Located next to Stanford University, midpoint between San Jose and San Francisco, Palo Alto is recognized as a haven of creativity, a nesting ground for up and coming companies and concepts. Situated between California highway 101 and interstate 280, this 26-square-mile town is well known as the hub of Silicon Valley, the leading technology community in the country.
With tree-lined downtown streets and public parks, complimented by art galleries, theaters, outdoor concerts, and hiking trails, Palo Alto makes a conscious effort to balance both business and community endeavors. Many miles of land are dedicated to open space and farmlands, allowing visitors and residents alike to get a taste of what the diverse California peninsula is truly about. Favorite shopping haunts can be found downtown along popular University Avenue, all within easy walking distance from local neighborhoods. Fresh delis and produce markets, as well as over 50 restaurants in just the downtown area, range in cuisines from Italian, to Caribbean, to French-American.
The median house price in Palo Alto is $1.2 million, with an average of 750 properties sold a year. The 60,000 resident population grosses a median household income of $90,000 annually. Over 30 eclectic neighborhoods give this city a diverse, small town feel, fostering an appreciation for families, higher education and cutting-edge business. The Palo Alto school district is renowned as one of the best districts in the country. In 2002 Palo Alto High School ranked among the top 200 public high schools in the United States, and Gunn High School, it's cross-town rival, ranked among the top 50. Palo Alto's business community, based predominantly on technology support and financial management, provides a challenging atmosphere for corporate leaders. Strong economic trends can be attributed to the prevalence of many high profile corporations such as Agilent, CNF and HP that find their headquarters in Palo Alto. Famous faces of the past and present such as James Franco and Amy Irving, as well as technology gurus Steve Wozniak (founder of Apple Computer) and Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple Computer and Pixar) have all called this innovative city home.