Portola Valley is an affluent yet down-to-earth community west of Highway 280. The community is characterized by beautiful hillside homes, good schools, and a charming town center where you’ll find locals dining al fresco at several favorite restaurants.
The American Community Survey ranked Portola Valley as the nation’s most affluent community with more than 4,000 residents. But this is a tag Portola Valley wears lightly, being an unpretentious place where residents are rarely inclined to flaunt their wealth. Residents love Portola Valley for its relaxing pace of life and the natural feel of its surrounding open space preserves.
Portola Valley’s real estate consists of multi-acre hilltop lots rising along the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The homes are as enchanting as the surrounding scenery, with remodeled ranch houses and contemporary custom-built estates enjoying views of the San Francisco Bay. Home sales in 2018 ranged from $1,200,000 to $9,200,000, with a median price of $3,300,000.
Portola Valley is a short drive from the 280 Junipero Serra Freeway, and many residents work at Stanford University, in venture capital, or in the Silicon Valley tech scene. This is a fantastic location for those who value privacy and the great outdoors, with miles of equestrian and hiking trails winding through the surrounding wooded mountainside. The community is known for its down-to-earth atmosphere, where residents are friendly and unpretentious.
Portola Valley has several neighborhoods:
- Central Portola Valley/Westridge
- Ladera
- Portola Valley Ranch
- Woodside Highlands (Santa Maria/Russell)
- Brookside/Willowbrook
- Los Trancos Woods/Vista Verde
The Ladera Shopping Center features charming rustic restaurants and locally-run businesses.
Portola Kitchen serves exceptional handmade pastas and pizzas while
Old Port Lobster Shack has excellent East Coast-style seafood.
Amigo’s Grill is a sleek cantina with great Mexican food while family-run
Bianchini’s Market sells groceries and freshly-prepared baked goods. On Los Trancos Road,
Portola Vineyards is known for its handcrafted and award-winning vintage wine.
The Ladera neighborhood’s
recreation facilities include an aquatics center and tennis courts. Expert tuition and clinics are available for all ages and ability levels.
Portola Valley’s neighborhoods wrap around
Windy Hill’s open grasslands, which contain 12 miles of hiking, cycling, and equestrian trails. The views from the summit are spectacular, taking in the Stanford University campus, San Francisco Bay, Mount Tamalpais, Mount Diablo, Downtown San Francisco, and the Pacific Ocean.
Portola Valley has its own excellent school district, with Corte Madera Elementary school ranking in California’s top 2%.
With friendly and down-to-earth residents that value privacy and the outdoors, Portola Valley is relaxing and charming.
