Santa Clara · Santa Clara County

Forest Park

Forest Park, in the central-eastern portion of Santa Clara, features mid-century ranch homes on tree-lined streets near Central Park.

Median Sale
$2,035,000
March 2026 · 45 closings

Forest Park Real Estate Market Snapshot

Median Sale Price
$2,035,000
+1.2% vs prior-year median
Avg. Days on Market
13
% List Price Received
108%
Homes Sold (March 2026)
45
Median price trend
2025 · $2,010,000 March 2026 · $2,035,000
List-price received
108%
90%100%120%+

As of March 2026 · Source: SCCAOR/MLSListings

Living in Forest Park

Forest Park sits in the central-eastern portion of Santa Clara, organized around the civic spine that runs through Central Park. The housing stock skews mid-century ranch, generally one-story homes on rectangular flatland lots with mature street trees and consistent setbacks. Most parcels in the neighborhood fall under the city's predominant R1-6L and R1-8L single-family zones, which set 6,000 and 8,000 square-foot minimum lots respectively with a 25-foot, two-story height ceiling (Santa Clara Municipal Code Chapter 18.12; Chapter 18.10).

What distinguishes Forest Park from Santa Clara's other mid-century pockets is its proximity to the city's civic and cultural anchors. Central Park's 52 acres of open space, the International Swim Center, the Triton Museum of Art, and the city's main library all sit within walking or short-driving distance, giving the neighborhood a quieter residential rhythm anchored to civic amenities rather than commercial retail. Forest Park is one of the established single-family neighborhoods in Santa Clara that operates without a mandatory homeowners association (City of Santa Clara Planning Division).

Schools

Forest Park addresses generally fall within Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD), the K-12 district serving most of the city with approximately 14,000 students across 17 elementary, 5 middle, and 3 high schools (Santa Clara Unified School District). High school assignment within SCUSD goes to Santa Clara High School or Adrian Wilcox High School depending on attendance area. Because the City of Santa Clara is divided among four K-8 districts citywide, buyers should confirm address-level attendance with the district before writing offers.

Lifestyle

Daily life in Forest Park revolves around Central Park and the civic complex on the eastern edge of the neighborhood. The 52-acre park contains the International Swim Center, the Triton Museum of Art, and the city's main library, with playing fields, a pavilion, and walking paths layered around the civic core. Mature street trees throughout the neighborhood are subject to Santa Clara's Tree and Shrub regulations and Heritage Tree designations under Municipal Code Chapter 12.35.

Commute

Forest Park's central-eastern position places it within easy reach of the city's major commute arteries. US-101 runs along Santa Clara's northern edge through the Levi's Stadium corridor, I-280 traces the southern boundary, and State Route 237 links to the East Bay. The Santa Clara Caltrain station and the Lawrence station provide rail service to San Francisco and San Jose. Mineta San Jose International Airport is roughly a ten-minute drive east, and Apple Park, Nvidia headquarters, and Intel are all within fifteen minutes.

Market

The Forest Park Market Right Now

Forest Park trades inside the broader Santa Clara single-family market, where the 2025 annual median sat at $2,010,000 across 441 closings at 108 percent of list and 16 days on market (SCCAOR/MLSListings). March 2026 ran tighter, with a citywide median of $2,035,000, an average of $2,155,364, median price-per-square-foot of $1,389, and 13 average days on market across 45 closings (SCCAOR/MLSListings). Forest Park's mid-century ranch stock on R1-6L and R1-8L lots typically tracks the citywide median rather than the CUSD-zoned premium pockets in southern Santa Clara, with renovated homes near Central Park and the civic core drawing the strongest activity. Buyers focused on this pocket should expect overbid intensity comparable to citywide levels and price-band concentration around the SCUSD-anchored midpoint.
Transactions

What Buyers and Sellers Should Know About Forest Park

Forest Park sits within Santa Clara's R1-6L and R1-8L single-family zoning framework, with 25-foot, two-story height limits and 40 percent maximum building coverage (Santa Clara Municipal Code Chapter 18.10). Sellers and remodelers should plan for the city's Architectural Review process: any new second story or expansion of an existing second story requires a public hearing under Zoning Code Chapter 18.120 and cannot be reviewed administratively (City of Santa Clara Architectural Review). The neighborhood's mature street trees are subject to Santa Clara's Tree and Shrub regulations and Heritage Tree designations, which require a Tree Removal Permit, an ISA-certified arborist report, and at least seven calendar days' written notice to adjoining owners before removal (Santa Clara Municipal Code Chapter 12.35). At closing, the City of Santa Clara's Real Property Transfer Tax of $0.55 per $1,000 combines with the Santa Clara County rate of $0.55 per $1,000 for a total of $1.10 per $1,000, the standard split rate, NOT an enhanced charter-city rate (Santa Clara Municipal Code Chapter 3.35). Santa Clara has no city-specific real estate disclosure ordinance, so California state forms (TDS, NHD, SPQ) and county standard disclosures apply (Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS Local Disclosures).
Field Notes

Market Notes by Lisa M. Lum

Frequently Asked Questions about Forest Park

What zoning rules typically apply to Forest Park homes?
Most Forest Park parcels fall under Santa Clara's predominant R1-6L (6,000 sq ft minimum lot, 60-ft minimum width) and R1-8L (8,000 sq ft, 70-ft width) single-family zones, with a 25-foot, two-story height limit and 40 percent maximum building coverage (Santa Clara Municipal Code Chapter 18.10; Chapter 18.12).
Does Forest Park have a homeowners association?
No. Forest Park is one of the established single-family neighborhoods in Santa Clara that operates without a mandatory citywide HOA (City of Santa Clara Planning Division). Individual parcels may carry recorded easements; the preliminary title report should be reviewed for any pocket-specific encumbrances.
What approvals are required for a second-story addition in Forest Park?
Any new second story or expansion of an existing second story in Santa Clara requires a public hearing under Architectural Review Zoning Code Chapter 18.120 and cannot be approved administratively (City of Santa Clara Architectural Review). Plan for additional review timeline.
How does Forest Park price relative to citywide Santa Clara?
Forest Park typically tracks the Santa Clara citywide single-family median, which sat at $2,010,000 across 441 closings in 2025 and $2,035,000 in March 2026 (SCCAOR/MLSListings). Pricing skews to the median rather than the upper end relative to CUSD-zoned southern Santa Clara.
What is the transfer tax in Forest Park, Santa Clara County?
Santa Clara County charges a base transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of consideration. The county's largest cities (San Jose, Mountain View, Palo Alto) impose additional municipal transfer taxes — confirm the rate that applies to Forest Park with escrow.
What disclosures are required when selling a home in Forest Park?
California requires Transfer Disclosure Statement, Natural Hazard Disclosure, lead-based paint (pre-1978), water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certifications. Santa Clara County properties may also need to comply with local supplemental disclosures depending on the city.
What is the difference between median and average home price in Forest Park?
Median price is the middle number when all sale prices are sorted — half of homes sold above, half below. It resists distortion from a few very expensive sales. Average price is the arithmetic mean and can be skewed upward by individual high-end transactions. Median is the more reliable indicator of typical Forest Park home pricing.

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Last updated 2026-05-06 · By Lisa M. Lum, Realtor® · Coldwell Banker Realty · DRE 02005150