town's Corte Madera School (grades 4-8) on Alpine Road.

Schools: Portola Valley School District (Ormondale K-3, Corte Madera 4-8); Sequoia Union High School District (Woodside High)

Oak Hills

Neighborhood on land of the former Ormondale Ranch, which was also subdivided to create Westridge and Ladera, with its own homeowners association.

Schools: Portola Valley School District (Ormondale K-3, Corte Madera 4-8); Sequoia Union High School District (Woodside High)

Brookside/Willowbrook

Area bounded by Portola Road, Alpine Road and Willowbrook Drive, with lots averaging about half an acre, smaller than in most of Portola Valley. Triangle Park at the Portola-Alpine intersection is nearby.

Schools: Portola Valley School District (Ormondale K-3, Corte Madera 4-8); Sequoia Union High School District (Woodside High)

Unincorporated (Portola Valley area)

Ladera

Unincorporated community of about 520 homes north of Portola Valley, begun in 1946 as a Peninsula Housing Association cooperative with a Garrett Eckbo site plan and early model homes by John Funk and Joseph Allen Stein. After the cooperative failed, Joseph Eichler built roughly two dozen homes there in the early 1950s, his first project with Jones & Emmons.

Schools: Las Lomitas Elementary School District; Sequoia Union High School District · Eichler homes · Unincorporated San Mateo County; Ladera Community Association; within Portola Valley's sphere of influence

Los Trancos Woods/Vista Verde

Unincorporated communities at the end of Los Trancos Road that began with early cottages and summer homes, including log-style cabins of the 1940s, and later grew with the Vista Verde subdivision.

Unincorporated San Mateo County

Neighborhood names follow city sources where they exist; informal names are noted. School assignments can change, so confirm by address with the district. Source: Town of Portola Valley.

Questions about a street or tract in Portola Valley? Call 408.373.1660 or email homes@boyenga.com.