15 Reasons To Move (Cupertino)

Are you moving to Silicon Valley? You will find that you have dozens of choices of neighborhoods, each with its own personality and advantages. 

Hi, I'm Jacqueline—and I'm Elizabeth—and we're the founders of That SV Life. We know when it comes to relocating to a new area in Silicon Valley, you need to have as good of an idea as possible as to what the different cities and neighborhoods might be like. There is always a balancing point between where your job lies, the cost of housing in specific areas, and quality of life. To help you make informed choices that maximize each of these to your advantage is our goal. So, we've put together this quick guide as to why you should choose to live in Cupertino. 

 

With nearly two million people living in the Silicon Valley area, Cupertino is actually one of the smaller cities (with a population of just around 67,000). San Jose is the tenth largest city in the country (with over a million residents) and can only be viewed from the perspective of districts, but you can get a good idea of life in Cupertino in one view. So, why should you choose Cupertino?

 

By far the most famous name associated with Cupertino is Apple Computer—and Apple, Inc. is also the city's largest employer. 

 

Apple Computer has pioneered many of the wonders brought to the world during the computer age, starting with the transformational "1984" Super Bowl ad—which introduced the personal computer to the world—then the advances brought by the Macs, and the epoch-creating launch of the iPhone. Based in Cupertino since shortly after its founding, many of Apple's world-changing products were first revealed to the world by events held in Cupertino, at Flint Center, at De Anza college. 

 

With the world-renowned new headquarters at Apple Park (called "The Spaceship") and the fact that all Apple devices include Cupertino as the default time zone for the west coast of the U.S., Apple's presence continues to define the city.

 

But Apple is not the only tech company located in Cupertino. 

Historically, Cupertino was a crossroads and home to vineyards and orchards until after World War II, only becoming a city in 1955. Cupertino's growth was a direct result of the rise of the High-Tech industry, and its central location mean many have grown up and thrive there.

Tech companies mainly locate in Cupertino to carry out research, providing a good tax base without the overhead and congestion of product-shipping issues. Such cutting-edge companies as Seagate, PlusAI, Appnomics, Mist Systems, Moxtra, and MySQL continue to innovate from within Cupertino, providing jobs and continuing to lure the best and brightest to the city that some consider the "Heart of Silicon Valley."

 

But if your job is not quite in Cupertino itself, freeways provide quick access to the local Tech Industries and throughout the region. Freeways 280 and 85 reach out in all directions. Meanwhile, major thoroughfares on city streets provide workers easy access to the bulk of the companies in Silicon Valley. Cupertino is dead-center in the region considered Silicon Valley, so access to almost any job is a breeze.

 

But there are more jobs to be found than just in High Tech.

 

Any economic engine—such as the tech jobs in Cupertino—requires support infrastructure providing everything from telecommunications and architectural services to coffee (to keep the workers awake). 

 

Local retail stores focus on the needs of the community, with a large number of Asian-themed stores echoing the population. With Tech pulling in workers from all over the world, Cupertino features an eclectic variety of stores, from the Korean 88 Ranch Market and Japanese-focused Marukai Market to the almost entirely Asian-themed Cupertino Village Shopping Center. 

 

Cupertino has no downtown, but with its many retail stores, it retains a vibrant shopping community. Check out That SV Life's selection of local shopping and services.

 

If you can't find it in Cupertino, easy access to whatever stores and products you might need can be found just over the border in one of the neighboring cities. The major shopping areas of Valley Fair Mall, West Valley Mall, and Santana Row lie only a handful of miles to the east in San Jose, while a dozen other malls and upscale shopping regions can be reached within ten miles. Just to the north of the city lies the El Camino Real corridor, with hundreds of stores and restaurants spread along its length down the middle of Silicon Valley.

 

Did I mention the diverse nature of the community? 

 

70% of Cupertino's residents are of Asian descent, from Chinese, Japanese, Fillipino, and Indian origins. With a poverty rate of only 5% and an average age of around 40, Cupertino offers very little civic drama—which is a good thing if you wish to raise a family! The city has a very low growth rate, so is not likely to suddenly become saturated with high-density housing, which is a trend in the Silicon Valley area. The stores, schools, and dining options reflect this diversity.

 

Speaking of Diversity... Are You Hungry? 

