Quimby

Quimby takes its name from Quimby Road, which runs east across the Evergreen side of San Jose and climbs into the foothills. The neighborhood sits in the 95148 ZIP code, on curving streets and cul-de-sacs with little through traffic, and the golden hills behind it are what most people remember after a first drive through. Elevation is the thing to understand about this area, because a house on a level street near the bottom of the hill and a house partway up it are very different propositions in price and in daily practicality.

Quimby Homes and Lots

Most homes in Quimby are single-family houses built in the 1970s and 1980s, with a median build year around 1980. They run larger than much of east San Jose, averaging a little over 2,200 square feet, on lots that typically measure around 8,000 square feet. Styles range from ranch homes to Spanish Revival, Tudor-inspired and newer traditional designs, plus custom homes as you gain elevation. Many have been updated with open layouts, and a fair number have pools, private gardens or views across the valley.

For an older buyer, I would steer you carefully here. The level streets offer everything you want in a one-level house with an easy approach, while the hillside properties, beautiful as they are, can involve steep driveways, long walks from the car and in some cases stairs from the street to the front door. Those are the details that turn into problems in your eighties, and they are worth weighing at the time of purchase rather than discovering later.

Schools Serving Quimby

Most Quimby addresses fall in the Evergreen School District, with Norwood Creek Elementary on Remington Way and Quimby Oak Middle School on Quimby Road serving much of the neighborhood. High schools are in the East Side Union High School District, and Evergreen Valley High School is close by on Quimby Road. Attendance lines follow the parcel, not the neighborhood name, so I verify assignment for every house before you write an offer.

Parks, Shopping and Daily Life

Groesbeck Hill Park is the neighborhood’s own open space, more than 25 acres with a playground, sports courts and a hilltop walking path with views over the valley. Joseph D. Grant County Park, roughly 9,500 acres of ranch land with trails for hiking and horseback riding, is about 15 minutes away in the hills to the east. Lake Cunningham Park and its 50 acre lake are a short drive west, and the city’s Fourth of July celebration there is a local tradition.

For errands, Evergreen Village Square has a Walmart Neighborhood Market, restaurants, the Evergreen branch library and a farmers market, and there is a Lucky grocery store off Aborn Road. Eastridge Center, the indoor regional mall, is about two miles away. If you are comparing nearby streets, my pages on neighboring Heritage and nearby Norwood cover the alternatives a few minutes away.

Getting Around from Quimby

Quimby Road and Tully Road both lead to Capitol Expressway, which connects to Highway 101 and Interstate 680. Downtown and North San Jose are roughly 20 to 30 minutes away depending on traffic, and San Jose Mineta International Airport is about 20 minutes by car. VTA buses serve Quimby Road and the Eastridge Transit Center. Light rail does not reach this area yet: VTA is building the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector, a 2.4 mile extension along Capitol Expressway from the Alum Rock station to Eastridge, with completion expected in early 2028.

Is Quimby a Good Fit for Downsizers?

Quimby works for downsizers who stay on the level streets and pick a one-story plan, but it is not the obvious choice for someone trying to shed space, since most homes here are larger than average and some lots are big enough to be real work. Condos and townhomes are scarce inside the neighborhood, and this is a car-dependent area for nearly every errand. The closest city center with older adult programming is the Evergreen Community Center on San Felipe Road, which offers Senior Nutrition lunches and the city’s free Older Adults 50+ membership. The nearest full-service hospital is Regional Medical Center of San Jose on North Jackson Avenue.

For many longtime Quimby owners the better question is where to go next, and the equity in a larger Evergreen home gives you options. If you are 55 or older, Proposition 19 may let you move your current property tax base to a smaller home anywhere in California, which often makes the numbers work. Some owners also look at The Villages, the 55+ community in Evergreen, so they can keep the same doctors, stores and friends.

The Quimby Housing Market

According to Redfin’s Quimby market data, homes sold for a median of about $1.89 million over the three months ending September 2026, down roughly 11 percent from a year earlier, with a median of 34 days on market compared with 13 days the year before. That puts Quimby well above San Jose’s citywide median of about $1.3 million for the same period, which reflects the larger homes and lots. Level-street houses and hillside view properties price very differently, so the right comparables matter more than any average. My guide to living in San Jose shows how Quimby fits with the rest of the city.

Frequently Asked Questions About Quimby

If you are looking in Quimby, on a level street or up the hill, I can help you think through what the house will be like to live in ten and twenty years from now, not just today. That question is the center of my practice, which is built around older adults and their families. Book a call with me whenever you like, or call 408-413-3087.