Danville vs Los Altos/Los Altos Hills (San Jose, San Francisco: schools, university)

[traveller123]

which has a better downtown/town square?
which has better schools?
Better weather (as far is I know the bay area has microclimates so that's why I was wondering this)
Proximity to SF
Proximity to Recreational Activities

Which is a better town overall?

Thanks! Hope you all can help!

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Danville has a more extreme climate ... hotter in the summer, colder in the winter (especially at night). Los Altos (e.g. the one on the flat lands) is actually a bit easier to get to SF from on transit due to Caltrain. Danville is a few miles south of BART. Freeway wise it is probably a wash off peak but worse from Danville in the AM (or during other crunch times, e.g. Fri and Sat night, Sun afternoon and evening, etc).

[tstieber]

Danville is really cute, but keep in mind that each town is just one place in a sea of other cities, so don't look at them just by themselves, but in context. I don't know the Los Altos demographic as well, but Danville is quite Republican and has a general soccer mom vibe to it, even though it is quite expensive. the Blackhawk area in the eastern part of Danville is especially showy, with Orange County style gated communities, golf courses, Plastic Surgeons, etc. los Altos is more old money, probably also relatively conservative, and the downtown is rather sleepy. But you are close to Silicon Valley. Danville is definitely sunnier and hotter in the summer, with frequent days in the 90's, and sporadic days above 100 degrees. los Altos is much more pleasant. In the winter, Danville does get a few degrees colder, with occasional morning frost on clear days. you won't likely have that in Los Altos.

as for proximity to the city, I would also say it's a wash. If you enjoy the outdoors, then I would give the nudge to Danville, because you have an enormous network of hiking and biking trails in the regional and state parks around the area, much more than you will get in Los Altos. there is also a lot of swimming, tennis, and gokf, if you are interested in that. lastly, I expect it would be a little bit less expensive than Los Altos, due to Los Altos being so close to Silicon Valley.

another great thing about Danville is that you are only minutes from Walnut Creek, which offers a much more bustling downtown with high and shopping and dining.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by tstieber

as for proximity to the city, I would also say it's a wash. If you enjoy the outdoors, then I would give the nudge to Danville, because you have an enormous network of hiking and biking trails in the regional and state parks around the area, much more than you will get in Los Altos. there is also a lot of swimming, tennis, and gokf, if you are interested in that. lastly, I expect it would be a little bit less expensive than Los Altos, due to Los Altos being so close to Silicon Valley.

Los Altos has tremendous access to the nearly endless trail network that starts just Southwest of Foothill Expwy leading to Black Mountain, Upper Stevens Canyon, Skyline and beyond. One could really get lost back there. For cycling, there are many well known routes as well. It's only a hop skip and a jump up Arastradero to get into the serious riding areas in Portola Valley, around Woodside and all around the mountains. If more aggressive you can jam straight up Moody and Page Mill to Skyline ... that is a grunt.

[18Montclair]

This is a very fairly matched comparison imo.

[traveller123]

Thanks guys for the answers! Really helping a lot. Does anyone know which town is closer to a dock for boats?

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by traveller123

Thanks guys for the answers! Really helping a lot. Does anyone know which town is closer to a dock for boats?

Los Altos. Redwood City has a deepwater port and a couple of marinas. Depending on traffic no more than 20 minutes away.

[Goober13]

Both areas are upscale communities. Danville in Contra Costa County is a more family oriented suburban area. More of an upscale bedroom community.

The Los Altos area is in San Mateo County, which is basically an offshoot of both the San Jose area and San Francisco. Thus San Mateo County is more established and has a more cosmopolitan feel due to it being a peninsula connecting two major world famous areas, Silicon Valley and San Francisco and also in the direct vicinity of Stanford University,

More people from all over the world will be found in the San Mateo County area near Stanford creating a more worldly atmosphere.

Danville and surrounding areas are made up of higher income professional families, thus creating a little more conservative atmosphere than the Los Altos area. Danville will be a little cheaper for housing.

It basically depends on if you would rather be in a white upper income family suburban area (Danville), or a cosmopolitan higher income professional area with a more international feel (Los Altos).

[DMenscha]

Los Altos is actually in Santa Clara county as is Stanford and Palo Alto.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Goober13

Both areas are upscale communities. Danville in Contra Costa County is a more family oriented suburban area. More of an upscale bedroom community.

The Los Altos area is in San Mateo County, which is basically an offshoot of both the San Jose area and San Francisco. Thus San Mateo County is more established and has a more cosmopolitan feel due to it being a peninsula connecting two major world famous areas, Silicon Valley and San Francisco and also in the direct vicinity of Stanford University,

More people from all over the world will be found in the San Mateo County area near Stanford creating a more worldly atmosphere.

Danville and surrounding areas are made up of higher income professional families, thus creating a little more conservative atmosphere than the Los Altos area. Danville will be a little cheaper for housing.

It basically depends on if you would rather be in a white upper income family suburban area (Danville), or a cosmopolitan higher income professional area with a more international feel (Los Altos).

Other than the slight error on the county line this is an excellent description, you nailed the demographics.