Often called “The Capital of Silicon Valley,” San Jose is an iconic Northern California city. There are countless things to do in the city, whether you visit the Winchester Mystery House, take a guided tour of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, enjoy a game or concert at the SAP Center, or go shopping at Santana Row.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise nearly 1,013,000 people are living in San Jose. So if you’re moving to or looking to buy a home in San Jose, expect the median home sale price to be around $1,250,000, and the average sale price per square foot to be $744. And the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Jose is about $3,260.
But maybe San Jose isn’t the right city for you. Whether you work in the city or you’re looking for a new place that’s just a short drive to downtown, we’ve rounded up a list of 9 San Jose suburbs to consider living in. And they’re all under a 30-minute drive from the city. Let’s check them out.
#1: Santa Clara
Median home price: $1,405,000
Average sale price per square foot: $1,006
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $3,647
Driving distance from San Jose: 15 minutes
Santa Clara, CA homes for sale
Santa Clara, CA apartments for rent
Santa Clara is one of the many well-known San Jose suburbs – and it’s only about a 15-minute drive away from downtown. Home to roughly 127,600 residents, Santa Clara has much to offer whether you’re a student, new to the area, or have lived in the Bay Area for some time. If you’re considering moving here, make sure to visit the Santa Clara Mission located on the Santa Clara University campus, watch a 49ers game at Levi’s Stadium, or spend a day at the Great America Theme Park.
“You’ll love the energetic vibe of Santana Row, with shoppers going up and down stores looking for the best deals amongst the multiple shops, restaurants, and spas,” suggests Manger Celestina Munoz of Quality Inn San Jose, CA Make sure to visit the free “Sounds of Summer” music series from July to September or swing by the Santana Row Farmers Market every Wednesday.”
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#2: Campbell
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Median home price: $1,512,500
Average sale price per square foot: $873
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $2,877
Driving distance from San Jose: 10 minutes
Campbell, CA homes for sale
Campbell, CA apartments for rent
Campbell is just a little more expensive than Santa Clara. This suburb is just about 10 minutes from San Jose, so you can visit the Winchester Mystery House in just a quick drive. Some popular things to do in Campbell include grabbing a bite to eat at one of the great cafes or restaurants in downtown Campbell, going for a walk along the Los Gatos Creek Trail, or checking out a show at Heritage Theatre.
#3: Saratoga
Median home price: $2,525,000
Average sale price per square foot: $1,240
Driving distance from San Jose: 20 minutes
Saratoga, CA homes for sale
Saratoga, CA apartments for rent
Drive just 20 minutes from San Jose, and you’ll reach Saratoga, another great suburb. There are plenty of picturesque and outdoorsy activities to take part in when living in Saratoga. Make sure to check out a concert at Mountain Winery during the summer, spend the afternoon at Hakone Estate and Gardens, or stroll through downtown Saratoga.
#4: Los Gatos
Median home price: $2,450,000
Average sale price per square foot: $1,090
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $3,740
Driving distance from San Jose: 15 minutes
Los Gatos, CA homes for sale
Los Gatos, CA apartments for rent
Los Gatos is the next San Jose suburb on our list. With roughly 33,500 residents living in Los Gatos, make sure to go for a walk or run at Vasona Lake Park, check out the charming streets of downtown Los Gatos, or spend the morning hiking at St. Joseph’s Hill Open Space Preserve.
#5: Sunnyvale
Median home price: $1,965,000
Average sale price per square foot: $1,240
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $3,597
Driving distance from San Jose: 20 minutes
Sunnyvale, CA homes for sale
Sunnyvale, CA apartments for rent
About a 20-minute drive into the city, consider adding Sunnyvale to your list of San Jose suburbs to consider living in. With 155,800 residents, moving to Sunnyvale can keep you close enough to San Jose without residing there. Living in Sunnyvale, you can tour the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum or spend the day at Baylands Park.
