2023 Best Places for Young Professionals in Santa Clara County

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Niche User: Palo Alto is a healthy and beautiful city to reside in. The heart of Stanford University, there are ample resources to be creative and change the world by way of entrepreneurship, technology, research and being in the presence of like minded individuals. I have never seen skies this blue or grass so green. Palo Alto offers safe clean neighborhoods with a very diverse population. I would definitely live here again if the cost of living were more affordable.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 3,045

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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• Population 973

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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• Population 7,291

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Works Here: Safety, the neighbor and up and coming with affordable housing. Great opportunity to watch growth happen. Award winning schools.... Read 1 review

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• Population 2,700

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  136 reviews

Current Resident: I love Mountain View with my whole heart! I have grown up here my whole life, and it hasn't failed to provide fun, jobs, sense of community, and trust. They have such fun and welcoming holiday events that are free for anybody to attend, and have an amazing community center that I live very close to. The community center provides anything you could imagine! From dance classes, tutoring, yoga, daycares, and more, the City of Mountain View doesn't stop with provisions for their community. I have gotten lucky enough to work for the City as a lifeguard, and it has been the most fun and enjoyable experience I've had in all my years living here. They hire teens from the age of 15, pay extremely well, and it is a super fun and engaging job to have during the summer! I have learned so much in my years living here, and I hold a space very close to my heart for Mountain View.... Read 136 reviews

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• Population 82,409

• City in California

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  Rating 3.87 out of 5  207 reviews

Current Resident: I am in love with Santa Clara, it's culturally diverse. Hospitals are close and roads are close to freeways. The stores are walking distance. Santa clara electric system is separate from PG&E, making prices cheaper. Water is included in rent. The areas to rent are pet inclusive allowing for people to be with loved ones and having understanding neighbors. There's always a good location to dine in or to even have drinks. Public school systems have pretty well maintained fields and have alot of opportunities. Real estate is expensive however for living costs. Renting is more affordable. Jobs are available and competitive.... Read 207 reviews

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• Population 127,922

• City in California

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  Rating 4.12 out of 5  270 reviews

Current Resident: Very safe and quiet city. In the middle of the Bay Area so there is lots of great places to explore by car, train, and/or bus. Abundance of diverse stores, restaurants, and boutiques/antique stores. Places to hike are unlimited!... Read 270 reviews

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• Population 155,550

• Suburb of San Jose, CA

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• Population 1,357

• Neighborhood in San Jose, CA

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  Rating 3.18 out of 5  125 reviews

Current Resident: The area is great although there are some homeless but that does not affect the beauty that can be found throughout downtown San Jose. Every city has up and downs. On a nice day you can take a walk and explore the area while taking pictures. San Jose State University is near downtown and holds beautiful scenery and views from the Martin Luther King Jr Library. In the evenings night life is great for dinner or going out with friends. Diversity is seen immensely in the community but the continued increase of people moving to this area creates a risk in rent affordability. All in all downtown San Jose has its flaws but it is still one of the fastest growing communities.... Read 125 reviews

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• Population 69,092

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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• Population 1,567

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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• Population 2,573

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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• Population 1,191

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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  Rating 4.67 out of 5  6 reviews

Niche User: Palo Alto is a town full of success. In the hub of Silicon Valley and in the shadow of Stanford University, people all over the world come to make Palo Alto their home. The community is a tight-knit group of people whom come from all different cultural backgrounds, ethnicities and lifestyles. Success, however, comes with a price. The school district, PAUSD, is known as one of the most prominent districts in the state. Academic pressures are high and the pressure to succeed is prominent.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 10,959

