Los Altos · Santa Clara County

North Los Altos

North Los Altos sits between San Antonio Road and the Palo Alto border, with consistent post-war ranch architecture and access to the Foothill Expressway commute corridor.

Median Sale
$4,575,000
March 2026 · 26 closings

North Los Altos Real Estate Market Snapshot

Median Sale Price
$4,575,000
-5.7% vs prior-year median
Avg. Days on Market
13
% List Price Received
106%
Homes Sold (March 2026)
26
Median price trend
2025 · $4,850,000 March 2026 · $4,575,000
List-price received
106%
90%100%120%+

As of March 2026 · Source: SCCAOR/MLSListings

Living in North Los Altos

North Los Altos occupies the northern third of Los Altos, framed by San Antonio Road on the east and the Palo Alto border on the north, with the Foothill Expressway corridor running along the western edge. The pocket reads as flatter and more uniformly post-war than Old Los Altos, with consistent ranch-style architecture on lots that typically run 8,000 to 11,000 square feet — most parcels sit within the city's R1-10 minimum-lot framework (Los Altos Municipal Code Chapter 14.06), and many were originally subdivided in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Day-to-day, North Los Altos blends a residential-first feel with quick access to both downtown Los Altos and the San Antonio Road retail corridor near Mountain View. Buyers drawn to this pocket usually weigh proximity to Foothill Expressway commute access and Palo Alto-adjacent geography against the slightly greater walkability of Old Los Altos closer to the village core. Lot uniformity here makes comparable-sales analysis cleaner than in some of the city's more varied southern pockets.

Schools

North Los Altos parcels primarily attend the Los Altos School District (K-8) for elementary and middle grades, with high school students assigned within the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District to either Los Altos High School or Mountain View High School depending on attendance boundaries (LASD; MVLA UHSD). A small portion of the city's northwestern edge can fall within Palo Alto Unified, so buyers should verify the specific parcel's assignment with the district before writing an offer (lasdschools.org).

Lifestyle

North Los Altos sits between two retail anchors: downtown Los Altos to the south for restaurants, boutiques, and the Village Theater, and the San Antonio Road corridor to the east for grocery, big-box, and Mountain View dining. Shoup Park and the creek-side trail provide the closest public green space within walking distance of many North Los Altos blocks. The pocket's residential streets carry the city's mature canopy, with many parcels containing at least one tree subject to the Los Altos tree preservation ordinance (City of Los Altos).

Commute

The Foothill Expressway and San Antonio Road give North Los Altos two of the cleanest commute access points in the city. Most major South Bay tech campuses sit within 10 to 20 minutes by car, and the San Antonio Caltrain station is a short drive east for direct service to San Francisco and San Jose. Palo Alto-adjacent geography means buyers commuting to the Stanford Research Park or downtown Palo Alto often shortlist this pocket alongside South Palo Alto for its travel time, while keeping Los Altos zoning and school assignment.

Market

The North Los Altos Market Right Now

North Los Altos transactions are reported within the broader Los Altos single-family aggregate. In March 2026, Los Altos closed 26 single-family sales at a median price of $4,575,000, with average days on market of 13 and a list-price-received ratio of 106% (SCCAOR via MLSListings). Compared to the 2025 annual median of $4,850,000, that represents roughly a 5.7% softening in the current month, consistent with broader Peninsula supply patterns described in the March 2026 Silicon Valley housing market report. North Los Altos's more uniform lot sizes and post-war ranch stock typically place it in the lower-to-mid band of the Los Altos median, with renovated and expanded homes pushing toward the citywide median and original-condition ranches trading below it. Buyers focused on Foothill Expressway commute access and Palo Alto-adjacent geography commonly shortlist this pocket alongside the Los Altos overview page when comparing price per square foot.
Transactions

What Buyers and Sellers Should Know About North Los Altos

North Los Altos parcels are governed by Los Altos's R1-10 Single-Family District, which sets a 10,000 square foot minimum lot size in most residential areas and informs floor-area, setback, and height envelopes (Los Altos Municipal Code Chapter 14.06). Buyers planning new construction, second-story additions, or substantial remodels should engage Los Altos Planning early, since the city's Design Review process applies to most projects exceeding certain thresholds and the Design Review Commission evaluates compatibility with neighborhood character (City of Los Altos Design Review Commission). The city's tree preservation ordinance protects designated species and trees of designated size on private property; permits are required for removal of protected trees, which is a common consideration in this canopy-heavy pocket (City of Los Altos). Santa Clara County's base documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of consideration applies at recording, and Los Altos does not add a municipal layer (Santa Clara County Assessor). Buyers should also verify school attendance assignments parcel by parcel, since the city's northwestern edge can fall within Palo Alto Unified rather than LASD.
Field Notes

Market Notes by Lisa M. Lum

North Los Altos transactions through Q1 2026 have tracked the broader Los Altos pattern: 13-day average days on market and a 106% list-price-received ratio in March 2026 indicate that prepared, accurately priced homes continue to clear quickly in this pocket. Activity Lisa observes in North Los Altos suggests buyers gravitate to the pocket for Foothill Expressway commute access and Palo Alto-adjacent geography while wanting Los Altos zoning and LASD assignment. Original-condition ranches with cosmetic refreshes have priced toward the lower end of the Los Altos median, while expanded or rebuilt homes have approached the citywide median.

Updated 2026-05-05

Frequently Asked Questions about North Los Altos

Where exactly is North Los Altos?
North Los Altos occupies the northern third of Los Altos, framed by San Antonio Road on the east and the Palo Alto border on the north, with the Foothill Expressway running along the western edge of the pocket.
How does North Los Altos differ from Old Los Altos?
North Los Altos is flatter, more uniformly post-war ranch architecture on 8,000 to 11,000 square foot lots, while Old Los Altos surrounds the downtown village core with mature trees, walkable streets, and a wider mix of 1930s-1960s architecture.
Which schools serve North Los Altos?
Most North Los Altos parcels attend Los Altos School District (K-8) and Mountain View-Los Altos UHSD for high school. The northwestern edge can fall within Palo Alto Unified, so verify each parcel before writing an offer.
Does North Los Altos have its own HOA or design overlay?
No. North Los Altos is not a separate jurisdiction or HOA. It is governed by the City of Los Altos R1-10 zoning, citywide Design Review, and the city's tree preservation ordinance, the same framework that applies to Los Altos as a whole.
What is the transfer tax in North Los Altos, 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 North Los Altos with escrow.
What disclosures are required when selling a home in North Los Altos?
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 North Los Altos?
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 North Los Altos home pricing.

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