Midtown Homes and Neighborhood Guide

Palo Alto neighborhood guide

Midtown was built largely in the post World War II boom on a straightforward street grid, with ranch homes and Eichlers on lots of roughly 6,000 to 8,000 square feet, many since remodeled or rebuilt. It runs from Oregon Expressway south to Loma Verde Avenue between Alma Street and the Baylands side of Middlefield Road.

Midtown Shopping Center on Middlefield Road is the neighborhood hub, with Greer, Hoover and Seale parks and the Winter Lodge outdoor ice rink nearby. It is one of the largest neighborhoods in the city and a go to for families.

Loading the Palo Alto map…

Midtown is shaded. Borders are approximate, see the Palo Alto map for the full picture.

At a glance

  • Built mostly after World War II on a grid
  • Ranch homes and Eichlers on 6,000 to 8,000 square foot lots
  • Midtown Shopping Center on Middlefield Road
  • Greer, Hoover and Seale parks
  • Winter Lodge ice rink

Homes and Streets

Midtown offers a broad range for Palo Alto: original three bedroom ranches, remodeled Eichlers with atriums and glass walls, and full two story rebuilds on the same block. Lots are big enough for additions, the grid makes biking easy, and Midtown Shopping Center means groceries, coffee and a hardware store are a short walk for most residents.

See current homes for sale in Palo Alto →

Video Tours in Midtown

Homes in Midtown I walked through on camera. Press play for a quick look inside.

1084 Moffett Cir, listed at $5,288,888
Watch on Instagram →

947 Colonial Ln, listed at $4,698,000
Watch on Instagram →

788 Rosewood Dr, listed at $2,749,000
Watch on Instagram →

2339 Emerson St, listed at $3,698,000
Watch on Instagram →

See all of my home tours on Instagram →

Parks and Open Space

Hoover ParkPlayground, tennis and fields on Cowper Street
Greer ParkLarge park on Amarillo Avenue with sports fields and courts
Seale ParkNeighborhood park on Stockton Place
Winter LodgeOutdoor ice rink on Middlefield Road, open in the cooler months

Public Schools Nearby

El Carmelo Elementary SchoolGrades K-5, Palo Alto Unified, on Bryant Street. Likely elementary for much of Midtown; Palo Verde serves some eastern addresses.
JLS Middle SchoolGrades 6-8, Palo Alto Unified, on East Meadow Drive.
Gunn or Palo Alto High SchoolGrades 9-12, Palo Alto Unified. Midtown is split between the two high schools by address.

School assignments follow district attendance boundaries, which can split a neighborhood and change over time. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district, for example the Palo Alto Unified School District.

Getting Around

Middlefield Road and Alma Street run the length of the neighborhood, and Oregon Expressway connects to US 101 and, with Page Mill Road, to Interstate 280. The California Avenue Caltrain station is a short bike ride.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Midtown FAQ

Where is Midtown in Palo Alto?

Midtown was built largely in the post World War II boom on a straightforward street grid, with ranch homes and Eichlers on lots of roughly 6,000 to 8,000 square feet, many since remodeled or rebuilt. It runs from Oregon Expressway south to Loma Verde Avenue between Alma Street and the Baylands side of Middlefield Road.

What are homes like in Midtown?

Midtown offers a broad range for Palo Alto: original three bedroom ranches, remodeled Eichlers with atriums and glass walls, and full two story rebuilds on the same block. Lots are big enough for additions, the grid makes biking easy, and Midtown Shopping Center means groceries, coffee and a hardware store are a short walk for most residents.

What public schools are near Midtown?

Public schools near Midtown include El Carmelo Elementary School, JLS Middle School, Gunn or Palo Alto High School. School assignments follow district attendance boundaries and can change, so confirm the school for a specific address with the district.

What parks are near Midtown?

Parks and open space near Midtown include Hoover Park, Greer Park, Seale Park, Winter Lodge.

How do I get around from Midtown?

Middlefield Road and Alma Street run the length of the neighborhood, and Oregon Expressway connects to US 101 and, with Page Mill Road, to Interstate 280. The California Avenue Caltrain station is a short bike ride.

How can I find homes for sale in Midtown?

Browse current listings in Palo Alto on Joseph Suarez's site, or join his off-market list to hear about homes before they are listed publicly. Thinking of selling? Request a free home valuation for a local estimate based on recent nearby sales.

Thinking about Midtown?

Whether you are buying or selling, Joseph Suarez can walk you through recent sales, street by street pricing and what is coming up before it hits the market.

See homes for saleWhat is my home worth?Get off-market listingsContact Joseph

← Back to the Palo Alto neighborhood guide or browse all Peninsula neighborhoods

Updated October 2026 by Joseph Suarez, Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Burlingame, DRE 02085594.

Sources: City of Palo Alto neighborhoods, Palo Alto Unified School District, Wikipedia: Palo Alto, California. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed.