Portola Valley is a town in San Mateo County, California, home to about 4,305 people across 9.1 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 94028.
Homes sold for a median of $1,573 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Palo Alto; part is in Portola Valley
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Portola Valley. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Portola Valley’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Portola Valley well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)16 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | San Carlos Airport (SQL)10 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | San Jose, CA23 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Los Angeles, CA315 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Portola Valley; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Portola Valley had 4,456 residents in the 2020 census, up 0% since 2000.
It’s the 692nd largest of 1,563 towns in California by population.
San Mateo County grew from 12,094 residents in 1900 to 764,442 in 2020.
San Mateo County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 81°F in summer, and winter lows average 40°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Skyline Ridge Preserve, CA weather station (4 miles away).
477,938 jobs at 21,569 businesses in San Mateo County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
70 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Portola Valley.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 7 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 22 |
| Dentists | 4 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 2 |
| Mental health providers | 18 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 12 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 4 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (2 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Pharmacies
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums
Theaters and performance venues (2 nearby)
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Portola Valley Elementary. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ormondale ElementaryPortola Valley | K–3 | 243 | Public | 0.7 mi |
| Corte MaderaPortola Valley | 4–8 | 252 | Public | 0.4 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodland SchoolPortola Valley | Pre-K–8 | 272 | Nonsectarian | 2.5 mi |
| Woodside Priory SchoolPortola Valley | 6–12 | 427 | Roman Catholic | 0.5 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Palo Alto and Ladera.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.