Santa Teresa Neighborhood San Jose, CA

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Jaeki

Hello Everyone,

My family and I are considering buying a home in the Santa Teresa area of San Jose. I see that it is comprised of many zip codes (95119, 95138, 95139, 95137, 95193, 95129, 95123) and I'd like to know the safer/better ones, especially since I have two young children. I know that depends on the person and there is no such thing as being totally safe anywhere, but I'm looking for a neighborhood that is known for generally being family-friendly and safe.

Thanks!

I don't think 95139, 95139, 95137 has much residential there. Not a common SJ zip code. 95119 is known as New Almaden. It is almost semi-rural / expensive. I hear there are a lot of meth labs in that area as well.

95123 is the general zip for the Santa Teresa / Blossom Hill area. It is considered affordable by San Jose standards. It's a fairly large area. A mostly middle class area (wth a few bad pockets and a few upper middle class pockets). The area is typical of San Jose. Full of bland tract houses built in the late 1960s and 1970s. Bland, but in a pleasant kind of way. I don't know a lot on this topic...but I'd say the schools in that area are mediocre. Not the worst, but definitely nothing to brag about, either.

Pesonally, If I had a family I would prefer zip codes 95118 or 95124 (generally known as "Cambrian" or "Cambrian Park" area) to 95123 (Santa Teresa/Blossom Hill/Blossom Valley). However, those zips are more expensive, but not wildly so. But the neighborhoods are nicer. I also like parts of the 95136 zip code (not quite as nice as 95118 or 95124 but nicer than 95123). There are some cute "hidden gem" neighbhorhoods tucked into that zip code. I don't know about the schools. Probably the same or a bit better than the ones in 95123 area.

Of course, like anything else, details matter. This is not to say that 95123 should be off your list. But if I could afford it, I would look in those other zips first.

[gooski]

Since you have two young kids, the better zip codes for public schools are 95120 (Almaden), 95124 (Cambrian) and 95129 (West San Jose). All three zips are very family friendly and very safe. 95129 is probably the most expensive followed by 95120 and then 95124.

[Grumbler]

We used to live in the 95123 or, more specifically, 647 Cree Drive, until we relocated to Boise in 2002. At that time Sakamoto Elementary School was considered to be excellent. Not so with Herman Middle School nor Santa Teresa High School. BTW, the 95123 was considered to be one of the more affordable areas of San Jose when we first purchased that 1250sf 3/2 home in 1986 for $138K.