A park-filled suburb with a charming historic district and plenty of family friendly homes.
Sunnyvale has a below average violent crime rate and a below average property crime rate compared to other cities in the United States.
Nestled between Mountain View and Santa Clara, Sunnyvale is a suburban city of roughly 150,000 people. This is a laid back home to some of the most brilliant engineers in the world. Lockheed Martin, Apple, Yahoo, Juniper Networks, and Google are the largest employers in this city, which has created a tech focused culture.
Despite being thoroughly suburban, there's a lot to love about Sunnyvale. There are several hundred restaurants around town covering every type of cuisine, including some excellent ethnic food. Most of these spots are affordable but there are a few date night-quality dining options.
Although the city is not known for an active nightlife scene, its location provides residents easy access to surrounding cities where there's more going on. There are some bars and lounges around town, however.
The historic Murphy Avenue is a quaint tree-lined street full of independent shops, services, and eateries. On Saturdays it hosts a local farmer's market. A nearby mall has all your other shopping needs covered.
This is a terrific location for outdoorsy types. There are nearly 20 parks dotted around the city featuring picnic space, playgrounds, off-leash dog areas, and volleyball courts. There's a local golf course in Sunnyvale that doesn't require membership to play. And the Bay is great for kayaking and paddle boarding. Beautiful hikes are a short drive away in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Like other Silicon Valley cities, Sunnyvale can be broken down into different neighborhoods. Generally speaking, the distinction between neighborhoods is not noticeable since the look and feel is quite homogeneous.
The “nicer” neighborhoods (and "nicer" here is a very relative term given that everything is pricey) within this city will have higher housing prices associated with differences in public school rankings. (All the public schools here are very good, but when you're weighing "very good" versus "the best", it does have an impact on home prices.) Most of the housing here consists of unassuming ranch-style homes and cottages, though you will also find condos and apartments near Sunnyvale's downtown.
Sunnyvale boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the USA for a city of its size. The main downside to living here is the traffic.
Families looking to settle down will find a great city with safe neighborhoods for kids. Singles and couples who love parks and outdoor recreation will find this sleepy suburb has more than enough to keep them content. But if you're looking for more action you'd be better off considering living in San Jose or Palo Alto.
Sunnyvale is bordered on the north by San Francisco Bay, on the east by Santa Clara, on the south by Cupertino, and on the west by Los Altos and Mountain View.
Sunnyvale LOCAL schools
Sunnyvale Local Flavor 
Located in Sunnyvalle's historic downtown, this weekly farmer's market is open year round and offers fresh produce, prepared foods, and gifts.
A beautiful, Polynesian-style park that boasts 24.3 acres of outdoor space including a water-play park. Dog friendly and a great place for picnics and other outdoors activities.
St. John’s claims to offer “The Best Burgers in Silicon Valley”. Open for over 35 years and running strong. Check out this popular sports bar to watch a game of one of Silicon Valley's professional teams.
This is a fully functional farm open to the public. It offers tours, summer camps for kids, and even morning yoga classes.
Whether you’re looking to fly kites, drones, planes, or play some soccer or Frisbee, Baylands Park has ample room for everyone. If you’re interested in a hike or jog, the trails here are separate from the recreation areas and offer great views.
