If you’re thinking of moving to a San Jose suburb, then you’re in the right place, because this is HomeSnacks eleventh time ranking the best suburbs that California’s third-biggest city has to offer.
There are a lot of reasons to love San Jose. It’s known as the Capital of Silicon Valley, so you know anyone working in the tech industry would be delighted to live in the center of the action. And there’s nowhere better for an outsider to learn about the region’s relationship with tech than The Tech Interactive. For those who find more pleasure in shopping than coding, Santana Row, with its countless stores, restaurants, bars, and music venues, all along palm and oak-lined pedestrian-friendly streets, is sure to be a selling point. Not to mention San Jose’s small but lively downtown, which offers a dizzying array of attractions. Not least of which is the annual Jazz Summer Fest that goes down at Plaza de Cesar Chavez each August.
No doubt about it, San Jose is awesome. But if you’d just like to have access to the best of San Jose without settling down there, you might be keener on living in one of its best suburbs. What do we mean by best? Well, we looked at data from the FBI and Census to rank each of San Jose’s 30 suburbs based on factors such as crime, median household income, low rates of unemployment and poverty, and the availability of excellent amenities. We also used our own SnackAbility scale to figure out how each suburb stacked up in terms of education, affordability, and even commute times. The results were not disappointing, with more than half our list’s suburbs scoring a perfect 10/10 overall SnackAbility score.
Just where are these phenomenal suburbs? By and large, to the northwest of San Jose, in the direction of San Francisco. That’s not to say that there aren’t great suburbs in other areas — to the city’s south you’ll find the small city of Monte Sereno, where the streets are super safe and poverty rates hover around a measly 1%. Do note that these suburbs cannot be described as cheap; the only place in the top ten with homes typically selling for under $1,000,000 is Pleasanton, and the cost of livingthere is still twice as high as the national average. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the $2,000,000+ homes of Atherton, with a cost of living that outstrips the national average by 350%.
So get cracking on your piggy banks, sign up for a technology 101 class, and get ready to enjoy a perfect Mediterranean climate, because we’re paying a visit to San Jose’s best suburbs to live in 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 best suburbs to live around San Jose for 2026:
That wraps our tour of San Jose’s best suburbs. If you’re weighing the choice between moving into or around San Jose, then be sure to also consult our list of the city’s best neighborhoods.
Any of the suburbs listed above would make a great home if you have the capital to experience them fully. But which San Jose suburb stands out as the absolute best? According to the data, Los Altos is the best suburb for 2026.
Shocked to see that your favorite San Jose suburb didn’t make our top ten? Fear not, there’s a complete list of all of San Jose’s 30 suburbs down below. Pro tip: the worst ones are at the bottom.
Feel free to check out some more reading about California:
The 10 Best San Jose Suburbs To Live For 2026
/10
Population: 30,698
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 4.8%
Poverty Rate: 3.2%
More on Los Altos: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Los Altos is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the San Jose area. We’ll tell you the good about “Awesome Los Altos.”
Everyone here is rich; families average $250,001 a year, which is the 4th highest in the San Jose region. And only 4.8% are out of work. Homes average more than $4,713,314 each.
/10
Population: 30,319
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%
Poverty Rate: 3.3%
More on Saratoga: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Saratoga is the second best ‘burb we looked at near San Jose for 2026.
It ranks 4th for incomes in the area and only 0.91% of residents lack insurance, good for 4th best.
/10
Population: 5,126
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%
Poverty Rate: 4.5%
More on Woodside: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
Here in Woodside, it’s really safe, and residents are just about as rich as you’ll see in the San Jose metro area.
The bad side? Schools are more crowded, and the cost of living puts a large part of the city out of reach for most families.
But price is based on demand and a lot of people want to live in Woodside.
/10
Population: 58,566
Median Income: $234,707
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%
Poverty Rate: 4.1%
More on Cupertino: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cupertino ranks as the 4th best suburb of San Jose for 2026.
You won’t find many better places to raise your kids in the region than in Cupertino and the schools are some of the best around.
/10
Population: 6,993
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
Poverty Rate: 5.3%
More on Atherton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Coming in as the fifth best is Atherton.
Atherton gets kudos for having the most expensive homes in the San Jose area, where houses sell for an average of $7,890,840. However, the cost of living here is among the highest in the area.
/10
Population: 29,614
Median Income: $237,470
Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
Poverty Rate: 3.3%
More on San Carlos: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
San Carlos is proud of its 6th place finish on this list. And here’s why.
Most residents have great jobs and the unemployment rate sits at 5.04%.
According to online reports, San Carlos is quickly becoming one of the more affluent suburbs in the San Jose area, meaning you need to get in soon.
/10
Population: 8,377
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
Poverty Rate: 7.3%
More on Los Altos Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The 7th best suburb on our list goes to Los Altos Hills.
Los Altos Hills schools are some of the best in the region, and crime is really low. The cost of living makes it a lot more desirable for many families, especially first-time home buyers.
And, it’s only 18.2 miles to downtown, which is a good thing.
