Silicon Valley Area Guide

Silicon Valley Area Guide

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Silicon Valley Area Guide

Welcome to Silicon Valley Located in northern California, Silicon Valley is America’s most popular high-tech hub of innovation. It is a densely-populated region of the San Francisco Bay Area encompassing the metropolitan markets of San Francisco and San Jose, plus several nearby cities. More than 7 million people reside within the nine counties that make up the Bay Area. The area accounts for one-third of all venture capital investment in the United States, which has helped it to become a focal point of global mobility. The Silicon Valley name is derived from the Santa Clara Valley being the location of the invention of the silicon-based integrated circuit. Multiple regions now make up the Valley: the city of San Francisco, the Peninsula area, the East Bay, and San Jose or the South Bay. The cities outlined in this guide are among the best that the Valley has to offer. While each city in the area is unique, the cities listed in this guide represent cultural, housing, and schooling norms throughout each specific region. Silicon Valley Housing

Unfurnished Apartment San Francisco Neighborhoods

Studio

1 Bedroom

2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Bedroom

$2500-4800

$2900-6200 $2000-4200 $2200-3800 $2300-3200

$3400-7000 $2850-5000 $3000-5400 $2750-4000

$4300-8200 $3000-6000 $4000-6000 $3400-5100

$5600-12,500

Peninsula: Redwood City/San Mateo/Palo Alto East Bay: Oakland/Berkeley/Emeryville/Fremont South Bay: Sunnyvale/Mountain View/Cupertino

N/A

N/A N/A N/A

$1500-2500

N/A

Unfurnished House San Francisco Neighborhoods

1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Bedroom 5 Bedroom

N/A N/A N/A N/A

$5000-7000 $4900-6800

$6500-8500 $5700-7500 $4000-6200 $3400-5000

$8000-10,000 $6000-8300 $4500-7700 $4200-7800

$9000-15,000 $7000-11,000 $6000-9000 $5900-8000

Peninsula: Redwood City/San Mateo/Palo Alto East Bay: Oakland/Berkeley/Emeryville/Fremont South Bay: Sunnyvale/Mountain View/Cupertino

N/A

$2800-3500

The information contained in this publication is provided by Dwellworks, LLC (the “Company”) and should be used for general informational purposes only. The information within this publication is property of Dwellworks and may not be modified, reproduced, sold, or otherwise distributed without the express written consent of the Company.

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Silicon Valley Area Guide

San Francisco San Francisco Neighborhoods Culture and History

San Francisco is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the second most densely populated city in the U.S. The city is made up of small neighborhoods distinguished by ethnic, social, economic, and climatic differences. Despite the cost of living being 50% higher than the U.S. average, the city still bustles with over 860,000 residents, businesses, and entertainment venues. Housing When finding a place to live in the San Francisco area, keep in mind that there is no multiple-listing rental service, and most city realtors do not handle rentals. The Craigslist website is a popular source for listings; however, the listed prices can sometimes rise considerably due to bidding wars among prospective tenants, and property availability changes swiftly due to fast turnover in this very tight rental market. To obtain housing in a timely fashion, tenants must be prepared to make quick decisions and have funds, credit reports, references, and proof of employment readily available. Schooling Schools in San Francisco offer a wide variety of educational experiences from early childhood through graduate school, with access to a variety of public, parochial, and private schools. Many of these schools meet – and often exceed – state and national education requirements. The California Department of Education provides information about each school’s Academic Performance Index . Activities San Francisco is regarded by many as one of the greatest cities in the world for a variety of reasons. There are enough

restaurants to eat somewhere different every night of the year, and after dinner, there is a vibrant nightlife and theatre scene with ballet, symphony, or opera to attend. The “City by the Bay” offers a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, including: + The San Francisco Zoo + Alcatraz Island + The Castle Mountains + The Walt Disney Family Museum + Mission Dolores Park + Tank Hill + Fisherman’s Wharf + The Palace of Fine Arts + The City Art Cooperative Gallery + Nightlife in The Mission District + The SF Station updates residents of local markets, fairs, festivals, and other activities in the area These are just some of the many attractions offered in San Francisco. For a full list, visit: www.sanfrancisco.travel .

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Silicon Valley Area Guide

San Mateo Culture and History

Peninsula Redwood City Culture and History

San Mateo was incorporated in 1894. Many singles consider San Mateo an excellent place to live since there are opportunities for real estate purchases and because rent is a little lower than areas on the Peninsula. By car, San Mateo is about twenty-five minutes from downtown San Francisco and thirty minutes from downtown San Jose. Housing San Mateo is dotted with homes ranging from single-story ranches, to Spanish Mission inspired homes, to more traditional and contemporary colonial houses. San Mateo also has an abundance of condominium and apartment properties available for purchase or rent. Activities As a community enveloped in the arts, activities here include: + Central Park + Hillsdale Shopping Center + The Peninsula Ballet Theater + Masterworks Chorale + CuriOdyssey + Horseshoe Lake Schooling San Mateo-Foster City School District provides schooling for grades K-8. San Mateo is also part of the San Mateo Union High School District , which provides three options for public high school education. Private school options are plentiful, ranging from language specialty schools to religiously affiliated educational institutes.

The sign above downtown Redwood City proclaiming the city is “Climate Best by Government Test” isn’t just a gimmick; before World War I, the U.S. and German governments conducted tests to determine the world’s best climates, and Redwood City nabbed one of the top spots. Housing Housing in Redwood City is charming. Single-story ranch home, craftsman-style details and new builds with modernized floor plans are all popular housing characteristics in Redwood City. New apartment communities fit the lifestyle of young, working professionals. Activities In the past ten years, Redwood City has undergone great change and refurbishment, resulting in fresh activities for people of all ages. These include: + Edgewood Park and Natural Reserve Schooling Redwood City is part of two public school districts. Redwood City has its own school district that covers grades K-8, while the Sequoia Union High School District maintains numerous high schools in the area, including Redwood City’s. Both of these public school districts are well rated by the community and there are numerous options for private education that fit the needs for all families. + The Pulgas Water Temple + The Lathrop House Museum + The Annual Winter Fair

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Silicon Valley Area Guide

Other activities include: + The world-renowned Stanford Shopping Center + TheatreWorks + Stanford Art Gallery + Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo + The Secret Garden at the Children's Library Schooling The reputation of the Palo Alto Unified School District is well known as being among the best of the best. The school district also has a robust series of special education programs and services . It caters to individuals from birth to the age of 22, allowing for a well-rounded education. Accessibility to international schools, such as Bowman International School, International School of the Peninsula, and Palo Alto Chinese School is also a benefit of living in the area.

Palo Alto Culture and History

Palo Alto is a charter city located in the south-eastern section of the San Francisco Peninsula. It is bordered to the east by Mountain View, and the city includes portions of Stanford University and is headquarters to several high-technology companies. The city was established by Leland Stanford Sr. when he founded Stanford, following the death of his son. With such close proximity to one of America’s premier institutions for higher education, it isn’t surprising that the city’s residents are highly educated, politically-aware and culturally-sophisticated. An abundance of local pride and numerous neighborhood organizations contribute to Palo Alto’s charming historic and upscale commercial and residential areas. Downtown Palo Alto is a pedestrian-friendly city center where visitors can leisurely stroll the tree-lined streets. The downtown area is a thriving retail and entertainment center that offers shopping, restaurants, bars, movie theaters, art galleries, parks and cultural activities. Housing Palo Alto home prices are among the most expensive in California. While staying true to the typical California ranch style home, Palo Alto offers magnificent estate homes and high- rise apartment communities. Activities Palo Alto has a remarkable number of city-owned parks, and almost 4,000 acres of open space such as Baylands, Esther Clark, and Pearson-Arastradero Parks. Immensely popular among locals is the Stanford "Dish" loop, a paved path winding through the Stanford foothills with tremendous views of Stanford University and Peninsula.

