learnlive from the mlslistings now + 90 days of salesboyenga team at compass
City Match-Up: two cities, side by side
Pick any two of the 32 cities we cover, from San Francisco to Gilroy. Live MLS numbers for homes for sale now and the last 90 days of sales sit next to the facts that change at the city line.
the read
Palo Alto vs Mountain View
Each bar compares the two cities on one measure. Use the buttons above to compare houses with houses, or condos and townhomes with each other.
Palo Alto vs Mountain View
- Reading the market…
Palo AltoMountain View
Days on market and price cuts are for homes for sale now. Sale prices, price per square foot and sale-to-list are for sales closed in the last 90 days. Months of supply divides homes for sale by the monthly pace of sales.
One of these cities has more listings or sales than the page reads at once, so its figures use the most recent records.
by the city line
What changes at the city line
Some costs and services follow the city or county, not the mailing address.
| fact | Palo Alto | Mountain View |
|---|
Transit from the Caltrain, BART and VTA station lists. Electricity is the default provider for most homes; some addresses differ. Transfer tax uses the county and city rates on our calculators page, applied to the whole price; confirm with your escrow officer. Our Eichler indexes list a few unincorporated neighborhoods, such as Ladera and the San Mateo Highlands, under the nearest city.
popular match-ups
Popular match-ups
Comparisons buyers often weigh. Tap one to load it above.
Read more: Palo Alto vs. Mountain View · Mountain View vs. Sunnyvale · Cupertino vs. Sunnyvale · Menlo Park vs. Palo Alto · Los Altos vs. Palo Alto · San Mateo vs. Burlingame · Los Altos vs. Los Altos Hills · Los Gatos vs. Saratoga · Campbell vs. Los Gatos · Santa Clara vs. Sunnyvale · San Jose vs. Santa Clara · San Carlos vs. Belmont · Cupertino vs. Saratoga · Redwood City vs. San Carlos · Menlo Park vs. Atherton · Los Altos vs. Cupertino
the nerd check
Comparing cities the nerd way
- Medians follow the mixA city with more condos shows a lower median. Compare houses with houses using the buttons at the top.
- Small samples swingWith only a handful of sales, one sale can move a median a long way. Read the sales count before the price.
- ZIP codes cross city linesA mailing address can name a neighboring city. The county parcel record shows which city, if any, governs the lot.
- The line changes the billTransfer tax, utilities and permit rules follow the city or county. Ask us to price the whole move, not just the house.
Cities are averages, and blocks within a city can differ a lot. Once you’ve narrowed it to two, compare neighborhoods and recent sales on the streets you like.
questions
Questions we hear
Where do the numbers come from?
Listings and closed sales reported to the MLS through our IDX feeds, read live each time the page loads. We count houses, condos and townhomes and remove repeat records; land, multi-unit buildings and mobile homes are left out.
Why don’t you compare schools?
School district lines don’t follow city lines, and several cities are split among districts. Our neighborhood guides name the districts; for any address, check the district’s own boundary lookup.
Why do the numbers change from day to day?
They’re live. A few new listings or sales can move a median, especially in smaller cities. For a longer view, Market Pulse charts 12 months of sale prices by city.
more to learn
Keep going
- Market PulseHomes for sale and 12 months of sale prices by city.
- Leverage LabWho has the upper hand at your price.
- Budget LabWhat your budget bought in up to three cities.
- Transfer tax calculatorTransfer tax for every city we cover, with local custom.
- Relocation LabCities by distance from your employer.
- Homes near tech campusesHomes for sale near 20 employer headquarters.
Based on listings and closed sales reported to the MLS through our IDX feeds, read live each time the page loads. Shown as reported and not guaranteed; repeat records are removed. City facts are general and can differ for a specific address.
talk to a property nerd
Torn between two cities?
We’ll compare the homes and streets you’re actually weighing, on both sides of the line. Commissions are negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what’s included.
Weighing two cities? Send us a note.
