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Moving to
Los Gatos.
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
What it's like to live in Los Gatos
Los Gatos is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Los Gatos deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
How Los Gatos compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
What it takes to move to Los Gatos
Based on Los Gatos's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$6,494
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $129,880 a year
- 39% of Los Gatos renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$400,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $200,000
- Homes cost 9.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 130% above US
$3,247/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $3,247 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $2,000,000+. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $2,000,000+ · 39% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 70% below US
98 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1279/100k · Los Gatos Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.6 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 33% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 40°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 108% above US
75% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (41 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Los Gatos's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($3,247/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (33% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Los Gatos
All California guides →Moving to Saratoga →
5 mi away · pop. 30,319
Rent $3,500+/mo · Income $250,000+
Compare with Los Gatos →Moving to San Jose →
8 mi away · pop. 990,138
Rent $2,669/mo · Income $146,427
Compare with Los Gatos →Moving to Cupertino →
8 mi away · pop. 58,566
Rent $3,500+/mo · Income $234,707
Compare with Los Gatos →Not sure Los Gatos is the one?
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