As the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose is known for its concentration of high-income professionals in the tech industry, with the gated community of Silver Creek Valley Country Club being a prime example of an affluent area within the city. Many homes feature large lots with golf courses, and the median home price hovers around $2.5 million.

Almaden Valley is also one of the most sought-after upscale residential areas in San Jose. Nestled at the southern foothills, it is quiet and green, and due to its excellent public school district, tech families with children are consistently drawn to the area, pushing the median price above $2 million.

Just outside the city limits are Saratoga and Los Gatos. Saratoga is a small city known for its prestigious school district, with median home prices nearing $4 million, while Los Gatos also has a market around $3.5 million.

The reasons these areas have become affluent are largely similar. Proximity to the headquarters of big tech companies like Apple, Google, and NVIDIA, along with excellent school districts, has led to a continuous demand from high-income households. Compared to the overall median price of around $1.3 million in San Jose, Almaden Valley and Silver Creek show nearly double the difference.

Since the 1990s, the growth of the semiconductor and internet industries has gradually pushed up property values in these areas, and in recent years, the influx of founders from AI-related startups has further highlighted the premium in Saratoga and Los Gatos.

Among Korean professional families, Almaden Valley and Evergreen in San Jose are often prioritized as potential residences, while families with larger assets tend to look towards Saratoga or Cupertino. It is common to consider school districts, commuting distances, and budgets together in the decision-making process.

The affluent neighborhoods in San Jose and the surrounding areas experience significant fluctuations in property values, closely tied to the ups and downs of the tech industry. From a long-term perspective, I recommend a comprehensive review of school districts, accessibility, and budget before narrowing down the areas of interest.