 

With the large Asian population, the dining options in Cupertino focus on Asian foods, though there remains a variety of other culinary options. Most focus on fresh California ingredients. Gochi Cupertino is a hidden gem for Japanese dishes, while Royal Cuisine dishes out large portions of Chinese food, Lei Garden specializes in dim sum and a range of Asian dishes, and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar provides other samples of culinary delights. 

 

But Asian food meets middle eastern, with restaurants such as Arya Global (with its focus on Persian delights), Spice Club with modern Indian Cuisine, and Oren's Hummus. Great Mexican dining can be found, like Rio Adobe Southwest Grill, as well as traditional Americana, as found at Holder's Country Inn. Chain restaurants such as Alexander's Steakhouse and BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse exemplify some of the many options. As well, neighboring cities provide a wealth of options for culinary exploration. 

 

Beyond the lure of High-tech, Cupertino boasts a large Asian population due to the strength of its schooling system. 

 

From the outstanding elementary schools, well-regarded High Schools, and the 20,000-student De Anza College, Cupertino can boast one of the most highly-regarded educational systems in the nation. For thirty years people have moved to Cupertino from all over to give their children the educational advantage that its schools provide.

 

Besides De Anza, other junior colleges can be found at Foothill College (just two exits up 280 in Los Altos), West Valley College (just down two exits on 85 in Saratoga), and San Jose City College (just two exits east on 280).

With nearby Universities in Santa Clara, Stanford, San Jose State, and UC Berkeley, quality higher education abounds. Students never have to move far from Cupertino schools to find the absolute best in higher education - and continuing education. 

 

You don't need an extensive education to know this truth: all the amenities a city can provide mean little if your home neighborhood is not the best. 

 

Cupertino's neighborhoods tend to be clean and well-cared for, with a small-town community feel. Like much of the area, housing costs reflect the demand of the Tech Industry, so if you are going to pay those prices, might as well live in a great neighborhood! Cupertino is a newer city, so most of its housing and amenities are modern and up-to-date.

 

There is very little crime in Cupertino, so you can feel safe walking, biking, and jogging on the streets and in the parks. And, while out and about, be sure to enjoy the view of the many trees and the beauty of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Cupertino has worked hard to keep the flavor of the orchards which once covered its grounds. 

 

Talk to one of our Home advisors here at That SV Life and we'll be happy to help you find a place that won't just be a house, but home!

 

In Cupertino, the view of the trees and hills is rarely obscured by bad weather. 

 

The Santa Clara Valley boasts some of the best weather on earth, with mild winters and warm but not hot summers. The sun comes out some 330 days a year. 

 

In the winter months, the average daily high temperature is 61°F, while the average summer high is only 75°F; even in the coldest month—December—the average low temperature is only 44°F. Even in winter, it's a rare day in Cupertino when you can't have adventures outside and be comfortable.

 

With great weather and easy access to the outdoors, Cupertino residents tend to be healthy and fit; you'll feel like joining them! 

 

Biking, hiking, walking, and just being out are a joy in Cupertino. The city has spent a decade upgrading its bike lanes, which now connect to trails out into nature. Trail Head Cyclery is one of several shops that will be happy to help you get properly equipped for your biking adventures, and direct you to the best trails.

 

If you want to play while getting fit, there are several adult sports leagues, and many organizations support children's organized activities. Cupertino Tennis Club offers adult league activities, while many softball and soccer leagues are available in the area.

 

And for a cool dip in the warm summer, Rancho Rinconada Park and Blackberry Farms host public pools, where swimming lessons for youth and adults are available. De Anza college has full-size Olympic pools for those into serious training (check for availability first!)

 

But, let's be real: Most of us don't have time for organized sports, but we do need a fitness outlet. The city's Recreation program provides plenty of opportunities for Yoga or Zumba classes, and there are private dance and exercise studios available, like The Dance Academy and Joy Dance Studio. Many of these offer ethnic-themed classes as well, so you can immerse in the diverse.

 

Many restaurants and stores focus on natural and healthy ingredients. Joyheart Cupertino and Sprouts Farmers Market are examples of organic ingredient markets for making your own mix of deliciousness. Eat healthy to be healthy!

 

Still, life happens. With major hospitals just over the border (Kaiser in Santa Clara and El Camino in Mountain View), health care in the city is readily available, for those times when you need a little reset. 

 

To stay healthy, if you have kids or just want to sit and soak in the sun you need a public open space— a park! 