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Silicon Valley Area Guide

Fremont Culture and History

East Bay Oakland Culture and History

Once composed of five smaller towns, Fremont has a mixed history and is made up of many different residents and cultures. With a focus on industry and growing business, Fremont resembles its nearby neighbors within Silicon Valley. Public parks and green initiatives set the city apart. Housing Housing in Fremont is made up of many single-family homes and a few townhouses and apartment complexes. The local architectural style varies from traditional California ranch to modern with a Spanish influence. Activities For those with an interest in the outdoors, Fremont offers an abundance of outdoor activities: + Coyote Hills Regional Park + Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge + Aqua Adventure Waterpark Schooling The Fremont Unified School District provides public education for grades K-12 and has received commendable ratings from the community for its education programs. The district includes schooling for children with learning disabilities. Private schooling options are also available.

Oakland is commonly picked by residents over its larger neighbor, San Francisco, because it's just as diverse, offers plenty of character, and has easy access to outdoor activities. Great food and shopping provides residents with everything they could look for in an urban area. Oakland offers its own culture and history, but with less crowds than other California cities. Housing Along the Embarcadero and Lake Merritt, sit a mix of old and new apartment buildings varying in size and style. Many single- family, traditional, California ranch, Victorian, Craftsman bungalows, and modern homes can also be found along Oakland’s streets. Activities Life in Oakland is anything but boring, as residents are provided with an abundance of natural and man-made activities. + The Grand Lake Theater + Children’s Fairyland + Fox Theater + The Pedal Fest in Jack London Square + Lake Merritt Schooling Oakland is also home to multiple public, specialty, charter, private, and parochial schools. Like schools in other major urban locations in California, specialized programs foster the learning needs of a diverse community. Oakland residents have a wide range of options, with more than 150 school choices.

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Silicon Valley Area Guide

Mountain View Culture and History

South Bay San Jose Culture and History

Mountain View is named for its wonderful views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. From its small beginnings, it has grown into a family oriented suburb with city-wide free Wi-Fi, a pedestrian- friendly downtown, and a population of over 70,000 people. The city borders on Moffett Federal Airfield and the San Francisco Bay. A vibrant and active downtown offers restaurants, shops, theater, sidewalk cafes, and a civic center to residents Housing There are still tree-lined streets with single-family homes that vary in style, from single story ranch to Tudor. Mountain View also has an abundance of upscale apartments, as well as older communities and town home/condominium complexes. Activities Mountain View’s vibrant downtown offers: + The Annual Mountain View Art and Wine Festival + Mountain View Farmers’ Market + Computer History Museum + Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts + Stevens Creek Trail + Castro Street for nightlife, dining, and shopping Schooling Mountain View Whisman School District provides primary education to the public in grades K-8, while the Mountain View Los Altos High School District oversees multiple high schools in Mountain View and some of the surrounding areas, such as Los Altos. The special education program serves students with learning and other disabilities through a variety of accommodations.

Rated the safest metropolitan city in the United States, San Jose is quite safe to walk by foot throughout the city. The city emits a hip lifestyle, as young professionals continue to flock to its streets. Housing T here are a number of high-rise apartment buildings, condominiums, and townhouses, especially in the downtown area. Homes in San Jose range in style but Craftsman single- story homes and Spanish mission style homes with clean lines and stucco walls are very popular. Activities If the mountains, beach, or San Jose’s 200 parks and 60+ miles of scenic trails don’t suit your fancy, then check out: + San Jose Museum of Art + Tech Museum of Innovation + Westfield Valley Fair + San Pedro Square Market + The San Jose art festivals throughout summer months Schooling San Jose Unified School District oversees public education for grades K-8 in the city. While it has its own school district, San Jose also provides highly-rated school systems in the surrounding neighborhoods. For instance, southeast of the city is Evergreen, which has an excellent school system.

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Silicon Valley Area Guide

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Silicon Valley Area Guide