Los Altos is a city in Santa Clara County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, in the heart of Silicon Valley. Its name means "the heights" in Spanish. At the 2020 census, the city reported a population of 31,625. Los Altos grew substantially in the post-war decades, with most of the city's development occurring between 1950 and 1980, transforming it from orchards and farmland into a quiet, affluent residential community. Today the city is known for its low-density, tree-lined neighborhoods and its distinctive downtown, a walkable historic district of sidewalk cafes, coffee shops, boutiques, and highly regarded restaurants that give the city a small-town feel unusual in the heart of the tech economy. The city's schools are a central part of its identity and a primary driver of its desirability. Students attend the Los Altos School District for elementary grades, with secondary education provided by the Mountain View–Los Altos High School District, and portions of the city are also served by the Cupertino Union School District. The combination of strong schools and proximity to major Silicon Valley employers places Los Altos among the region's most sought-after communities. Los Altos is bordered by Los Altos Hills to the west and lies near Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Cupertino, positioning residents within minutes of the Bay Area's leading technology campuses. Its location near Interstate 280 and U.S. Highway 101, along with nearby Caltrain service, keeps the broader region accessible. Los Altos appeals to families and professionals seeking excellent schools, a walkable, small-town downtown, and quiet residential streets within the center of Silicon Valley.