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Monte Sereno vs Ross

59 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (12× in Ross) and jobs per worker (4.3× in Ross).

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Monte Sereno, CAKnown for its schoolsCalifornia · 3,461 people
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Ross, CAHomes around $4.16MCalifornia · 2,606 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $12,220 more a month in Ross

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Monte Sereno$11,320/mo
Typical home $2M (Census) · tax rate 0.50%+ · Housing →
Ross$23,540/mo
Typical home $4.16M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.50%+ · or rent about $3,501/mo · Housing →

The difference: $12,220 a month, about $146,700 a year, between Ross and Monte Sereno.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value; “+” means the Census top-codes that town’s bill at $10,000, so its real rate is higher.

Report cards

Monte Sereno places higher on 13 of 18 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
Monte SerenoRoss
Snow a year0″0″
January low40°F—
July high85°F—
Growing season (days)310d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th98th
Outdoors & history
Monte SerenoRoss
Trails—2 mi
Conserved land—6.1%
Settled—1857
National Register places11
Archive photos63
Community
Monte SerenoRoss
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

59 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Monte Sereno ↔ Ross59 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Monte SerenoRoss
People
Population 3,461Highest 2,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.1%Highest CA: +6.1% -3.2%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 54.3±4.3Highest 43% above CA 42.3±3.8Lowest 12% above CA
Kids under 18 19.5%±4.3Lowest CA: 22% 31.5%±5.7Highest CA: 22%
Age 65+ 29.8%±6.7Highest CA: 15.7% 18.8%±3.3Lowest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 84.7%Highest CA: 37.1% 83.2%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.7%±1.8Lowest CA: 7.6% 2.8%±2.4Highest CA: 7.6%
Ross and Monte Sereno are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $250,001 152% above CA $250,001 152% above CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $2,000,001 172% above CA $2,000,001 172% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $3,501 72% above CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $10,000+ at least 95% above CA $10,000+ at least 95% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 30.8%±93.4Lowest CA: 55.3% 33.3%±21.7Highest CA: 55.3%
Ross and Monte Sereno are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 1.2%Lowest CA: 12% 4.8%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 97.4%Highest CA: 55.9% 86.9%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1965Highest 11 yrs older than CA 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 25 minLowest 14% below CA 26 minHighest 9% below CA
Work from home 27.5%±8.1Lowest CA: 17.2% 47.9%±9.7Highest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 3.2%Highest 2.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.8 miLowest 15.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.26Lowest 1.12Highest
Top workplaceoutside town San Jose (23%)San Francisco (35%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in RossFew work in Monte Sereno
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 6.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miLowest 2.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 1.5 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 5Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 75.6Highest 52.2Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #25 of 574 in CA—
School district Los Gatos Union ElementaryRoss Elementary
High school in town None in townNone in town
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Monte Sereno neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Monte Sereno’s Town Square.

Ross neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ross’s Town Square.

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Bordering Monte Sereno

Towns like Monte Sereno

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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