/10
Population: 4,305
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%
Poverty Rate: 6.2%
More on Portola Valley: Data | Movers
Portola Valley is growing quickly, and for a good reason. Crime is far below average, and most residents are gainfully employed. Even the cost of living is reasonable.
A solid 1.03% of people lack insurance, good for 6th in the area.
/10
Is ‘Everything Better In Monte Sereno?’
Almost.
It placed 9th on our list thanks to the fact that it’s really expensive to live here, but the schools are great, so you get what you pay for in that regard.
/10
Population: 32,786
Median Income: $217,554
Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
Poverty Rate: 4.2%
More on Los Gatos: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
And rounding out the top ten for 2026 is Los Gatos.
This city is far above average in every category, and the best part? It’s far more affordable than the other cities listed above. So, you get a big bang for your buck here.
Lived in Los Gatos for 15 years, and yes it’s a desired community but because of the exceptional school system level, the photo is the high school which is the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen and I’ve lived all over the states, with the best teaching staff in the country, and its facilities are like a university…
I grew up in Ann Arbor, Mi. Which is a university town and gorgeous. I now live and have for 28 years on Catalina island, in Avalon which is the most mellow in the state, and beautiful… Location, location.
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Suburbs Around San Jose for 2026
Figuring out the best suburbs around San Jose was simple. We used Saturday Night Science to find things people like about living in the suburbs and then locate the suburbs with those things.
We analyzed the newest American Community Survey data for 2020-2024 to research each suburb. We decided upon the following criteria:
- Low unemployment rate
- High median household incomes
- Population density (lots of things to do)
- High home values
- A lot of college-educated people
- Low poverty
- High rate of insured families
We defined a suburb as being within 30 miles of San Jose.
Additionally, we limited the analysis to places that have over 3,000 people. This left us with a grand total of 30 suburbs to evaluate around San Jose.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 30 in each category, where 1 was the “best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality-of-life index.
Finally, we crowned the city with the best quality of life index, the “Best Suburb near San Jose.” We’re lookin’ at you, Los Altos.
This result may differ from our state-wide data as we did not include commute times and crime for this analysis to allow for a more extensive selection of suburbs.
We updated the data for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best San Jose suburbs. Skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from best to worst.
Summary: Welcome to the Best San Jose ‘Burbs of 2026
We said it once, and we’ll say it again–life in the big city isn’t for everyone. At least not all the time.
The best suburbs of San Jose are .
So if you’re craving the amenities of a larger city like San Jose but don’t want to deal with the drawbacks, one of these suburbs might be for you.
For more California reading, check out:
Table: Best San Jose Suburbs
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | $250,001 | $4,713,314 |
| 2 | Saratoga, CA | 30,319 | $250,001 | $4,189,622 |
| 3 | Woodside, CA | 5,126 | $250,001 | $3,891,384 |
| 4 | Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | $234,707 | $3,189,451 |
| 5 | Atherton, CA | 6,993 | $250,001 | $7,890,840 |
| 6 | San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | $237,470 | $2,459,877 |
| 7 | Los Altos Hills, CA | 8,377 | $250,001 | $6,102,344 |
| 8 | Portola Valley, CA | 4,305 | $250,001 | $4,275,092 |
| 9 | Monte Sereno, CA | 3,461 | $250,001 | $2,108,567 |
| 10 | Los Gatos, CA | 32,786 | $217,554 | $2,705,289 |
| 11 | Dublin, CA | 70,803 | $214,385 | $1,305,295 |
| 12 | Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | $189,917 | $2,037,086 |
| 13 | Palo Alto, CA | 67,237 | $231,101 | $3,722,200 |
| 14 | Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | $186,170 | $2,168,909 |
| 15 | Pleasanton, CA | 76,960 | $190,124 | $1,601,646 |
| 16 | Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | $210,025 | $2,865,158 |
| 17 | Livermore, CA | 85,522 | $160,775 | $1,122,822 |
| 18 | Campbell, CA | 42,781 | $145,268 | $1,977,422 |
| 19 | Fremont, CA | 228,295 | $181,506 | $1,543,131 |
| 20 | Scotts Valley, CA | 12,044 | $143,750 | $1,260,977 |
| 21 | Milpitas, CA | 78,578 | $178,798 | $1,502,890 |
| 22 | Santa Clara, CA | 130,256 | $178,958 | $1,782,191 |
| 23 | Newark, CA | 46,903 | $169,064 | $1,260,997 |
| 24 | Morgan Hill, CA | 45,425 | $163,920 | $1,356,869 |
| 25 | Capitola, CA | 9,689 | $102,976 | $1,233,201 |
| 26 | Santa Cruz, CA | 61,607 | $115,475 | $1,344,332 |
| 27 | East Palo Alto, CA | 29,069 | $113,493 | $1,034,440 |
| 28 | Gilroy, CA | 59,004 | $133,107 | $1,081,221 |
| 29 | Hayward, CA | 158,801 | $113,318 | $848,427 |
| 30 | Watsonville, CA | 51,712 | $78,393 | $831,096 |
