Silicon Valley Home Prices: A Community Guide for Buyers
Silicon Valley is often discussed as though it were one real estate market. In reality, home prices can change dramatically from one community to the next—and even between neighborhoods only a few miles apart.
For buyers deciding where to focus their search, understanding these differences is an important first step.
The figures below provide a snapshot of recent median sale prices across communities I serve. They are based primarily on Redfin's MLS/public-record calculations for the three-month period ending August 2026. A median is not the price of a typical single-family home, nor is it a prediction of what a particular property will sell for. Property type, neighborhood, school boundaries, lot size, condition, and other characteristics can produce substantial differences within the same city.
Silicon Valley & Peninsula Home Prices at a Glance
As of the three months ending August 2026, recent median sale prices for all home types included approximately:
Atherton — $12.0M
Los Altos Hills — $5.8M
Portola Valley — $5.7M
Woodside — $4.6M
Los Altos — $4.5M
Saratoga — $4.2M
Palo Alto — $3.5M
Menlo Park — $2.9M
Cupertino — $2.9M
Los Gatos — $2.7M
Redwood City — $2.0M*
Campbell — $1.8M
Mountain View — $1.8M
Sunnyvale — $1.7M
Santa Clara — $1.7M
San Jose — $1.4M
Redwood City's latest figure available in the source used for this comparison was for the three months ending July 2026.
These figures are rounded for readability and represent median sale prices across all home types. They should be used as general market context rather than an indication of what a particular home will sell for.
1. Atherton, Los Altos Hills, Portola Valley & Woodside
At the upper end of the Peninsula market are communities characterized by larger properties, privacy, and limited inventory.
Atherton recorded a recent median sale price of approximately $12.0 million, while Los Altos Hills was approximately $5.8 million, Portola Valley approximately $5.7 million, and Woodside approximately $4.6 million.
These markets require particular care when interpreting averages and medians. Relatively few transactions and substantial differences in acreage, location, architecture, condition, views, and development potential can cause statistics to move significantly from one period to another. For example, Portola Valley's recent median was reported 59% higher year over year—an excellent illustration of why a small luxury market should not be interpreted from one headline statistic alone.
2. Los Altos, Palo Alto & Menlo Park
Los Altos and Palo Alto remain among the Peninsula's highest-priced larger residential markets. Recent median sale prices were approximately $4.5 million in Los Altos, $3.5 million in Palo Alto, and $2.9 million in Menlo Park.
Those citywide numbers, however, conceal considerable variation. Neighborhood, lot size, property condition, architecture, proximity to downtown, and school attendance boundaries can materially affect value. Buyers should evaluate the individual property and its immediate comparable sales rather than treating a citywide median as a target purchase price.
3. Saratoga, Los Gatos & Cupertino
Recent median sale prices were approximately $4.2 million in Saratoga, $2.7 million in Los Gatos, and $2.9 million in Cupertino.
These communities illustrate why buyers should look carefully at location and property type. Housing can range from condominiums and townhomes to established single-family neighborhoods and substantial estate or foothill properties.
School boundaries can also vary by address, so buyers for whom school assignment is important should verify the applicable district and attendance area for each property rather than relying solely on the city or mailing address.
4. Mountain View, Sunnyvale & Santa Clara
Buyers seeking central Silicon Valley locations encounter a broader mix of single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and newer development in Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara.
Recent median sale prices were approximately $1.8 million in Mountain View, $1.7 million in Sunnyvale, and $1.7 million in Santa Clara.
These citywide medians can be especially deceptive because the mix of property types is broad. A buyer comparing single-family homes should not assume the citywide all-property median represents the likely cost of a detached home in a particular neighborhood.
5. Campbell & San Jose
Campbell's recent median sale price was approximately $1.8 million, while San Jose's was approximately $1.4 million.
San Jose in particular cannot be understood through one citywide number. It is an enormous and diverse market. Willow Glen, Almaden Valley, Cambrian, West San Jose, Evergreen, Berryessa, Downtown, and other areas can differ substantially in housing stock, lot sizes, school districts, amenities, and pricing.
For buyers who want Silicon Valley access while considering a wider range of neighborhoods and property types, both Campbell and San Jose are worth evaluating at the neighborhood level.
6. Redwood City
Redwood City provides another highly varied Peninsula market, ranging from condominiums and walkable downtown living to established single-family neighborhoods and hillside properties.
The latest comparable Redfin figure available in the data I reviewed was approximately $2.0 million for the three months ending July 2026.
As elsewhere, the citywide median should be treated as context rather than a budget recommendation. Neighborhood, property type, lot characteristics, school district, and condition can create substantial differences.
7. Your Budget Should Determine the Search—Not the Citywide Median
Suppose your budget is $2 million. A city with a $3 million median does not necessarily mean there are no appropriate properties there. The market may include condominiums, townhomes, smaller homes, properties requiring renovation, or neighborhoods at different price points.
The reverse is equally important. A $1.7 million citywide median does not mean $1.7 million will purchase the type of single-family home you want in every neighborhood within that city.
A more useful search begins with your priorities: property type, desired space, commute, neighborhood, schools when relevant, condition, future remodeling plans, and comfortable total housing cost. Then we can determine which communities provide the strongest fit.
8. Don't Confuse the Median With the Cost of the Home You Want
Median sale price simply identifies the midpoint of transactions included in a particular dataset. It does not adjust for the mix of homes sold.
If one month includes more condominiums and another includes more large single-family homes, the median can move even if the underlying value of comparable properties has changed much less.
This is particularly important in small luxury markets such as Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, and Los Altos Hills, where relatively few sales and highly individual properties can produce substantial statistical swings.
Finding the Right Silicon Valley Community for Your Budget
The question is not simply, “What can I afford in Silicon Valley?”
A better question is: “Where can I find the property and lifestyle I want at a price I'm comfortable paying?”
That requires looking beyond citywide averages and evaluating current inventory, recent comparable sales, individual neighborhoods, property characteristics, and your long-term priorities.
With more than 20 years of Bay Area real estate experience, I help buyers compare communities and properties, understand local market differences, and develop a purchase strategy based on their individual goals.