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  120 reviews

Current Resident: Milpitas is a great small town for anyone looking to be close to the Silicon Valley or settle down and raise a family. There are a variety of beautiful parks, good restaurants, and abundant housing/parking. The weather is very nice most of the year and can get extremely warm during the summer months. There are a few different options as far as public schools go but only one high school in the area. The Milpitas City Council works hard to ensure that the city remains clean, new works of art are installed regularly, and that there are plenty of programs and educational courses available for residents. It is within drivable distance to cities such as downtown San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, and Campbell. One of the downsides of Milpitas is that there is very little in regards to nightlife and basically no fun "downtown" area (although there is technically a long strip supporting an odd array of businesses that is called 'Main Street' but there is nightlife nearby!... Read 120 reviews

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• Population 79,593

• Neighborhood in San Jose, CA

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: The Rose Garden neighborhood is beautiful, and it's very easy to walk or bike around the area. There are some parts that feel very safe, and some others you might be a bit intimidated, however any crime reports in the area are not violent in nature. There's an array of cafes and restaurants, and neat little shops. It is very close to downtown, making it a perfect spot to relax in before an evening with friends. Santa Clara University and San Jose State University are also very close to each other! It's a really nice location, with a library right across from the coveted rose garden!... Read 7 reviews

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• Population 10,632

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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• Population 3,451

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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• Population 3,617

• Neighborhood in San Jose, CA

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  6 reviews

Niche User: Living in a city is great! Everything you need is close by, whether it be an errand or going out for fun. However, with the population increasing there is more traffic which gets pretty bad during rush hours.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 13,317

• Neighborhood in San Jose, CA

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  Rating 3.72 out of 5  133 reviews

Current Resident: I love this area. It is close to everything I need. Lots of restaurants, grocery stores, department stores, banks, parks, gas stations and the mall. This is a safe neighborhood, where I can walk my dog and exercise outdoors. I am also close to the gym. There are lots of friendly neighbors and families. The school system is better here than in East San Jose. There is traffic in the mornings and at night after work, but that is typical in the Bay Area. The homes are lovely in this part of town and I love living here. Santana Row is not far which is a great area for nightlife and Downtown San Jose is also close by. The airport is ten to fifteen minutes away. I have everything I need right here in the heart of Silicon Valley.... Read 133 reviews

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• Population 99,150

• Suburb of San Jose, CA

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• Population 5,415

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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• Population 1,217

• Suburb of San Jose, CA

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  24 reviews

Current Resident: Campbell is so unique compared to other suburbs of San Jose. It's smaller, but has so much more to offer than I've seen in other areas! It has an older feel to it, and generally feels very safe. I think walking to downtown Campbell at dusk, with all the lights, is so beautiful. And if you're ever bored, there's so much to do from trivia nights, to live music, to farmer's markets!... Read 24 reviews

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• Population 43,954

• Neighborhood in San Jose, CA

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  Rating 3.95 out of 5  86 reviews

Current Resident: This area is truly a welcoming community. If you are looking for the "friendly neighbor" feel, here you have it! People are constantly looking out for each other in person and on the site NextDoor. Whenever there is a safety concern or a personal need, people reach out and try to help. Need a graphing calculator for your high school student? Someone will most likely lend you one! See something sketchy going on? A neighbor will let people know to keep an eye out. The neighborhood feels very safe in most areas and times of the day and caters to all age groups. There are also great schools up to 12th grade. The only thing I would want to improve is the lack of diversity. Willow glen is predominantly made up of Caucasian middle to upper class families. That is not necessarily a bad thing, however a community with representation of more races, ethnicities, backgrounds, and socioeconomic statuses would create a more educated community overall.... Read 86 reviews

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• Population 51,343

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  107 reviews

Current Resident: I like the family friendly activities that are available in Palo Alto. There are excellent schools, shops, and restaurants. The people are very friendly and the weather in the Bay Area is amazing year-round!... Read 107 reviews

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• Population 68,624

• Neighborhood in Palo Alto, CA

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  Rating 3.75 out of 5  8 reviews

Current Resident: Wonderful place to live. Semi-rural atmosphere, great schools, nice people. When the creek is running, it’s especially lovely,... Read 8 reviews

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• Population 4,060