Mountain View is a small but mighty Silicon Valley city that packs over 80,000 residents into just 12 square miles of land. Named for its scenic vistas of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this pedestrian friendly city is home to a multitude of global tech company headquarters, most notably Google and its holding company, Alphabet Inc. In addition to its focus on the modern technology industry, Mountain View also has deep roots in aerospace and engineering stemming from Moffett Field, a military base and airfield, and the adjacent NASA Ames Research Center. “This city exemplifies Silicon Valley in every which way; people move to Mountain View for the jobs, but they stay for the weather, for the ease of living – there’s easy access to everything you need here,” says Lori Orion, a Realtor with Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty who lives in neighboring Los Altos. “The healthcare available here is also very desirable, partly due to the presence of the Stanford University Medical Center – but it’s not always so easy to live in this area because it can be so expensive.” With housing costs that rarely dip below $1 million, living in Mountain View often comes with a hefty price tag.
High costs for low-rise homes
“Housing options in Mountain View include single-family homes, row-style townhomes and duplexes,” Orion says. “We have a big affordable housing problem in the area, but now, because of a state mandate, there are several projects in the works for low-income apartment-style housing developments.” Townhomes and condos here typically have basic, contemporary builds or showcase simple Spanish-inspired motifs; the median townhouse price is $1.8 million. Single-family home styles in Mountain View are often situated on small lots, varying greatly in architecture and composition. “Many single-family homes here were built in the 1950s and 60s, and a lot of them are midcentury modern homes,” Orion says. Other housing styles throughout the city include Spanish-Mediterranean abodes, New Traditional homes, Craftsman-style builds and standard ranch-style properties. Single-family homes usually sell between $2 million and $4.8 million; the median price is $2.7 million.
When it comes to buying a home, Orion points out that potential buyers should keep an eye out to make sure the property they’re looking at isn’t built on one of the city’s Superfund sites. “Mountain View tech companies used to dump their toxic computer solutions down the drain to get rid of waste, and it resulted in polluted waterways that eventually became designated Superfund sites in the 1980s,” Orion says. “To best avoid homes built on these sites, you should try to find real estate further away from the bay, and whenever you come across a new townhome development, double check to make sure it’s not built on top of a Superfund.”
Contemporary homes in Mountain View tend to appeal to it's existing architectural character.
This colorful craftsman home in Mountain View is a newer build type for the neighborhood.
Neo-Victorians in Mountain View are new construction builds that appeal to classic sensibilities.
Victorian homes can be found dotting quiet tree lined streets in Mountain View.
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Mountain View high schools offer top-tier education
Mountain View Whisman School District, or MVWSD, serves approximately 4,800 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and receives an overall A rating from Niche. MVWSD includes nine elementary schools and two middle schools; students can also apply for the Dual Immersion Program at Mistral Elementary. “The mountain side of the El Camino Real has two of the best elementary schools, so the homes over there are more expensive; school zoning is often one of the biggest factors for home prices here,” Orion says. Students in grades nine through 12 are served by the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, an A-plus-rated district that was ranked No. 2 on Niche’s “Best School Districts in California” list in 2025. The high school district includes two schools, Los Altos High and Mountain View High School, which are both consistently recognized as two of the top public high schools in the state. Only 6 miles away from Mountain View is Stanford University, a world-renowned higher education institution: “Stanford is a huge part of the Bay Area, and we have a lot of people in Mountain View who commute to work in the school’s education and medical sectors,” Orion says.
Explore knowledge at Mountain View High School.
Saint Francis High School is a Holy Cross private school in Mountain View.
Crittenden Middle School's motto is "Striving for Excellence."
Stanford University is the an amazing school near Mountain View.
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Urban parks and rural destinations
The city of Mountain View oversees a total of 43 urban parks and nearly 10 miles of multi-purpose pedestrian trails. Shoreline Park is the largest of the city’s parks and, as its name suggests, sits along the San Francisco Bay. As a wildlife refuge and outdoor recreation area that spans 750 acres, Shoreline Park offers many on-site amenities, including the Shoreline Amphitheatre, a dog park, a 50-acre lake speckled with colorful sailboats, a golf course and several athletic facilities. The Santa Cruz Mountains are nearby: “There are huge hiking trail networks up in the hills of the Portola Valley – there’s also a big equestrian community in that area, so you can find lots of horseback riding and horseback trails,” Orion says. “You can also find tons of hiking trails in the East Bay area, too.”
With proximity to dozens of national parks and outdoor destinations, residents can always plan for a weekend getaway. “From Mountain View, without traffic, you can get to Tahoe in like three hours, San Francisco in about an hour, Big Sur in less than two hours … it’s pretty darn cool,” Orion says. “If you drive down the coast, you’ll see a lot of natural, rugged beauty because the land is protected and untouched; it’s a very different scene from the sandy beaches of San Diego.”
Residents are seen strolling with their friends at Shoreline Park.
Glide through the serene waters of Shoreline Park on a pedalo adventure.
Residents enjoy the view of the water in Shoreline Park.
