The city of Mountain View is a dynamic community. This wonderful city is enduringly popular with people of all ages.

Mountain View: An Active Community

From the arts and culture scene to outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone.

The heart of Mountain View’s entertainment and cultural life is its downtown area, Castro Street. Lined with charming shops and restaurants, it’s the perfect place to explore on a weekend, afternoon, or evening. The bustling atmosphere, with its al fresco dining options and lively streets gives a sense of the city’s energy and diversity. Downtown is also home to the city’s public library, Center for the Performing Arts, and city parks.

We have enjoyed supper on Castro Street followed by a show at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts nearby – I highly recommend it!

If you’re a music enthusiast, don’t miss out on the famous Shoreline Amphitheatre, a premier concert venue that hosts some of the biggest names in the music industry. It’s an open-air paradise for music lovers, and it’s not just about the music – the amphitheater is surrounded by beautiful gardens and stunning views of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Community Events and Festivals

Mountain View is known for its strong community spirit, and this is clearly seen in the numerous events and festivals that take place throughout the year. One of the most famous is the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival, which showcases a wide array of art, live music, and delectable food and wine. It’s the perfect place to mingle with friends and family, appreciate the arts, and savor some local flavors.

Another popular event is the A La Carte & Art festival, featuring food trucks and artisan crafts. A more recent additon is the Harvest History Festival at the Heritage Park, celebrating the city’s agricultural past.

Parks and Recreation

For those who love the great outdoors, Mountain View is a paradise. The city boasts an impressive park system with around 40 parks and 4 swim centers offering a wide range of amenities.

Cuesta Park, for instance, offers spacious picnic areas, playgrounds, a dog park, and is host to the Summer Sounds concert series. Rengstorff Park, on the other hand, has a community pool, athletic fields, and tennis, volleyball, and pickleball courts. Shoreline at Mountain View includes a massive wildlife refuge along the bayfront, a historic home, and recreational activities from kite flying and sailing to the golf links and restaurant. Plus, you can’t forget about the Steven’s Creek Trail, which stretches from the foothills in Cupertino with breathtaking views of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the valley floor and across Mountain View to the San Francisco Bay.

Business Hub of Silicon Valley

Mountain View is a significant player in Silicon Valley’s thriving tech scene. This city is home to several major tech companies, including Google, which has its headquarters, the sprawling Googleplex campus, right here. The presence of tech giants in and near this city are one of the biggest influencers over local economy.

There are many medical and related businesses in town, too. El Camino Hospital provides first class medical care at it’s Mountain View center. In nearby Palo Alto there’s also Stanford Hospital and Stanford Children’s Hospital (as well as the university) with plenty more jobs near Mountain View.

And Mountain View is popular with commuters as well. In additon to easy access to freeways that will take you anywhere around the Bay Area, there are plenty of public transit options for non-drivers. Downtown Mountain View Station is a transit center connecting residents via Caltrain with it’s popular commuter rail service, VTA’s Orange Line lightrail service, and local bus lines.

Neighborhoods and Real Estate Market

Schools in this city score well, and that is another driver of home prices throughout the city. You can check the recent Mountain View real estate market statistics on our article, which we update monthly.

Mountain View offers plenty of diversity in it’s homes and neighborhoods. No matter your lifestyle or housing preferences, there’s something for everyone.

Old Mountain View is known for its tree-lined streets, historic homes, and walkability. It’s a charming neighborhood.

Monta Loma, a neighborhood on the border of Palo Alto, is famous for its mid-century modern homes and tight-knit neighborhood association which encourages community events and gatherings. (We recently had the pleasure of selling a beautiful Makay home there!) These unique, stylish residences give the neighborhood a distinctive character.

In recent years there have been a number of new home communities built as well, with more construction on the way.

As for the real estate market, it’s as competitive as it gets. The city’s booming tech industry, active community, and commuter-access make Mountain View a highly desirable place to live, especially with tech workers and young families. Consequently, property values and home prices hold value extremely well.

Make no mistake, it is one of the pricier places to live in Silicon Valley. The demand for housing, combined with the city’s limited land space, has led to this upward trajectory. However, if you’re considering investing in real estate in Mountain View, you’re likely to see your investment grow over time.

Natural and Environmental Hazards

Mountain View is undoubtedly a fantastic place to live, but with this community (as with any other) it’s important to be aware of any potential natural or environmental hazards.

Earthquakes are a potential hazard, anywhere in California, however part of Mountain View is in a liquefaction zone, meaning that shaking can be stronger as the ground may liquify (due to soil stability and high water tables) under extreme circumstances. In the image above, the dark green-brown area is the liquefaction zone. These areas tend to happen in areas near the bay and creeks where ground water levels are higher.

Similarly, parts of Mountain View also have some risk of flooding, particularly in the low-lying areas near the San Francisco Bay (blue areas in the image above) and direclty adjacent to creeks. The city has implemented various flood control measures to mitigate these risks, but residents should be aware of their proximity to flood-prone areas and be prepared for potential flooding events. In the U.S. generally, about 25% of floods happen outside of the FEMA designated flood plains, so it’s wise for everyone to be prepared.

Mountain View does have some environmental risks as well. There are high transmission gas lines in many areas of the city, for instance. There are also Superfund sites and other leak sites (tech, construction, dry cleaners, gas stations, school maintenance yards). Those locations and more information can be found on the Envirostor website.

Conclusion: Mountain View’s Unrivaled Charm

In summary, Mountain View is a city that beautifully blends the modernity of Silicon Valley with a charming, welcoming atmosphere. From its thriving tech industry to its vivid cultural scene, this city has something to offer everyone. Whether you’re strolling down Castro Street, enjoying a concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, or exploring one of the city’s many parks, you’ll find Mountain View’s rich appeal.

Mountain View is a city that keeps reinventing itself while staying true to its roots. Its rich history and commitment to innovation continue to shape its future. So whether you’re a lifelong resident or considering a move, embrace all that this fantastic city has to offer. Mountain View truly shines as a gateway to the exciting world of Silicon Valley.

Mountain View homes for sale

See all Mountain View, California Real Estate.
(all data current as of 12/6/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

You might also be interested in these nearby Silicon Valley communities:

Sunnyvale

Santa Clara 

Cupertino

Los Altos