 

Cupertino has been careful to retain open space and parks for its population. Most local parks include playgrounds for kids and picnic spaces. Memorial Park is a larger park in the De Anza/Stevens Creek area, where Farmer's Markets and community events are often held. Parks such as Jollyman offer baseball and game fields, while many smaller parks feature playgrounds and are well kept.

 

For dog lovers, Cupertino's Wilson Park offers an off-leash dog park. There are fifty-one other dog parks in nearby cities, so get out the tennis balls and the pooper scooper and have fun with your barking buddy!

 

You can review some of the available parks here on That SV Life.

 

As you find yourself growing healthier, you may decide you need a more immersive experience in the local natural beauty. 

Several major parks along the foothills include wonderful hiking/mountain biking paths. As the city merges up against the mountains, many parks spread through the neighborhoods. At the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and Stevens Creek County Park you can hike right up into the hills and walk forever—or mountain bike on the miles of trails.

 

If you want a more intense immersion in nature, the Santa Cruz Mountains are filled with wonderful parks - places to go a mere half an hour but seemingly worlds away. The Peninsula Open Space trail network allows hikes for dozens of miles through the forests and grasslands of the foothills. Vasona Lake and its park are not far away in Los Gatos. San Francisco Bay can be reached not far to the north.

 

As long as you're getting out and doing things, you might as well go to some of the events the area offers!

 

Flint Center at De Anza College serves as the event focus for Cupertino, with frequent plays, concerts, and symposiums. A world-renowned venue, many Apple product reveals have occurred there over the years, but it has also hosted local dance groups as well.

 

The Veterans Memorial Park hosts a weekly Farmer's Market and other outdoor events, including a summer concert series at the Amphitheater. Creekside Park hosts a summer Movies In the Park series, while Blackberry Park hosts a Wildlife and Harvest Festival in late October/

 

Local schools and the City Center also serve as hosts for community events; if you have kids, you'll be kept busy! 

 

And be sure to check out our events listing here on That SV Life!

 

If you're into grander events, the area just around Cupertino hosts a vast number of world-class events.

 

The Silicon Valley events schedule is rich, with major plays, concerts, and sporting events abounding. Shoreline Amphitheater in neighboring Mountain View is a world-renowned concert venue. Levi's Stadium in next-door Santa Clara serves as the home field for the San Francisco 49ers and a site for many other concert events. In San Jose, the SAP Center hoses the San Jose Sharks hockey team and many large-scale events, while Broadway plays, smaller concerts and more can be reached within ten miles of Cupertino.

 

Santa Clara and San Jose Convention Centers and the Santa Clara County Fairground constantly host larger conventions, harvest festivals, and international events - from Super Bowls to Comic and Anime conventions! San Francisco, with its array of major events, lies just an hour up the freeway, as well as the conventions and events found around the San Francisco Airport area. With everything from training and certification events to Anime and Comic Conventions, there is always something interesting to go do in Silicon Valley!

 

While the idea of a home is to not have to leave to be happy, having world-famous tourist locations all over the region to hit on a weekend is a huge plus!

 

The greater Bay Area provides an unparalleled variety of places to go on weekends or for a day trip. San Francisco lies just an hour up the freeway. Beyond, Napa and Sonoma Wine Country beckons, while along the North Coast the rugged beauty of the coastline and grand vistas of the redwoods are destinations for people from all over the world. Less than an hour over the mountains lies Santa Cruz and the beaches of the Pacific coast, while Monterey and Carmel are world-class tourist destinations just to the south. A few hours to the east awaits the Sierra Nevada mountains with their breathtaking ski and hiking destinations, including the famous Yosemite National Park, with the gaming and fun destinations of Lake Tahoe and Reno a bit further.

 

This listing is just a few of the destinations that await you within a day's trip from your home in Cupertino. You'll be enticed to get out and explore!

As we look back at our quick visit to Cupertino, remember that Cupertino grew up with Silicon Valley, as a direct result of the rise of the High-Tech industry. Apple Computer's fame and rise to prominence cemented the city's identity. As a home for tech workers, the city yet worked hard to retain its green culture and healthy environment, with many parks and nature access scattered about town. With a distinct Asian flair to its shops and restaurants, Cupertino can boast of being a relatively quiet and safe city, where high paying jobs meet high expectations. If you choose to live in Cupertino, you will also find a high quality of life and many things to do in the area. It's a city great for families and just enjoying life!