The latest home value rankings once again confirm Atherton as the nation's most expensive housing market for the sixth consecutive year. Seven out of the top ten rankings for the nation's most expensive zip codes were in California. Atherton’s paramount price of $7.4 million for its median sales price is nearly 50% higher than the second most expensive zip code, Beverly Hills, with a median home sales price of only $5.1 million.
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As the leading buyer's agent in Atherton for an extended period, as well as a past resident of the town, I have had the opportunity to experience the numerous attractions of Atherton firsthand and understand why affluent buyers are drawn to living there. From my observation, here are the four aspects that buyers value most in Atherton:

Natural Beauty: Atherton boasts a more verdant and park-like environment than rustic oases like Woodside or Portola Valley. Driving through Atherton is a delightful experience that alleviates stress and sets the tone for your arrival at your estate, where you can unwind in your own lush backyard.

Ease of Building Your Dream Home: Atherton's building codes and regulations are considerably less restrictive than those in nearby affluent cities. This ease of redevelopment has led to strong appreciation in Atherton's property values, making the town increasingly prestigious and in high demand. No other town in the Bay Area sees as much new construction as Atherton, thanks to its developer-friendly building codes. The robust demand is evident through the successful sales of two large Atherton lots for $25 million each this year, with both sold by the DeLeon Team.

Exceptional Police Force: Atherton is home to arguably the best police force in the Bay Area, known for its rapid response times and unique services not offered by other precincts. These additional complimentary services include property checks during your vacation and the option for residents to register their cameras with the police department, creating a collective chain of surveillance with security cameras around town. The Atherton police also do not charge for monitoring your alarm, and the city is the first in the Bay Area to deploy a drone for real-time data on crimes in progress. These policies produce great results, as even with its extreme wealth, Atherton's violent crime rate is only one-third of the national average according to bestplaces.net crime data.
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Sought-After Schools: Silicon Valley is renowned as the global epicenter of innovation, which is built upon education. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Atherton generally offers excellent schools. In fact, Oak Knoll Elementary, Las Lomitas Elementary, Hillview Middle, and La Entrada Middle all ranked in the top three percent among California's schools in Niche.com's recent rankings. Menlo-Atherton High School, with its robust gifted programs, wasn't far behind, ranking in the top six percent of California high schools. 

Having personally cherished my time living in Atherton, I can attest to its exceptional quality of life and the prospect of long-term appreciation. My profound love for this beautiful town makes it easy for the DeLeon team to sell properties here. Michael Repka and I take pride in being the top agents/team in Atherton (see Atherton 2023 sales YTD below). Please reach out to us to learn more about how our top team can assist you in buying or selling a home in Atherton.