Silicon Valley commuter city with agricultural roots
Known as the “Garlic Capital of the World,” the city of Gilroy is a growing Silicon Valley bedroom community with deep roots in the agricultural industry. “Gilroy and garlic go hand-in-hand – I’ve even seen some stores sell garlic-flavored ice cream,” says Linda Baker, a local Realtor and founder of Milestone Realty. “Even though the city no longer grows garlic at the rate it used to, it’s still home to Christopher Ranch, the largest garlic processor in the country. When you drive down Highway 152 in the summertime, you can smell the garlic being processed there, and it smells amazing.” While the city is still one of the region’s most prominent farming communities, Gilroy has also steadily become a popular place for commuters working in the Bay Area’s booming tech industry to live. “You see a lot of the people who move to Gilroy do so because they’re bound to Silicon Valley for jobs or family, and Gilroy it is one of the most affordable places left in Santa Clara County,” Baker says. “To downtown San Jose, it’s a 33-mile drive on Route 101, but the highway traffic can hugely impact the time it takes to get places.” Local restaurants and boutique stores can be found in Gilroy’s budding downtown district, while an array of big-box shopping options are available at the Gilroy Premium Outlets.
Discover Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the World, with rich agricultural heritage.
Try Gilroy’s famous garlic ice cream for a bold flavor adventure.
Christopher Ranch in Gilroy leads as the top garlic processor in the United States.
Explore local flavors at Gilroy’s downtown restaurants and boutique stores.
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Affordable single-family homes in Santa Clara County
With constantly rising housing costs pricing people out of Silicon Valley, suburban communities in Santa Clara County, especially Gilroy, have become increasingly popular for their more affordable homes. “The overall median sale price in Gilroy is averaging at about $1 million right now in December 2024, whereas the median home price for the whole county is around $1.9 million,” Baker says. According to Michael Lombardo, a local Realtor with Compass, most Gilroy homes are ranch or Mediterranean styles. Homes closer to downtown sit along wide, gridded streets and are typically older Craftsman bungalows and traditional homes from the early to mid-20th century. Potential homebuyers can find newer and slightly larger single-family homes in the city's suburbs. “Because the land is more affordable, you’ll see more single-family developments here as opposed to the San Jose area where you see more multifamily-type housing,” Baker says. Homes in Gilroy can range anywhere from about $600,000 to $1.4 million.
Townhomes with stone accents and porches welcome you home to Gilroy.
Elegant craftsman home featuring clean lines in Gilroy.
Classic ranch-style home in Gilroy featuring a wide front yard and open plan.
Cozy Gilroy bungalow featuring a spacious front porch and lush yard.
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Students served by Gilroy Unified School District
Approximately 10,500 students in kindergarten through 12th grade are served by the Gilroy Unified School District, which receives an overall B-plus rating from Niche. The district is comprised of seven elementary schools, three middle schools and four high schools. The district also offers early learning education programs, adult education programs and virtual learning options. The A-rated Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy was named a California Distinguished School in 2024; at this secondary institution, students can earn college credit while completing their high school diploma. Other academic options for students here include the A-rated Gilroy Prep School, a charter school for kindergarten through Grade 8, and the A-rated private Pacific Point Christian Schools for pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. In the southernmost area of Gilroy is Gavilan College, a two-year community college that offers programs for transitioning to a four-year undergraduate university.
Dr. TJ Owens School in Gilroy focuses on academic excellence and growth.
Serving grades K-8, Gilroy Prep has a 15:1 student-instructor ratio for personalized learning.
Pacific Point Christian in Gilroy provides preschool through high school programs.
Gavilan College in Gilroy provides strong transfer programs for university success.
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Exploring Gilroy’s parks and nearby mountain ranges
The city of Gilroy has over 30 parks and recreational facilities; two of the community’s most popular outdoor areas are the 57-acre Christmas Hill Park and the adjacent 125-acre Debell Uvas Creek Park Preserve, which sits right near the Santa Cruz foothills and offers trails for hiking and biking. According to Lombardo, Gilroy is “an extremely popular biking destination for the Bay Area because of the endless number of country roads and varying elevation.” Golf courses here include the Eagle Ridge Golf Club and the Gavilan College Golf Course. Just northeast of the city is Coyote Lake and its surrounding Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, a well-known camping destination bordering the Diablo mountain range. Year-round temperate weather makes Gilroy an ideal place for people who love to spend time outdoors. “Our climate is truly a Mediterranean climate, so it’s also very conducive to a large agricultural presence; when I was growing up, I remember there being farms and fruit tree orchards everywhere,” Baker says. “It can get a bit hotter in this area during the day, but then you get cooled down from the coastal fog that rolls in over the mountains.”
Enjoy championship-level golfing at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in the heart of Gilroy.
A friendly volleyball game brings kids together at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy.
Jogger glides through DeBell Uvas Creek Park Preserve’s serene trails in Gilroy.
Gilroy’s Coyote Lake offers peaceful camping and hiking along pristine shores.
