Welcome to Palo Alto
About
Residents enjoy two distinct walkable downtowns — University Avenue and California Avenue, each with their own character — along with Stanford University’s beautiful campus right next door. Palo Alto also offers wonderful historic tree-lined neighborhoods and outstanding open space, including the 1,940-acre Baylands Nature Preserve and Foothills Nature Preserve, which is accessible to non-residents through the city’s pass system.
Public Schools
- Addison Elementary — 650 Addison Avenue
- Barron Park Elementary — 800 Barron Avenue
- Briones Elementary (Juana Briones) — 4100 Orme Street
- Duveneck Elementary — 705 Alester Avenue
- El Carmelo Elementary — 3024 Bryant Street
- Escondido Elementary — 890 Escondido Road
- Fairmeadow Elementary — 500 East Meadow Drive
- Hoover Elementary (Herbert Hoover) — 445 East Charleston Road
- Nixon Elementary — 1711 Stanford Avenue
- Ohlone Elementary — 950 Amarillo Avenue
- Palo Verde Elementary — 3450 Louis Road
- Walter Hays Elementary — 1525 Middlefield Road
- Jordan Middle (JLS) — 750 North California Avenue
- Greene Middle — 480 East Meadow Drive
- Fletcher Middle — 655 Arastradero Road
- Palo Alto High School (“Paly”) — 50 Embarcadero Road
- Henry M. Gunn High School — 780 Arastradero Road
Parks
- Mitchell Park — 600 East Meadow Drive — community center, library
- Rinconada Park — 777 Embarcadero Road — pool, duck pond
- Eleanor Pardee Park — 851 Center Drive
- Greer Park — 1098 Amarillo Avenue
- Bol Park — 3851 Laguna Avenue — famous donkeys, bike trail
- Peers Park — 1899 Park Boulevard
- Seale Park
- Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo — 1451 Middlefield Road
Trails & Open Space
Libraries
- Mitchell Park Library & Community Center — 3700 Middlefield Road
- Rinconada Library — 1213 Newell Road
- Downtown Library — 270 Forest Avenue
- College Terrace Library — 2300 Wellesley Street
- Children’s Library — 1276 Harriet Street
Shopping, Dining & Farmers Markets
- Downtown Palo Alto Farmers’ Market — Gilman Street & Hamilton Avenue — Saturdays 8 AM–12 PM, year-round
- California Avenue Farmers’ Market — California Avenue at El Camino — Sundays 9 AM–1 PM, year-round
- University Avenue Downtown — main downtown shopping and dining
- California Avenue — “second downtown,” restaurant-dense
- Stanford Shopping Center — luxury retail
- Town & Country Village — casual dining and shops
Major Employers & Commute
Drive times are approximate and vary by traffic and exact starting address.
Caltrain: Palo Alto station and California Avenue station. Baby Bullet to SF in 35 minutes.
Palo Alto Sub-Neighborhoods
- Old Palo Alto
- Crescent Park
- Professorville
- Midtown
- Barron Park
- College Terrace
About Old Palo Alto
Old Palo Alto is a historic district of tree-canopied streets between Embarcadero Road, Middlefield Road, Oregon Expressway, and Alma Street. The neighborhood features Craftsman, Tudor, Spanish Revival, and modern custom homes on generous lots. Walking distance to both University Avenue downtown and California Avenue, Old Palo Alto combines historic charm with a central Palo Alto location.
Boundaries
- Embarcadero Road on the north
- Middlefield Road on the east
- Oregon Expressway on the south
- Alma Street / Caltrain tracks on the west
Schools
- Walter Hays Elementary — 1525 Middlefield Road
- Addison Elementary — 650 Addison Avenue
- Greene Middle — 480 East Meadow Drive
- Palo Alto High School (Paly) — 50 Embarcadero Road
Parks & Libraries Nearby
- Rinconada Park — 777 Embarcadero Road
- Rinconada Library — 1213 Newell Road
- Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo — 1451 Middlefield Road
About Crescent Park
Crescent Park is a prestigious neighborhood north of Embarcadero Road, bounded by US-101 and Middlefield Road. Mature tree canopy, large lots, and a quiet residential character define the area. Many Silicon Valley founders and executives have made Crescent Park home over the decades. Walking distance to downtown University Avenue and Duveneck/Green Gables Park. Streets feel wider and more expansive than Old Palo Alto, with many original 1920s–1940s estates.
