Located on the Pacific Coast of Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area is a vibrant region spanning the city of San Francisco and surrounding counties reaching down to encompass the high-tech heart of Silicon Valley. While many homebuyers are brought in by the high-tech jobs in the area including the luxury sector, the main academic draw to the region is Stanford University, a premier private research university that consistently achieves one of the top rankings in the world.
Stanford attracts the best and the brightest students from around the world and with tuition costs exceeding $50,000 per year, it is clear that the University appeals to the education status requirements of some of the wealthiest families in the world. As such some of the most expensive real estate in America is located in communities around Stanford.
Where are some of the most expensive homes in the region located? Well, we thought we would answer that specific question for you in no particular order, so read on.
Here is a look at five of the most prestigious luxury real estate locations near Stanford University.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Its rather interesting that some of the most expensive luxury real estate in the Bay Area can be found in the city that was established by Leland Stanford Sr. when he founded Stanford University. Palo Alto which means tall stick in Spanish is a city that was named after a coastal redwood tree called El Palo Alto. Much of Palo Alto’s housing stock is in the style of California mid-century middle-class suburbia and the city contains homes that can cost anywhere from $800,000 to well in excess of $40 million.
Atherton, CA 94027
For the third year in a row Atherton, California has been rated as the wealthiest town in America with an average household income over $450,000 according to Bloomberg. The Silicon Valley town with its multimillion-dollar estates and mansions offers its residents the ultimate in privacy and convenience with Stanford University, Google and Facebook all a short drive away. It is currently home to tech heavyweights Eric Schmidt of Google and Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook. Atherton broke ultra-luxury real estate records early on Japan’s second richest man, Billionaire Masayoshi Son, the founder and current chief executive officer of Softbank, purchasing an Atherton Estate on November 27, 2012 for a staggering $117.5 million.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Located on the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area, Menlo Park can be considered as the affordable neighbor and gateway to Atherton where there are no shops or restaurants, so Menlo Park fills that void and has plenty to offer in those departments. Affordability depends on your definition with Menlo Park luxury homes generally topping out under the $7.0 million range.
Woodside, CA 94062
Recognized as one of the wealthiest small towns in America, Woodside California is notable for its high real estate prices thanks to its rustic countryside seclusion and privacy, striking equestrian neighborhoods and proximity to Silicon Valley. A prized location for affluent residents and tech moguls, where horses are a part of the everyday culture, Woodside is just a short commute to Stanford and the venture capital firms on Sand Hill Road, and only 30 miles to San Francisco. Today it is quite normal to find a multitude of homes and estates for sale in Woodside between $10 to $30 million.
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Massive palatial residences, opulent estates and extraordinary luxury real estate with prices up to and sometimes exceeding $50 million is what you will find in the tony tech enclave of Los Altos Hills. Located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, this is one of the Bay Area’s most exclusive neighborhoods and just minutes from Stanford University. But convenience doesn’t come cheap with Forbes recently naming Los Altos Hills as the 3rd most expensive ZIP code in America. And it’s not surprising when you look at some of the areas priciest properties that sit perched atop rolling hills with spectacular panoramic views extending across the valley and out to San Francisco Bay.