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From the Gilroy Premium Outlets to the growing downtown Gilroy scene
In the past decade, as the city has grown, community members have made a considerable effort to enhance and expand Gilroy’s downtown area. “A lot of people from Silicon Valley are moving south, and it’s giving entrepreneurs confidence,” says Julio Orozco, a local Realtor with Intero Real Estate Services, Inc. “In the last three years, we’ve had a lot of mom-and-pops and restaurants starting to boom.” Downtown Gilroy’s Monterey Road is lined with small businesses, boutique shops and dining options. Old City Hall Restaurant is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its eye-catching Mission Revival architecture; the restaurant’s large menu includes several burger options, steaks and seafood. Orozco recommends the family-owned Brew City Burgers for its “amazing burgers and garlic fries.” Aside from shopping and dining downtown, Gilroy has long been a popular destination for its suburban retail outlets. “One of the big draws for visitors are actually the multiple outlet centers on the outskirts of Gilroy,” Baker says. Gilroy Premium Outlets is home to big box retailers like Target and Costco Wholesale, as well as stores with designer clothing brands and other luxury items.
Gilroy has also established itself as one of the “predominant wine areas in Santa Clara County,” according to Lombardo. Residents can visit award-winning vintners' vineyards and tasting rooms, including Sarah’s Vineyard, best known for pinot noir, and Fortino Winery, whose offerings include sparkling almond wine and Malbec.
Dine at Old City Hall in Gilroy, known for its Mission Revival design and hearty menu.
Old City Hall in Gilroy serves up burgers and steaks in a historic Mission Revival setting.
Get unbeatable member savings on top brands at Gilroy’s Costco.
Enjoy the finest pinot noir at Sarah’s Vineyard in the heart of Gilroy.
Shop essentials and groceries with ease at Target Gilroy Crossing.
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Themed attractions and thrills at the Gilroy Gardens amusement park
Directly west of the city is Gilroy Gardens, a family-friendly destination with live entertainment, dozens of rides and a water park area. “Gilroy Gardens is a small amusement park that is great for kids. It was originally built by the gentleman who founded Nob Hill Foods, and he always had this huge love of horticulture, so when he built the park, he themed it around horticulture and included lots of gardens,” Baker says. In the summertime, hot rods, monster trucks and classic cars fill downtown Gilroy during the annual Garlic City Car Show. “It’s not just car enthusiasts or the local community who come out,” Orozco says. “It’s an event that pulls other communities together.” The car show also includes live music, vendors and a kids' zone with activities like face painting.
Between 1979 and 2019, this city was known across the country for its annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, which was usually held at the end of July. “The festival used to literally draw in hundreds of thousands of people,” Baker says. For more than 40 years, the three-day event greatly supported the city’s local businesses and overall economy. Unfortunately, in 2019, a tragic shooting occurred on the last day of the festival; coupled with the following COVID-19 pandemic, the event was canceled by the city indefinitely. As of 2024, however, the city has seen a growing desire from the community to bring back the festival, and the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association has continued the festival’s legacy by hosting smaller events throughout the year.
Have a family adventure surrounded by natural beauty at Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy.
Spend a day in nature with exciting attractions at Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy.
Discover the unique beauty of the famous Circus Trees at Gilroy Gardens.
Enjoy family-friendly rides surrounded by nature at Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy.
Cool off at the fun-filled Water Oasis in Gilroy Gardens, perfect for kids.
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Route 101 and Caltrain connect to Silicon Valley
U.S. Route 101 is the main artery that threads through Gilroy and runs all the way up into Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. However, as more people move to the city, Route 101 has seen an increase in congestion. “Traffic has certainly become a downside to living in this area,” Baker says. However, she notes that people can avoid getting stuck in rush hour by going downtown to Gilroy Station and hopping on the Caltrain, a commuter rail with stops near major employers all throughout Silicon Valley and up into San Francisco. Cyclists and pedestrians in Gilroy can enjoy the city’s network of bike lanes and well-maintained sidewalks. Bus services in the city are operated by the Valley Transportation Authority, or VTA. San Martin Airport, a general aviation airport with no commercial flights, is 8 miles north, and San José Mineta International Airport is a 35-mile trip.
Crime and environmental concerns in Gilroy
In 2023, Gilroy reported a total of 2,672 crime incidents, up from a total of 1,924 reported incidents in 2022. Of all reported incidents in both years, approximately 65% were property-related crimes like larceny and motor vehicle theft. Rates of both property-related crime and violent crime in Gilroy are somewhat higher than national rates. According to an ongoing community survey by the Gilroy Police Department, most respondents report theft as their top crime concern.
Regarding environmental issues, there is a higher risk of flooding for properties near Route 101 and south of 10th Street. Properties west of Santa Teresa Boulevard are in the wildland-urban interface, an area of higher fire risk. Residents here are advised to have an emergency plan ready in case of a wildfire; they may also experience smoke and ash during active fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west.
Hey, I’m Brianna! As a second-generation realtor raised in Silicon Valley, I have a deep love for the community and a modern approach to today’s real estate market. For over six years, I’ve helped families achieve homeownership, making the process as simple and stress-free as possible.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
