The 31 California Fun Facts You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
The Golden State is known for its unique history and unconventional spirit, but these interesting facts about California will surprise you.
To some people, Silicon Valley is the American Dream. The country’s biggest tech companies were founded in the area, and thousands of entrepreneurs started their journey to success right here. We totally understand why people dream of moving to Silicon Valley. While most of the cities are pretty affluent, some are more affordable with equally great opportunities. Between beauty, technology, fun, and safety, these Silicon Valley cities check almost every box on your list of priorities.
Life in Palo Alto is pretty expensive, and yet the city’s population continues to rise. If you’re wondering why, the answer is pretty simple. The luxurious city is not only one of the greenest in California, but it’s one of the best for tech jobs—Tesla and HP are headquartered in Palo Alto. Besides being a tech hub, the city is home to a lively downtown, highly ranked schools, and Stanford University. Do you need more reasons to move to Palo Alto?
The largest city in Northern California boasts an educated population, which is why finding a high-paying job in San Jose is pretty much a given. You might even land a job in leading companies like ZOOM, Adobe, or PayPal in one of the top tech cities in California. As for the lifestyle, San Jose is abundant with parks and gardens. If you ask us, it’s time you start checking out the best neighborhoods in San Jose.
Sunnyvale is another one of the highest-paying Silicon Valley towns. Like most places in the area, huge tech companies like LinkedIn and Yahoo are headquartered here. So, if you’re still thinking which city in Silicon Valley will increase your chances of finding a high-paying job, Sunnyvale is the answer. To add to its benefits, the city is also one of the safest in the Bay Area, making it the perfect catch (if you can afford it).
Menlo Park is a suburb in San Francisco for those looking for a place to settle down with their family. The quiet and safe area has a suburban feel that’s perfect to raise a family in California. Menlo Park is only 35 minutes away from San Francisco and other major Silicon Valley cities, so your commute to and from work will be pretty smooth. And with an abundance of outdoor activities and great public schools, your kids will enjoy living in this Silicon Valley suburb.
If your family is planning to move to a new city, Redwood City in Silicon Valley should be a top contender. The gorgeous city offers lots of open space and opportunities for family fun, making it an ideal place to settle down. Many of the area's big tech hubs such as San Jose, Palo Alto, and San Francisco are within driving distance, so finding a well-paying job isn’t a problem. However, housing prices are on the rise—if the city caught your attention, you’d better make the move now.
Alameda County’s Fremont is one of the most family-friendly cities you can move to. Considered one of the most expensive places to live in Northern California, Fremont offers plenty of amenities and opportunities for your dime. Top-notch schools, easy commute to surrounding cities, and safe neighborhoods are just a few of the advantages. As for outdoor activities, there are countless hiking trails, museums, and parks to keep you entertained.
Mountain View is known as Santa Clara County’s favorite child. Many high-tech companies are headquartered here (surprise, surprise) including Google, which is why the city easily attracts anyone working in the industry. Even though job opportunities are a huge reason behind people relocating to Mountain View, the city is extremely family-friendly, drawing in affluent families from all over the country. With excellent schools, family-oriented activities, and an awesome dining scene, this is the perfect Silicon Valley city to move to.
Atherton may not be where the big tech companies are headquartered, but it’s where the biggest CEOs call home. As the most expensive city in the country for years now, this is where accomplished businessmen and women choose to live. With high-end properties, beautiful mansions, and open green spaces, the city looks and feels like a gated community and it's only a short commute from San Francisco and San Jose. So, if a median home price of over seven million is within your budget, Atherton is the Silicon Valley city for you.
When it comes to job opportunities, good schools, safety, and recreation, Cupertino is one of the top cities in Silicon Valley to move to. Despite Cupertino having a hot housing market, a lot of people are looking past the price tag. Once people see how charming and green the city is, they immediately understand why Cupertino is one of Silicon Valley’s most prestigious. And if you’ve always dreamt of working at Apple, moving to Cupertino might just help you land that job.
Los Gatos is one of the most beautiful cities in California. The Silicon Valley suburb has a thriving economy and a strong tech presence—Netflix is headquartered here. In addition to having plenty of job opportunities, Los Gatos offers a great schooling system, outdoor recreation, as well as safety and privacy. But most importantly, Los Gatos is one of the more affordable places to live in Silicon Valley—it’s literally a catch.
When young professionals finally take the inevitable step of moving to Silicon Valley, Santa Clara is one of the first places that come to mind. Naturally, no list of Silicon Valley cities is complete without this place. Many major companies are choosing to move their headquarters to this cool city in California, explaining why job opportunities are constantly rising. Santa Clara features open-air shopping malls, green spaces, and hiking trails to keep you entertained and active at all times. Join the young professionals and fresh graduates in calling Santa Clara home.
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The Golden State is known for its unique history and unconventional spirit, but these interesting facts about California will surprise you.
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