9 Awesome San Jose Suburbs to Consider Living In

Often called “The Capital of Silicon Valley,” San Jose is an iconic Northern California city. There are countless things to do in the city, whether you visit the Winchester Mystery House, take a guided tour of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, enjoy a game or concert at the SAP Center, or go shopping at Santana Row. 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise nearly 1,013,000 people are living in San Jose. So if you’re moving to or looking to buy a home in San Jose, expect the median home sale price to be around $1,250,000, and the average sale price per square foot to be $744. And the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Jose is about $3,260.

But maybe San Jose isn’t the right city for you. Whether you work in the city or you’re looking for a new place that’s just a short drive to downtown, we’ve rounded up a list of 9 San Jose suburbs to consider living in. And they’re all under a 30-minute drive from the city. Let’s check them out.

#1: Santa Clara

Median home price: $1,405,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $1,006 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $3,647 
Driving distance from San Jose: 15 minutes
Santa Clara, CA homes for sale
Santa Clara, CA apartments for rent

Santa Clara is one of the many well-known San Jose suburbs – and it’s only about a 15-minute drive away from downtown. Home to roughly 127,600 residents, Santa Clara has much to offer whether you’re a student, new to the area, or have lived in the Bay Area for some time. If you’re considering moving here, make sure to visit the Santa Clara Mission located on the Santa Clara University campus, watch a 49ers game at Levi’s Stadium, or spend a day at the Great America Theme Park.

#2: Campbell

Median home price: $1,512,500 
Average sale price per square foot: $873 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $2,877 
Driving distance from San Jose: 10 minutes
Campbell, CA homes for sale
Campbell, CA apartments for rent

Campbell is just a little more expensive than Santa Clara. This suburb is just about 10 minutes from San Jose, so you can visit the Winchester Mystery House in just a quick drive. Some popular things to do in Campbell include grabbing a bite to eat at one of the great cafes or restaurants in downtown Campbell, going for a walk along the Los Gatos Creek Trail, or checking out a show at Heritage Theatre.

#3: Saratoga

Median home price: $2,525,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $1,240 
Driving distance from San Jose: 20 minutes
Saratoga, CA homes for sale
Saratoga, CA apartments for rent

Drive just 20 minutes from San Jose, and you’ll reach Saratoga, another great suburb. There are plenty of picturesque and outdoorsy activities to take part in when living in Saratoga. Make sure to check out a concert at Mountain Winery during the summer, spend the afternoon at Hakone Estate and Gardens, or stroll through downtown Saratoga.

#4: Los Gatos

Median home price: $2,450,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $1,090 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $3,740 
Driving distance from San Jose: 15 minutes
Los Gatos, CA homes for sale
Los Gatos, CA apartments for rent

Los Gatos is the next San Jose suburb on our list. With roughly 33,500 residents living in Los Gatos, make sure to go for a walk or run at Vasona Lake Park, check out the charming streets of downtown Los Gatos, or spend the morning hiking at St. Joseph’s Hill Open Space Preserve.

#5: Sunnyvale

Median home price: $1,965,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $1,240 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $3,597 
Driving distance from San Jose: 20 minutes
Sunnyvale, CA homes for sale
Sunnyvale, CA apartments for rent

About a 20-minute drive into the city, consider adding Sunnyvale to your list of San Jose suburbs to consider living in. With 155,800 residents, moving to Sunnyvale can keep you close enough to San Jose without residing there. Living in Sunnyvale, you can tour the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum or spend the day at Baylands Park.

#6: Cupertino

Median home price: $2,353,750 
Average sale price per square foot: $1,180 
Driving distance from San Jose: 15 minutes
Cupertino, CA homes for sale
Cupertino, CA apartments for rent

Another well-known San Jose suburb is Cupertino. With just about 60,400 people living in Cupertino, it’s a great suburb to consider renting or buying a house. Make sure to check out one of the many parks and green spaces like Stevens Creek County Park or McClellan Ranch Preserve and visit Apple Park and take a tour of the headquarters. You’ll never tire of exploring this great suburb.

#7: Milpitas

Median home price: $1,400,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $775 
Driving distance from San Jose: 15 minutes
Milpitas, CA homes for sale
Milpitas, CA apartments for rent

Next up on our list of San Jose suburbs is Milpitas, which is only a 15-minute drive into the heart of the city. With a population of close to 80,300, you’ll be living in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to experience in Milpitas. If you’re going to call this area home, plan time to check out LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Bay Area, spend the day at one of the countless parks in the city, or golf at a nearby course.

#8: Mountain View

Median home price: $1,750,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $1,070 
Driving distance from San Jose: 20 minutes
Mountain View, CA homes for sale
Mountain View, CA apartments for rent

If you’ve lived in or around San Jose for a while, chances are you know of our eighth suburb – Mountain View. Roughly 82,400 residents call this suburb home, so you’ll have a fraction of San Jose’s population while remaining only 20 minutes from the city. Living in Mountain View, be sure to go for a walk along the Stevens Creek Trail, take a tour of the Google campus, spend the afternoon at Shoreline Lake Boat Park, or see a concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre.

#9: Morgan Hill

Median home price: $1,175,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $1,070 
Driving distance from San Jose: 30 minutes
Morgan Hill, CA homes for sale
Morgan Hill, CA apartments for rent

Finishing off our list of San Jose suburbs is none other than Morgan Hill. About 30 minutes south of the city, you may just want to consider relocating to Morgan Hill. Roughly 45,500 people live in this suburb, but you’ll be surrounded by areas to explore in your free time. Popular things to do in Morgan Hill include checking out one of the wineries in the area or taking in the views at Anderson Lake County Park.

Methodology: Whether a city was under a 30-minute drive from downtown San Jose. List organized in no particular order. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during November 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com November 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.

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