Atherton

Part of San Mateo County, Atherton is one of the most affluent and scenic cities on the San Francisco peninsula. The town is rather small in size and currently accommodating about 8,000 residents. Upon first visiting, you’ll realize quickly how thickly-wooded, remote and expensive this area truly is. In fact, Forbes Magazine named Atherton the 2nd Most Expensive Zip Codes in America. With that kind of recognition, it’s no wonder that every perspective home buyer with deep pockets is chomping at the bit to land a home here.

Atherton’s residential quarters, which span about 5 square miles, are saturated with firmly upper middle-class neighborhoods. Aesthetically speaking, the area is a very quiet and family-friendly environment, with beautiful, wide open spaces. Every house looks almost brand new, or recently remodeled. If you travel up the curving streets and into the woodsy areas, you can peak in on some enormous properties and secluded estates (most of which have electronic gates that open up to private driveways). Demographically speaking, the average resident is white and rather old, circling around 45 years of age (mostly due to the city’s expensive accommodations). According to the 2010 US Census, median household incomes are tabbed at $190,000/year, while those homes sell around a pricey $4 million. And if you’re looking to rent out an apartment, you’ll likely pay upwards of $2,000/month.

The city’s public school system is one of the best around. Within the city’s quarters are four elementary schools, which include Selby Lane (both an elementary and a middle school). For older students, you’ll most likely attend Menlo-Atherton High School, which shares high accolades among websites like greatschools.org (4-out-of-5 star average). If you want to know the prestige of Atherton, its most notable residents include young movie star Shirley Temple Black, Hall of Fame baseball player Willie Mays and former San Francisco 49er and future hall-of-famer Jerry Rice.

Driving through, Atherton feels like a giant gated community - it is no surprise, after passing through, that this town is the #2 wealthiest zip code in the country. There doesn't seem to be much there, other than mansions that you can't see, but I would think twice before purchasing a home here (if I had an extra couple million dollars lying around for a down payment). The biggest red flag with this town is its proximity to some other nearby impoverished areas. It is adjacent to North Fair Oaks, one of the worse parts of Menlo Park, and the Bay Area in general, and Belle Haven, which is essentially an extension of East Palo Alto, is not far either.

The town is also surrounded by traffic-laden areas, making it difficult to leave and go anywhere else. But I suppose if I had a mansion with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, I wouldn't want to leave, either.