Santa Clara County
San Jose
The biggest inventory in the South Bay
Overview
San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area and offers the widest range of first-home options, from older single-family homes in East San Jose to newer high-density condos downtown and in North San Jose.
Typical home price
$1M
Condo / townhome price
$620K
Starter home price
Data coming soon
Typical HOA
Data coming soon
Commute & access
Typical drive and transit times to common Bay Area destinations.
| Destination | Drive | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown San Jose | 10–20 min | VTA light rail |
| Santa Clara / Sunnyvale | 20–30 min | Caltrain |
| San Francisco | 60–90 min | Caltrain ~70 min |
Schools
Top-rated campuses serving this city, by district. See the full School Ratings Finder for every campus and filter.
| School | District | Level | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Valley High School | East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) | high | A+ |
| Leland High School | San José Unified School District (SJUSD) | high | A |
| Pioneer High School | San José Unified School District (SJUSD) | high | A |
| Piedmont Hills High School | East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) | high | A |
| Silver Creek High School | East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) | high | A |
| Gussie M. Baker Elementary School | Moreland School District | elementary | A |
| Bret Harte Middle School | San José Unified School District (SJUSD) | middle | A- |
| Graystone Elementary School | San José Unified School District (SJUSD) | elementary | A- |
New construction
Where builders are actively selling or planning homes.
- Downtown and North San Jose condo/townhome communities
- Infill townhome projects along Berryessa and Alum Rock
- Master-planned pockets in South San Jose, including Communications Hill
- Diridon Station transit-oriented redevelopment and the Google Downtown West project
Pros
- Widest price range in the South Bay
- Strong job access across Santa Clara County
- Many condo and townhome entry points
- Diridon Station/BART Phase II and Downtown West redevelopment are long-term growth catalysts
Cons
- Prices still high relative to median incomes
- School and safety quality varies a lot by neighborhood — West San Jose, Cambrian, Willow Glen, and Almaden Valley skew stronger than Downtown and East San Jose
- Older housing stock may need updates
Nearby alternatives
Other first-home markets worth comparing.