#6: Cupertino
Median home price: $2,353,750
Average sale price per square foot: $1,180
Driving distance from San Jose: 15 minutes
Cupertino, CA homes for sale
Cupertino, CA apartments for rent
Another well-known San Jose suburb is Cupertino. With just about 60,400 people living in Cupertino, it’s a great suburb to consider renting or buying a house. Make sure to check out one of the many parks and green spaces like Stevens Creek County Park or McClellan Ranch Preserve and visit Apple Park and take a tour of the headquarters. You’ll never tire of exploring this great suburb.
#7: Milpitas
Median home price: $1,400,000
Average sale price per square foot: $775
Driving distance from San Jose: 15 minutes
Milpitas, CA homes for sale
Milpitas, CA apartments for rent
Next up on our list of San Jose suburbs is Milpitas, which is only a 15-minute drive into the heart of the city. With a population of close to 80,300, you’ll be living in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to experience in Milpitas. If you’re going to call this area home, plan time to check out LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Bay Area, spend the day at one of the countless parks in the city, or golf at a nearby course.
“For nature lovers, Alum Rock Park offers multiple hiking trails, surrounded by the ruins of a bygone era, picnic areas, and the Youth Science Center with animal ambassadors (the daily parking fee is $6.00),” recommends MonkeyVentures. “Explorers of all ages will get lost in the treasures of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Park (admission is $10.00 for adults). There is also a gorgeous 5.5-acre, free rose garden just down the road. For foodies, head out to San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose for the world-on-your-plate at affordable prices.”
#8: Mountain View
Median home price: $1,750,000
Average sale price per square foot: $1,070
Driving distance from San Jose: 20 minutes
Mountain View, CA homes for sale
Mountain View, CA apartments for rent
If you’ve lived in or around San Jose for a while, chances are you know of our eighth suburb – Mountain View. Roughly 82,400 residents call this suburb home, so you’ll have a fraction of San Jose’s population while remaining only 20 minutes from the city. Living in Mountain View, be sure to go for a walk along the Stevens Creek Trail, take a tour of the Google campus, spend the afternoon at Shoreline Lake Boat Park, or see a concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre.
“My favorite thing to do right outside of San Jose is head to the Mountain Winery to enjoy a glass of Pinot Noir while enjoying the breathtaking views of Silicon Valley,” suggests Greg Brennan from AEG Special Event Venues.
#9: Morgan Hill
Median home price: $1,175,000
Average sale price per square foot: $1,070
Driving distance from San Jose: 30 minutes
Morgan Hill, CA homes for sale
Morgan Hill, CA apartments for rent
Finishing off our list of San Jose suburbs is none other than Morgan Hill. About 30 minutes south of the city, you may just want to consider relocating to Morgan Hill. Roughly 45,500 people live in this suburb, but you’ll be surrounded by areas to explore in your free time. Popular things to do in Morgan Hill include checking out one of the wineries in the area or taking in the views at Anderson Lake County Park.
“Strolling Morgan Hill’s downtown open-air markets is a fun and affordable way to soak in the amazing weather and small-town feel, especially at the weekly Morgan Hill Farmers Market or seasonal Sidewalk Saturdays,” suggests Director at Visit Morgan Hill, Krista Rupp. “The Downtown Amphitheater attracts thousands of visitors each summer for Morgan Hill’s Free Friday Night Music Series featuring live concerts from Bay Area musical acts and local food and wine.”
Krista suggests two more affordable activities to do in Morgan Hill, “Morgan Hill is home to a dozen parks and open spaces, including Northern California’s largest State Park, Henry W. Coe. The city offers some of the best hiking, mountain biking, and picnicking in the Bay Area, with impressive trails, vistas, and spring wildflower blooms. People love immersing in Morgan Hill’s history at the lush Villa Mira Monte estate. The grounds are free to visit and include an 1884 Queen Anne-style country home, the Morgan Hill History Museum, and the Centennial History Trail, highlighting one hundred historical milestones.”
Methodology: Whether a city was under a 30-minute drive from downtown San Jose. List organized in no particular order. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during November 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com November 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.
Learn more about San Jose:
10 Fun Things Locals Can Do in San Jose This Weekend
10 Fun San Jose Facts: How Well Do You Know Your City?
9 Cities Near San Jose, CA, to Buy or Rent in this Year
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