Living in San Jose puts you right in the heart of one of the world’s most technologically progressive areas in the world. The greater San Jose metro which stretches to Palo Alto is home to some of the world’s most famous tech companies such as Google, Ebay, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard as well as many, many more. The cost of living in San Jose has skyrocketed over the last decade, but that is only to be expected in one of the most entrepreneurial, state-of-the-art areas in the world.
Coupled with being home to Silicon Valley, San Jose’s residency has made significant strides in altering the city in the way they see fit. San Jose is one of the safest cities in the U.S. according to Forbes, though that makes sense when half of its population has a college degree. Furthermore, San Jose is one of the top recycling cities in the country as well as one of the least stressed-out ones. Also, if you enjoy trails, you are going to love that San Jose has the largest network of urban trails in the U.S. that give residents the option of environmentally-friendly transportation through scenic routes as opposed to busy streets.
Besides being amongst one of the most competitive and innovative business cultures in the world, one of San Jose’s best aspects is its location. Smack dab right between Santa Cruz and San Francisco, about forty-five minutes either way, San Jose residents are surrounded with some of California’s most iconic attractions. Also, you cannot forget about the plethora of state parks southwest of San Jose and one of the most beautiful oceanside highways in California: the stretch of the 1 that runs from Santa Cruz to San Francisco.
Historically, San Jose’s city center may have passed under the radar as a destination city, but much has changed in recent years. Downtown San Jose boasts tons of things to do that vary from museums such as the Tech Museum of Innovation to JJ’s Blues Lounge for music. Downtown’s most energetic area is the SoFA district were you will find tons of art galleries, countless nightclubs and bars such as Liquid and Firehouse No. 1 Gastropub, and fine dining such as Orchestra Palm Court Café. Living downtown, whether it’s in a studio apartment with all bills paid or a condominium, puts you within walking distance of everything and coupled with San Jose’s great public transportation, you can leave your car in the garage.
Attending San Jose State University can be tricky for students considering that they will be living in one of the most expensive areas in the country. While there are many apartments for rent to choose from within downtown (where SJSU is located), they tend to be pretty pricey for student budgets unless students are planning on stuffing several roommates into an apartment or house for rent. However, eastern San Jose tends to be a bit less expensive with more cheap apartments, apartments with utilities included, and homes for rent available. Also, since the Caltrain ends within blocks of San Jose State University, apartment searching in neighboring communities such as Santa Clara and
Sunnyvale make for viable options. Plus, there are a handful of
utilities included apartments near Sunnyvale that can help keeps costs down. While Craigslist seems reliable, you’ll find better options with an apartment guide.
Willow Glen is one of San Jose’s most highly-rated neighborhoods, however its most notable characteristic is not its expensive home values or the concentration of upward-mobile, Silicon Valley employees, but Willow Glen’s strong community. The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association keeps residents connected through a mass community e-mail list so that everyone is in on the next community event such as city council and school meetings. Meanwhile, Willow Glen’s downtown on Lincoln Avenue can only be described as cute with its variety of modern franchises and family-run shops. As you could imagine, Willow Glen is a family-focused community with many neighborhood amenities such as movie theaters, pet-friendly parks and Willow Glen’s public library (which is home to San Jose’s Poetry Center) as well public schools that have received fantastic reviews. Most residents own property, however, there are options for renting homes and luxury apartments.
West San Jose is another option that puts residents in the middle of Cupertino and Campbell. West San Jose is known for Santana Row, the upscale, Mediterranean retail and entertainment neighborhood as well as the Westfield Valley Fair megamall. Much of West San Jose’s neighborhoods are suburban having been built in the 1950s, but they have maintained their composure and are well-valued. The Moreland School District which educates most areas of West San Jose has received excellent ratings and reviews. Also, being out of central San Jose will ease the commutes to areas like Palo Alto and Mountain View.
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