subject: San Jose And Los Gatos: Hotels, Homes, And Work [print this page] Are you California dreaming? Good -- let's talk about California. Better, yet, let's talk about San Jose and its surrounding neighborhoods. Let's talk about all of the San Jose and Los Gatos hotels that can accommodate you. Let's talk about the song that asks if you know the way. Let's break free and make sail for the Golden State as the economy is perched on the edge of no return. Let's toast to a bright new future, filled with promise and history lessons galore.
Which city is the oldest city in California? Monterey? Close. But, no. The oldest city in the Golden State just happens to be San Jose. It's the third-largest in the state, and the center of the so-called Silicon Valley. Given this fact, the city has seen a population growth every year for the past ten years. Everyone interested in a tech job seems to be San Jose bound. When you consider Stanford and Berkeley are a stone's throw away, it's no wonder companies like Google, Yahoo, and Apple are drawing more and more talent from local pools.
The tech recruitment aside, a significant portion of the immigrant population have come for more blue collar and service jobs. This makes sense as all the white collar jobs demand more retail and restaurant staff to serve them. So, the trickle down economics flourish. To date, San Jose enjoys a significant Hispanic population, clocking it at nearly 35% of the population. In fact, English is not the most widely spoken language in the area. That distinction is divided between Asian and Hispanic dialects.
So, the old adage is proven true; as long as there is a need for gadgetry and software, the Silicon Valley will flourish. As long as the Valley flourishes, so too will the service industry. Here's an interesting statistic: poverty has been 3% below the national average -- even in these economically challenging times. Here's another interesting fact: agriculture plays a significant part in the city's economic wherewithal. Both food production plants and fine wineries call San Jose home. So, in addition to service jobs, the job market for migrant farmers is competitive.
San Jose has some of the highest property values in the state -- and in the nation for that matter. Each year, the median value of a home in San Jose jumps by 3%. From an average of $425,000 in 2005, the median home price has jumped to a significant $625,000. Nevertheless, the rates of home-ownership are among the highest in California, with a whopping 62%. When you consider that percentage is near 50% in LA, you can appreciate why so many families come to San Jose in search of a better life.
