Central Portola Valley

Bounded by Alpine Road to the east, Westridge Drive to the north and west and Portola Road to the south, Central Portola Valley is not really that central. In fact, the district is huddled deep within the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The area is mostly known for its reclusive, woodsy aesthetic and old, but sizable homes hidden beneath the leafy landscape. But with this comes its lack of community and any semblance of a good time. Demographically speaking, the area is a predominately white community (over 80%) and is largely democratic.

Central Portola Valley is an exclusively residential, very affluent community who loves a somewhat isolated life. Homes are rather large, usually two stories in size with an attached three-car garage. However, they are extremely hard to get to. Residents have to trek through the windy country roads swerving around the brushy environment only to have to trek up their steep driveways. But these residences are usually well worth it. First, many homes straddling the hillside have a great view of the suburban countryside and the San Francisco Bay that lies in the distance. Moreover, properties are rather abundant and offer a quiet aesthetic that’s hard to find. In fact, most homes can’t even be viewed from the street and are isolated even from their closest neighbor (homes tend to be separated by acres of uninhabited woodlands). For the perspective resident, you’ll need deep pockets. According to the 2010 US Census, median household incomes are estimated at around a wealthy $170,000/year.

Central Portola Valley is one of the most natural escapes you can live in. Streets are organized like veins in the body, starting big but trailing off into skinny countryside roads and ending in spontaneous col-de-sacs. If you like the great outdoors, you’re in for a treat. The Pearson-Arastadero Preserve is just down from Arastradero Road and turns into the Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club. The preserve is the perfect mixture of rolling savannah grassland for the outdoor adventurer. But with this comes its main pitfall...connection. While exposing its very intimate lifestyle, its hard to ignore its sense of community, or lack thereof. While driving through the area, you’ll immediately notice that there is no sense of public transportation, nightlife and commercial real-estate within miles (if that). Even Highway 280, your main means of transportation, is a good distance from the neighborhood.