Shoreline Park is the perfect area for a bike ride.
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Shopping and dining in downtown Mountain View
Described by Orion as “quaint and quirky,” downtown Mountain View is the beating heart of the community. Boutiques, local businesses and eclectic restaurants line several pedestrianized blocks of Castro Street, the main thread through the downtown area. In October 2022, the city of Mountain View unveiled a plan to further beautify and expand the downtown area for the short-term and the long-term; as of 2024, the city has established additional outdoor seating for restaurants, organized summertime community events and improved the overall appearance of downtown Mountain View. Future plans include establishing a year-round farmers market, creating a permanent pedestrian mall and building a new parking structure. A large array of national retailers and big box stores can be found only 2 miles from downtown Mountain View at the San Antonio Shopping Center off the El Camino Real. This shopping center and its immediate area are home to Walmart, Target and multiple grocery stores, including Safeway and Whole Foods Market.
Stop into Bloomsgiving for a cup of coffee amongst the selection of plants.
Castro Street in Mountain View is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat with a buddy.
A lady shops for bargains along Castro Street in Mountain View, CA.
Everything from the grill to the plate smells and tastes delicious at Limon.
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Pedestrian-friendly city streets free shuttle options
Although most Mountain View residents own personal vehicles, the city’s sidewalks, bike lanes and general infrastructure make it one of the most pedestrian-friendly communities in Silicon Valley. People here take advantage of the year-round Mediterranean climate to get places on foot and save money on gas. The city has received a Bronze-Level Walk Friendly Communities award for its walkability and has also been recognized as a Silver-Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. For commuters who drive to work at the Google campus, Orion notes that the company’s current hybrid work-from-home model greatly influences traffic throughout the city. Main thoroughfares running through Mountain View include Route 101 – which travels south to San Jose and north to San Francisco – California State Route 237 and Highway 85, the latter of which travels south to merge with the Interstate 280 beltway in Cupertino.
The Downtown Transit Center is located in Mountain View’s central commercial hub and is served by Caltrain, one of the busiest transit systems in Silicon Valley. Other public transit options throughout the city include Valley Transportation Authority bus services and free shuttle services operated by MVgo and the Mountain View Community Shuttle. For air travel, the San Francisco International Airport is 24 miles north of Mountain View and the San Jose Mineta International Airport is a 10-mile drive southeast.
Community events and holiday celebrations
As downtown Mountain View has grown over the past decade, so has the number of community events organized by the city. Nearly every week throughout the year, residents can enjoy free live music performances hosted along Castro Street. Holiday festivities include a tree lighting celebration in the wintertime, a Monster Bash around Halloween and Fourth of July fireworks at Shoreline Park by the bay. The city recognizes and celebrates the history of Mountain View and the greater area with the annual Harvest History Festival, which focuses on the region's agricultural importance. To commemorate the city’s vital role in ushering the world into the era of modern technology, the Computer History Museum offers exhibits documenting the evolution of tech and the rise of the Internet. Down the road is the Moffett Field Museum, which focuses more on remembering and preserving the history of Mountain View’s aerospace industry.
Moffett park is close to the Whisman area.
The Shoreline Amphitheatre hosts different concerts in all genres of music in Mountain View.
Eureka on Castro Street has a large seating area along Castro Street in Mountain View, CA.
The Mountain View Farmers Market offers fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Crime and safety in Mountain View
According to the Mountain View Police Department (MVPD), there were a total of 4,780 crimes reported in 2022; approximately 70% of these were property-related, mainly larceny offenses, motor vehicle theft and burglary. In MVPD’s crime report for 2021, they noted that the average number of total reported crimes over the previous five years was just over 4,800. Compared to national and state crime rates, Mountain View has lower rates of violent crime but slightly higher rates of property crime. On the city’s CrimeGraphics website, residents can view a crime map and access crime reports uploaded daily by the MVPD.
Susan Sims is a well-connected consistent top producer with over 15 years of experience. She combines her deep knowledge of marketing in the digital age with her strong and respected negotiation skills to provide her clients with a personalized selling or buying experience. Susan works tirelessly to provide sellers in this distinctive market with a hassle-free transaction, while achieving the highest possible price in the least amount of time.
In addition, Susan ensures a seamless transition for clients relocating into the Silicon Valley area to help them find the home of their dreams. She has a deep understanding of the local communities and surrounding school districts. She served on the board of the Mountain View Los Altos Educational Foundation board for over 10 years and raised three children who attended local schools.
Susan has been voted “Best Realtor in the Peninsula and South Bay” in the J News Magazine for the last fourteen years. She is a Broker Associate as well as a Senior Real Estate Specialist and has a Relocation designation. Susan lives in Los Altos with her husband and is an active member of the community where she serves as a member of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors. She has held leadership roles for local charitable and religious organizations over the years. If you see Susan around town whether at an open house, in a yoga class, hiking the hills, or doing her best sommelier impression at Los Altos’s annual Arts and Wine festival please say “Hello.”
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.
