Mountain View Apartments and Rentals

Located near the northern edge of Silicon Valley in Santa Clara County, Mountain View is a modern urban city that received its name for breathtaking views of the surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains. When Mountain View incorporated in 1902, it had only 600 residents. Today, Mountain View apartments for rent are in high demand thanks, in part, to the 2006 purchase by Google, Inc. of its Mountain View headquarters. Although Mountain View is known for being at the center of technological development, it also is an ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts, and is home to a city-wide bicycle program designed to encourage residents to live healthy, environmentally conscious lifestyles.

As part of an agreement with Google, Inc., Mountain View is home to one of the first free wireless networks in the country. Another benefit of having Google, Inc. within the city is that Google pays an annual fee for use of street light poles that hold wireless transmitters, and also has equipped the city's mobile library services vehicle with mobile wireless equipment.

The start-up culture that is characteristic of Silicon Valley is thriving in Mountain View, and residents who are interested in starting their own businesses can take advantage of free business counseling offered by the Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center. Owners of small and mid-sized businesses can participate in the training program offered by the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce aimed at preparing them to achieve Bay Area Green Business Certification. Classes focus on topics such as pollution prevention, energy conservation and water conservation.

Mountain View is home to approximately 74,066 residents, but the daytime population exceeds 100,000 people, thanks to the thriving local economy and young professionals living in the surrounding areas.

Some of the biggest names in technology have headquarters located in Mountain View; among them are Google, Inc., Mozilla, Microsoft and LinkedIn. However, Mountain View corporate success stories are not limited to the technology sector, and major life science companies like Alexza Pharmaceuticals and Caliper Life Sciences are significant employers in the Mountain View community.

Public high schools in Mountain View are governed by the Mountain View-Los Alto School District High School District, and three high schools serve students living in Mountain View and Los Alto. The German International School of Silicon Valley also has a Mountain View campus. The bilingual institution enables students to prepare for entry into the best European and American colleges by complying with German accreditation requirements along with the requirements set forth by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

City-data.com reports that the median gross rent in Mountain View was $1,472 in 2009. The neighboring community of Sunnyvale offers similarly priced rental options, while Palo Alto, directly to the north of Mountain View, is significantly more expensive with rent prices of approximately $200 more per month.

The cost of rentals in Mountain View is offset by Energy Upgrade Mountain View, a city-sponsored program that provides free home energy assessments for homeowners and renters alike. The program is designed to help residents save money on their utility bills by reducing energy use, and also will help the city meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Mountain View averages 106 days of clear sky per year, and moderate daytime temperatures make it the perfect place to take advantage of California sunshine and outdoor recreation. Shoreline Park is a favorite Mountain View destination, and is home to a wildlife sanctuary, an 18-hole championship-level golf course, and an amphitheatre that holds up to 25,000 people for special events. The Center for the Performing Arts is another popular location, and is joined by the 70,000 square foot Mountain View Public Library in the downtown district.

Year round events like the Farmer's Market and the Arts and Wine Festival contribute to a lively Mountain View arts scene, and the pedestrian friendly downtown district is lined with an eclectic mix of bookstores, cafes and specialty shops.

To find a Mountain View apartment or rental, check out our apartment listings. Rent.com® is happy to help you find your next home.