Central Menlo Park

Located along the San Francisco peninsula, Centro Menlo Park is an affluent suburban neighborhood tightly knitted into Stanford University’s community. It is also somewhat reclusive and a perfect spot to raise a family. Demographically speaking, it meaty population of around 5,000 with a large white population (over 80%). They live in a largely residential district which spans about 1.4 square miles of suburban, tree-covered terrain.

Centro Menlo Park’s leafy residential quarters are firmly gripped in upper middle-class society. The area seems to be saturated with long, one-story ranch homes plotted on brushy, but manicured properties. Also, these properties are usually decently sized, providing room for an attached two-car garage and proportional driveways . If you’re driving through the neighborhood, you’ll notice the trimmed bushes, quaint house fronts, clean sidewalks and quiet streets. One of the district’s biggest perks is that it is nestled next to the prominent Stanford University. As a result, median house values have swelled to $1.8 million in recent years. And those who can afford it usually rake in a wealthy $200,000/year.

For those a little young for Stanford University, Sacred Heart Preparatory is just northwest of the district’s limits. The progressive Catholic school is well-respected amongst the community and has garnering 4-out-of-5 stars on greatschools.org. If you travel east, Central Menlo Park’s economy centers around the commercial real-estate on San Hill Road (mostly consisting of private equity, financial services, law firms and other professional service companies). There is also convenient department store shopping (Macy’s, etc.) just up the road.

I often go jogging and for walks in this part of Menlo Park, because it is so pleasant and quiet. It really is an idyllic sort of suburban neighborhood, filled with houses with white picket fences and leafy cul-de-sacs.

You will also find some outright mansions sprinkled into this neighborhood. These are not so much the kind of sprawling estates that hide behind tree cover on acres of land, but rather the sort of English manor style mansions—the kind that look dignified but don’t feel the need to have tons of land. This one place, for example, for sale on San Mateo Dr. in this neighborhood, is kind of amazing (though it feels a bit out of place next to the Ranch homes nearby. I looked it up and it is pretty amazing on the inside as well. It has coffered ceilings in one room and an amazing white stairwell perfect for making head turning entrances.

By the way, if you are wondering, that is a $4 million home. That is not also completely atypical of the area. Even a relatively modest Ranch home runs a million in Central Menlo Park.

Of course, this neighborhood also has just about everything else you could want in a residential neighborhood as well.

First, the schools are great. From Oakview Elementary to Hillview Middle School and beyond, Palo Alto schools score at the highest of level for any kind of academic assessment.

You are also so close to Palo Alto that you can be at a fantastic restaurant or bar or play within just a few minutes.

But you need not head towards the center of town. You also have a supermarket and a somewhat quaint strip along Alameda de Las Pulgas. There you can find some restaurants and even a pub.

Put simply, this is a pretty nice area. Anyone would be happy to end here.