Boundaries
- US-101 on the north
- Middlefield Road on the east
- Embarcadero Road on the south
- Caltrain tracks on the west
Schools
- Duveneck Elementary — 705 Alester Avenue
- Greene Middle
- Palo Alto High School (Paly)
Parks Nearby
- Eleanor Pardee Park — 851 Center Drive
About Professorville
Professorville is a historic district of Palo Alto, named for the Stanford University faculty who originally settled here in the early 1900s. Designated as a National Register Historic District, the neighborhood features Victorian, Craftsman, and Shingle-style homes on tree-canopied streets. Walking distance to downtown University Avenue, Stanford campus, and Lucie Stern Community Center. Many homes have preserved original architectural details.
Location
Historic district located near downtown Palo Alto, between Embarcadero Road and the University Avenue corridor. Exact district boundaries are defined by the City of Palo Alto Historic District designation — always verify specific address inclusion on the City of Palo Alto GIS before listing.
Schools
- Walter Hays Elementary — 1525 Middlefield Road
- Addison Elementary
- Greene Middle
- Palo Alto High School (Paly)
Landmarks
- Lucie Stern Community Center — 1305 Middlefield Road
- University Avenue Downtown
About Midtown
Midtown is a central Palo Alto neighborhood between Oregon Expressway and Loma Verde Avenue, anchored by the Midtown shopping district at the intersection of Middlefield Road and Colorado Avenue. Offering excellent value per square foot compared to North Palo Alto, Midtown features a mix of mid-century ranches, Eichlers, and updated contemporaries. Strong neighborhood schools and proximity to Mitchell Park Library make this a consistent favorite for families.
Boundaries
- Oregon Expressway on the north
- West Bayshore Road on the east
- East Meadow Drive / Loma Verde on the south
- Alma Street on the west
Schools
- El Carmelo Elementary — 3024 Bryant Street
- Palo Verde Elementary — 3450 Louis Road
- Greene Middle — 480 East Meadow Drive
- Palo Alto High School (Paly) or Gunn High School
Parks & Libraries
- Mitchell Park — 600 East Meadow Drive
- Mitchell Park Library & Community Center — 3700 Middlefield Road
- Greer Park — 1098 Amarillo Avenue
Shopping
About Barron Park
Barron Park is a South Palo Alto neighborhood adjacent to Gunn High School, bounded by El Camino Real and Arastradero Road. The neighborhood is famous for its donkeys at Bol Park — a local landmark since 1935. Barron Park features ranch homes on generous lots. The Bol Park bike path, Barron Park Elementary, and proximity to Gunn High School are all part of the neighborhood’s character.
Boundaries
- Arastradero Road on the north
- El Camino Real on the east
- Adobe Creek on the south
- Foothill Expressway on the west
Schools
- Barron Park Elementary — 800 Barron Avenue
- Juana Briones Elementary — 4100 Orme Street
- Fletcher Middle — 655 Arastradero Road
- Henry M. Gunn High School — 780 Arastradero Road
Parks
- Bol Park — 3851 Laguna Avenue — famous donkeys, bike trail
- Juana Briones Park
About College Terrace
College Terrace is a small, distinctive neighborhood immediately adjacent to Stanford University, where streets are named for American colleges and universities (Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Yale, Columbia). Compact lots, a tight-knit community feel, and true walkability to Stanford campus define the area. Significant Stanford faculty and graduate student population. California Avenue, Palo Alto’s “second downtown,” is a short walk away.
Boundaries
- California Avenue on the north
- El Camino Real on the east
- Stanford campus on the south and west
Schools
- Escondido Elementary — 890 Escondido Road
- Greene Middle
- Palo Alto High School (Paly)
Parks & Libraries
- Peers Park — 1899 Park Boulevard
- College Terrace Library — 2300 Wellesley Street
Shopping
-
California Avenue — restaurants, shops, farmers market
-
California Avenue Farmers’ Market — Sundays 9 AM–1 PM
