Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Portola Valley

Overview

By all appearances, Portola Valley is a bucolic town of rolling hills and sweeping views, encompassing miles of trails and open spaces with jaw-dropping vistas. But nestled within that rural paradise are the homes of some of the most influential and powerful people in Silicon Valley.

 

A Colorful Background

After the Gold Rush of 1849, Portola Valley was a logging town used to supply construction materials for the San Francisco building boom. By 1900, most of the local redwood reserves were depleted, so the area pivoted from its industrial background to slowly grow into a residential community. A surge in development after WWII prompted residents to incorporate the town, preserving its pastoral essence and quiet way of life for posterity. This tactic prepared Portola Valley to eventually become a magnet for wealthy residents looking for a serene, countryside alternative to the Bay Area’s metropolises.

 

Exclusive Yet Understated

The town is consistently ranked as one of the wealthiest places to live, and generates a staggering median household income. In 2018, PropertyShark listed Portola Valley as one of the top ten most expensive zip codes in the country. Yet, with all that affluence, Portola Valley maintains a surprisingly laid-back, small-town vibe, making it seem much more like a rural village than an enclave for the rich and powerful.

 

Diverse Features

The homes in Portola Valley are varied, ranging from large, sprawling estates with stunning views to rustic cabins and modest ranches. Residents enjoy hiking, biking, or horseback-riding along the many recreational trails found in and around the town. Vast open space reserves boasting gorgeous scenery and breathtaking panoramas flank the community, affording plenty of space for outdoor recreation. Protecting the open spaces is a high priority for the town, and many of the prosperous homeowners have donated land preserves for both current and future generations to enjoy.

 

Centrality & Access

Portola Valley is a popular destination for Silicon Valley titans. It provides privacy and seclusion while being less than a 30-minute commute to Downtown Palo Alto, Stanford University, and many major tech companies and firms. The town is also adjacent to Interstate 280, which is a scenic drive to San Francisco that can be completed in an hour or less.

 

Unlike other affluent, residential-only communities on the Midpeninsula, Portola Valley welcomes and supports local businesses. Residents can shop at the local gourmet grocery, and enjoy access to amenities at the town center that include a gas station, hardware store, and several restaurants.

 

Enhanced Learning

In addition to their privacy and local natural beauty, Portola Valley residents prize their educational opportunities. Students may attend the two public schools within the Portola Valley Elementary School District, which accommodates grades K-8. High school students may attend neighboring public high schools, or enroll in one of the many excellent private schools nearby.

***

Portola Valley is a town that has a little something for everyone in the family. It showcases privacy, natural beauty, and an abundance of outdoor activities—all within a short commute to the power centers of Silicon Valley.

 

 

Notable Residents—Past and Present

John Arrillaga, real estate mogul

Pat Burrell, MLB player and World Series champion

Curtis Carlson, former CEO of SRI International

Roger Craig, NFL player

Donna Dubinsky, CEO of Palm

Tennessee Ernie Ford, singer and television personality

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn

Vino Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems

Laurence Lane, Jr., politician, diplomat, and publisher

Maverick McNealy, golfing champion

Scott McNealy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems

Ed Oates, co-founder of Oracle

Population
MedianFamily Income

Explore our neighborhoods – Portola Valley
No one knows our cities as well as we do. Browse our comprehensive neighborhood guides to learn about the most desirable or most up-and-coming places to live across the country.

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Median vs Average Sale Price
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Sold Price vs List Price
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# of Homes Listed vs # of Homes Sold
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The public schools are among the best in the nation. Graduates from the local high schools attend the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country, with a much larger than average number admitted to neighboring Stanford. Abundant bike paths make it easy for most students to bike to their local schools, giving them a sense of independence that is valued by parents and children alike.

 

Elementary School Grade Address Phone Number School District
Ormondale Elementary KG-3 200 Shawnee Pass, Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650)851-1777 Portola Valley Elementary
Corte Madera 4-8 4575 Alpine Rd, Portola Valley, CA 94028-8040 (650)851-1777 Portola Valley Elementary
Private School Grade Address Phone Number School District
Carillon Pre- PK 815 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 529-1335
Windmill PK-K 4141 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028 650.851.0771
Woodland PK-8 360 La Cuesta Drive, Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 854-9065
Creekside 21st Century Learning Lab 4-5 884 Portola Road B-1, Portola Valley, CA 94028 (215) 859-1068
Woodside Priory 6-12 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 851-8221

Explore our neighborhoods – Portola Valley

Browse our comprehensive neighborhood guides to learn about the most desirable or most up-and-coming places to live across the country.

active
40 firethorn way,
portola valley
$40,000,000
central portola valley
7Beds / 8Baths / 11185SqFt
active
5660 alpine rd,
portola valley
$19,000,000
central portola valley
6Beds / 10Baths / 14500SqFt
active
5660 alpine rd,
portola valley
$19,000,000
central portola valley
active
332 westridge dr,
portola valley
$8,998,000
central portola valley
4Beds / 4.5Baths / 3680SqFt
active
6 redberry rdg,
portola valley
$8,298,000
central portola valley
4Beds / 4.5Baths / 5595SqFt
active
100 alamos rd,
portola valley
$5,788,000
central portola valley
4Beds / 3Baths / 4200SqFt
active
167 ramoso rd,
portola valley
$5,495,000
central portola valley
6Beds / 5Baths / 3780SqFt
active
1077 portola rd,
portola valley
$4,395,000
santa maria / russell area
5Beds / 3.5Baths / 3600SqFt
active
22 adair ln,
portola valley
$4,150,000
central portola valley
3Beds / 3.5Baths / 2430SqFt
active
1061 los trancos rd. rd,
portola valley
$4,000,000
alpine / uplands (los trancos)
6Beds / 6.5Baths / 4815SqFt
contingent
683 portola rd,
portola valley
$19,900,000
central portola valley
3Beds / 6Baths / 6518SqFt
pending
161 sausal dr,
portola valley
$7,895,000
central portola valley
5Beds / 5Baths / 4282SqFt
pending
320 cervantes rd,
portola valley
$3,988,000
central portola valley
4Beds / 2.5Baths / 2500SqFt
pending
151 e floresta way,
portola valley
$3,395,000
ladera
4Beds / 2Baths / 1770SqFt
pending
130 escanyo way,
portola valley
$3,350,000
ladera
4Beds / 3Baths / 2770SqFt
pending
285 la mesa dr,
portola valley
$2,650,000
ladera
4Beds / 2Baths / 1670SqFt
pending
191 corte madera rd,
portola valley
$1,900,000
brookside / willowbrook area
2Beds / 2Baths / 1600SqFt
contingent
251 vista verde,
portola valley
$699,000
alpine / uplands (los trancos)
sold
160 fawn ln,
portola valley
$7,785,000
central portola valley
4Beds / 4.5Baths / 3890SqFt
sold
166 corte madera rd,
portola valley
$4,250,000
central portola valley
4Beds / 3Baths / 2620SqFt
sold
45 buckeye,
portola valley
$3,995,000
portola valley ranch
4Beds / 2.5Baths / 3015SqFt
sold
25 las piedras ct,
portola valley
$3,788,000
alpine / uplands (los trancos)
4Beds / 3.5Baths / 4155SqFt
sold
40 santa maria ave,
portola valley
$3,488,000
santa maria / russell area
3Beds / 3Baths / 3340SqFt
sold
243 bonita rd,
portola valley
$1,575,000
alpine / uplands (los trancos)
2Beds / 1Baths / 1220SqFt
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