West Atherton

West Atherton is a very secluded, rich and well-connected Atherton community nestled deep into the wooded suburban-side. In fact, the district enjoys the many grand, dazzling homes that are ever so present within the city. Its biggest luxury is its proximity to Stanford University. While still situated far enough away from the hectic jumbled campus, the neighborhood is still close enough to entertain yourself with the countless activities they have going on throughout the week.

For those looking to live here, you must have made it big in the dot com era or you have a rich uncle, but either way...you’re living the lifestyle of the 1%. Like many Atherton communities, West Atherton is thriving with its many huge homes plotted on estate-like properties. These residences are usually protected by cement walls or large, charming gates that prevent you from getting a good glimpse from the street. They, of course, come with a hefty price tag (think a couple million on the low end). West Atherton is also fairly sparse (mostly because of the many enormous properties), so much so that running into your neighbor would be a rarity. As a whole, the neighborhood enjoys its bushy, secluded landscape, especially the tree-lined street of Atherton Avenue.

West Atherton is also one of the biggest neighborhoods in all the city and is almost exclusively made up of residential terrain. For commuters, both Atherton and Menlo Park Caltrain stations are just a block north of the community. Furthermore, the district is located directly between Highway 280 and US Route 101, both of which venture up and down the San Francisco Bay. Elsewhere, Sacred Heart Preparatory and Menlo School are located within the community’s quarters, the earlier of which has great sporting amenities (new baseball field, new gym, etc.). And for those striving for the best, Stanford University is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

West Atherton is probably the largest neighborhood in Atherton. Like the rest of Atherton, this is a really attractive area with rows of redwoods along lanes often dubbed with British sounding names like Faxon Forest, Aragon Park and Selby Lane (though these are usually mixed in with the usual Spanish Monte Vistas and Linda Vistas).

Atherton Avenue, with its automated gates and security intercoms, is perhaps the central lane in Atherton. This is where you will find many of the mansions that make up the crustiest of upper crusts in Atherton.

Home prices here run from $3 million on the low end to $45 million on the high end. How much of a difference is there between a $3 million dollar home and $45 million dollar one here?

The homes in the $3 million dollar range are located on the “mean streets” of Atherton, where millionaires only have one private jet and half a dozen patents to their names. You only get about 3500 ft. and a measly expansive orchard for a backyard--5 bedrooms and your own driveway.

Now for $45 million you get away from the riff-raff near El Camino Real, and get a real house: nearly 9000 sq. feet on an acre and a half of land. You can get a 1940’s mansion renovated to the Mediterranean style that is so popular now and offering 5 bedrooms, 5 baths and an amazing pool surrounded by attractive stonework.

Of course, in between those 2 extremes you will find a number of homes in the $7 million range. And they are very luxurious on the inside—marble counters and expansive kitchens.

By far the most attractive homes, however, are along Atherton Avenue. Here is where you find some of the oldest mansions in Atherton. There is one home there that seems fit to be a museum with rows of sculptures in the back garden and walks.

What about the other aspects of Atherton. It is, as you might expect, pretty safe and schools here, as in Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Mountain View for the most part, are outstanding. The local elementary is Las Lomitas and the middle school is Hillview.

West Atherton is also home to Menlo Business College, which is a private 4-year college—and Sacred Heart Prep School, a
Catholic K to 12 which is really well regarded.

Put simply then, West Atherton is a great neighborhood for families (if you are so well-off you can basically choose to live anywhere). For the rest of us, we can only hope to one day be so wealthy we can afford to live in such a place.