Almaden Valley neighborhoods vary in size, schools, and area amenities from one to the next, so reading up on the communities that make up this scenic district will help you to locate just the right area for you! Below please find a list of Almaden Valley neighborhoods that we’ve written about or plan to explore on this site (if there’s no link to the name, we haven’t written it yet, but that area is on our radar).
List of Almaden Valley neighborhoods and subdivisions
Following is a list of Almaden neighborhoods and named subdivisions with links to their descriptions (more links to come as more articles are written). Most or all have maps of the subdivision, tract, or neighborhood names as we know them. The all-Almaden map pictured above is to provide a rough idea of what is shown here. (And it’s clear that we haven’t covered 100% of it yet.)
Almaden Springs (somewhat close to New Almaden)
Almaden Winery: Tresor, Vineland, Vintage (technically in Cambrian, just across the Guadalupe Creek)
Brianna
Campagna at Almaden (part is in Los Gatos Schools, part in the Union School District)
Country Club
Country View Estates
Crossgates
Goldcreek
Guadalupe Oak Grove (near the park)
Montego
Mountain Shadows
New Almaden
Hacienda Cemetery and Memorial Park in New Almaden
Pierce Ranch
Shadowbrook – features a swim club
Silvercrest townhomes
Sunrise of Almaden
Why Almaden Valley neighborhoods?
For many home buyers, the choice to move to an Almaden Valley neighborhood is largely about the quality of the public schools and the amount of home that can be purchased relative to other areas with good schools such as Cupertino, Saratoga, and Los Gatos. Some may want Leland, others Pioneer, Leigh, or Los Gatos High (a tiny sliver of San Jose 95120 is in the LGHS attendance area).
For others, it may be about the commute, which is not too bad to downtown San Jose.
Almaden is slightly younger than many parts of San Jose, such as Cambrian (and much younger than Willow Glen). The newness of construction can be very enticing to home buyers not wanting to deal with older home issues.
For those wanting scenic views, this part of San Jose offers abundant vistas of the hills, valleys, or (in select communities) a golf course. Almaden can feel a little less urban, a little less crowded, because of these scenic vistas, and the lack of freeway (Almaden Expy is the main route) and freeway noise.
A few factors to consider in Almaden Valley
We love Almaden and the neighborhoods there! This part of Santa Clara County has many parks, trails, and open spaces, and it is particularly scenic. Beyond the positives, what things should be on one’s radar when considering a home or neighborhood in Almaden Valley?
- School boundaries can be complicated. This part of San Jose is served by 3 different school districts: San Jose Unified, Union Elementary and Campbell Union High School, and Los Gatos Union and Los Gatos – Saratoga Union High School. Almaden is well known for strong public schools, but there are differences, so be sure to check them out.
- This part of the valley is wonderfully clean in terms of environmental hazards, but there are natural hazards to be aware of. Here there is naturally occurring mercury in the hills, and that means it gets into some of the waterways. Lake Almaden should not be entered for swimming for that reason. Areas near ample vegetation, especially on sloped lots, may be in higher Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
- With gorgeous hills on both sides of this valley, it can be a bit like a funnel for water. Rain and creeks flow into the area and can impact properties both above ground and sometimes below ground, too (below is often referred to as “sub surface water”). A home inspector once told me that 90% of the homes in 95120 have damp crawl spaces. I don’t know if that’s true, but it is something to manage for residents there, as water that isn’t well directed can impact crawl spaces and foundations. When water isn’t directed away from homes appropriately, repairs can be expensive.
- There’s no “downtown” here, and fewer shopping centers and restaurants for the size of the district.
Is there a neighborhood, subdivision, or community missing from this list? If so, please let us know and we’ll add it!
