ServiceNow and Applied Materials don’t get the same relocation-guide attention as Netflix or Apple, but both companies send a steady, consistent stream of employees my way each year, and the pattern in what they’re looking for is remarkably similar. Both companies are headquartered in Santa Clara, and both draw employees who ultimately choose Los Gatos for many of the same reasons. Here’s the full picture.
The Commute: 18 to 22 Minutes for Both
Los Gatos sits about 18–22 minutes from both ServiceNow’s and Applied Materials’ Santa Clara campuses, depending on neighborhood and time of day. That’s a very manageable daily commute, and it puts Los Gatos in the same commute band as NVIDIA, which also sits in Santa Clara — useful to know if your household includes employees across any combination of these three companies. My ServiceNow guide and Applied Materials guide break down specific streets and drive times for each.
Why These Employees Choose Los Gatos Over Santa Clara Itself
Santa Clara has its own housing stock, much of it newer and closer to campus, but it lacks the small-town character, walkable downtown, and top-ranked schools that Los Gatos offers. Los Gatos High School is consistently ranked among the top public high schools in Santa Clara County, and that quality draws ServiceNow and Applied Materials families who want strong schools without a long commute.
What They’re Paying
Los Gatos’ current median sold price is $3.28M. ServiceNow and Applied Materials employees I’ve worked with span a wide range, from younger engineers targeting entry points closer to the median, to senior leaders and long-tenured employees with significant equity looking at properties well above it, sometimes considering Monte Sereno, where the median is $4.8M. My Monte Sereno guide is worth a look for buyers at that higher end.
The Market Pace These Buyers Need to Prepare For
With Los Gatos homes averaging just 17 days on market and a 101.3% list-to-sale ratio, ServiceNow and Applied Materials employees relocating from slower markets are often surprised by the pace. I always recommend getting fully pre-approved before beginning a serious search, and being ready to tour a new listing within a day or two of it appearing, since waiting even a few days can mean missing out entirely.
Neighborhoods That Work Best for a Santa Clara Commute
The Los Gatos Boulevard corridor, along with neighborhoods offering direct Highway 85 access, tend to minimize the drive to Santa Clara most effectively. My neighborhoods guide covers these areas in more detail, including general price positioning and lot sizes, which matters for buyers comparing options across this corridor.
Dual-Career Households
I frequently work with households where one partner works at ServiceNow or Applied Materials and the other works at a different South Bay employer — sometimes Google, sometimes Apple, sometimes a startup elsewhere in the valley. Los Gatos’ central location relative to multiple major employment centers makes it a strong compromise choice in these situations, since it keeps both commutes reasonable rather than optimizing heavily for just one.
Why Local Representation Helps Relocating Employees
ServiceNow and Applied Materials employees relocating from out of state are, like most relocating buyers, unfamiliar faces to Los Gatos’ listing agent community. Having represented buyers and sellers across this town for 25 years, I bring an existing level of trust to every offer I submit on a client’s behalf, which matters enormously in a market where listing agents are evaluating not just price, but who they believe will actually close smoothly.
Planning Your Search Before You Arrive
Because both companies frequently relocate employees on tight timelines, I recommend starting the process with a detailed virtual walkthrough of neighborhoods and pricing before booking a house-hunting trip. This lets us narrow down two or three realistic target areas in advance, based on commute priorities and school boundaries, so that time spent touring in person is focused and productive rather than spent getting oriented to the town for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long is the commute from Los Gatos to ServiceNow or Applied Materials in Santa Clara?
A: Approximately 18–22 minutes for both, depending on neighborhood and traffic.
Q: Why do these employees choose Los Gatos instead of living in Santa Clara directly?
A: Primarily for schools and lifestyle — Los Gatos High School is a top performer in Santa Clara County, and the town offers a walkable downtown Santa Clara’s newer developments don’t replicate.
Q: Is Los Gatos a good compromise for dual-career households working at different companies?
A: Yes — its central location relative to Netflix, Apple, Google, NVIDIA, ServiceNow, and Applied Materials makes it a practical choice when optimizing for two different commutes.
If you’re thinking about a move to Los Gatos or Monte Sereno — or you’re already here and want a straight answer about what your home is worth — call or text me at (408) 859-5881 or email annette95030@gmail.com. I’ve sold real estate exclusively in this ZIP code for 25 years, and I still walk these streets every week. I’d love to help.
— Annette Seaborn, REALTOR®, Coldwell Banker, DRE #01348743
