Santa Clara County
San Jose
A big city of distinct neighborhoods, from downtown to the hills
01 — Welcome
Welcome to San Jose
San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area, spreading across the floor of the Santa Clara Valley from Alviso near the bay to the foothills of the Diablo Range in the east and the Santa Cruz Mountains in the southwest. Downtown is home to the SAP Center, San Pedro Square and Diridon Station, the region's main rail hub.
Housing varies widely by neighborhood: Victorian and Craftsman homes in areas such as Naglee Park and the Rose Garden, older bungalows and ranch homes in Willow Glen, mid-century ranch homes in Cambrian and Blossom Valley, and hillside homes in Almaden Valley, Evergreen and Silver Creek. High-rise and mid-rise condominiums are concentrated downtown, and townhomes and apartments are common in North San Jose.
02 — Things to do
Around San Jose
- San Pedro Square MarketA downtown food hall and gathering place on North San Pedro Street, next to the historic Peralta Adobe and Fallon House.
- JapantownOne of three remaining historic Japantowns in the United States, centered on Fifth and Jackson streets with shops, restaurants and the Japanese American Museum of San Jose.
- Municipal Rose GardenA free 5.5-acre city garden with more than 4,000 rose shrubs, on the site of a former prune orchard.
- Guadalupe River ParkA 120-acre park and trail corridor along the Guadalupe River through downtown San Jose.
- Alum Rock ParkFounded in 1872 and one of California's oldest municipal parks, with hiking trails through a canyon in the east foothills.
- San Jose Museum of ArtA modern and contemporary art museum on South Market Street near Plaza de César Chávez.
- Almaden Quicksilver County ParkA county park of more than 4,000 acres in south San Jose with trails through the grounds of former mercury mines.
- Santana RowA mixed-use shopping, dining and residential district on Stevens Creek Boulevard in west San Jose.
03 — Getting around
Commute & transit
San Jose has the region's most extensive transportation network, with several freeways, the VTA light rail system, Caltrain, BART at Berryessa/North San José and intercity trains at Diridon Station. Commute options depend heavily on the neighborhood.
- Caltrain: San Jose Diridon, Tamien and College Park stations, plus Capitol and Blossom Hill on weekday Gilroy service
- BART: Berryessa/North San José station
- ACE, Amtrak Capitol Corridor and Coast Starlight at San Jose Diridon
- VTA light rail: Blue, Green and Orange lines, with stations throughout downtown, North San Jose, South San Jose and Alum Rock
City averages from Walk Score; scores for a specific address vary.
04 — Schools
Public school districts
- San José Unified School District · TK–12
- East Side Union High School District · High school (9–12)
- Evergreen School District · Elementary & middle (TK–8)
- Oak Grove School District · Elementary & middle (K–8)
- Campbell Union High School District · High school (9–12)
School assignments depend on the exact address and can change. Confirm with the district before you buy.
05 — Local resources
06 — Questions
How many school districts serve San Jose?
Does San Jose have BART?
What housing types are available in San Jose?
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