Finding affordable senior housing in the Bay Area can feel daunting, especially in a region where housing costs are some of the highest in the country. But for older adults living on fixed incomes, there are income-restricted, subsidized, and nonprofit-operated communities in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, and more. These residences provide not only affordability, but safety, accessibility, and, most importantly, a sense of community.
As a REALTOR® helping seniors and their families navigate housing transitions in Silicon Valley, I’ve toured many of these communities and talked to residents about what life is really like there. Below I’ve organized some of the best affordable senior housing communities in Santa Clara County by area, with the operator, unit count, age requirement, and what makes each one worth a look. Every address and link has been checked against the operator’s own website (last updated September 2026).
San Jose
1. Cambrian Center
Address: 2360 Samaritan Pl, San Jose, CA 95124
Operator: Eden Housing
Website: edenhousing.org
Units: 153
Age requirement: Seniors and adults with disabilities
Best for: Seniors who want to stay on the Cambrian and Los Gatos side of San Jose, close to their doctors.
What stands out: It sits right next to Good Samaritan Hospital and its medical offices, it has been renovated with accessibility and seismic upgrades, and utilities are included in the rent, which makes budgeting on a fixed income a lot easier.
2. Cypress Gardens
Address: 3555 Judro Way, San Jose, CA 95117
Operator: The John Stewart Company for the Santa Clara County Housing Authority
Website: jscosccha.com
Units: 125 (111 one-bedroom, 14 two-bedroom)
Age requirement: 55+
Best for: West San Jose seniors, including couples or anyone who needs a second bedroom for a caregiver.
What stands out: It is one of the Housing Authority’s longest-running senior communities, with residents from all over the world, and it has more two-bedroom units than most senior properties.
3. Girasol
Address: 1710 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose, CA 95116
Operator: HumanGood (owned by Santa Clara County)
Website: humangood.org
Units: 59 one-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: 62+
Best for: East San Jose seniors with very low incomes.
What stands out: It is a HUD-subsidized community, so rent is tied to income, and it sits right on the Alum Rock Avenue corridor with good bus service.
4. Lenzen Gardens
Address: 893 Lenzen Ave, San Jose, CA 95126
Operator: The John Stewart Company for the Santa Clara County Housing Authority
Website: jscosccha.com
Units: 94 (89 one-bedroom, 5 two-bedroom)
Age requirement: 55+
Best for: Seniors who want a central location near The Alameda and Diridon Station.
What stands out: The lower age minimum of 55 opens it up to people who aren’t quite 62 yet, and the location puts transit, shopping, and downtown within easy reach.
5. Monte Vista Gardens Senior Housing
Address: 2605 La Hacienda Ct, San Jose, CA 95127
Operator: Inquiries go through the Santa Clara County Housing Authority
Website: Affordable Housing Online listing
Units: 69 (68 one-bedroom, 1 two-bedroom)
Age requirement: Seniors
Best for: East foothills seniors who prefer a smaller community.
What stands out: It is part of the larger Monte Vista Gardens campus in the Alum Rock foothills, but the senior building itself is small enough that neighbors get to know each other.
6. Morrone Gardens
Address: 1107 Luchessi Dr, San Jose, CA 95118
Operator: The John Stewart Company for the Santa Clara County Housing Authority
Website: jscosccha.com
Units: 102 one-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: 62+ (household income at or below 50% of area median)
Best for: Almaden and Blossom Valley area seniors who want a residential setting.
What stands out: It is tucked into an established neighborhood rather than a busy corridor, and every unit is a one-bedroom, so the whole building is set up for singles and couples.
7. Villa Hermosa
Address: 1640 Hermocilla Way, San Jose, CA 95116
Operator: The John Stewart Company for the Santa Clara County Housing Authority
Website: jscosccha.com
Units: 99 one-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: 55+
Best for: East San Jose seniors who need a predictable rent.
What stands out: Rents are set by income tier. As of fall 2026, a one-bedroom at the 40% AMI level was listed at $1,329 a month, which is a fraction of market rent in that zip code.
Santa Clara
8. John Burns Gardens
Address: 850 Agnew Rd, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Operator: The John Stewart Company for the Santa Clara County Housing Authority
Website: jscosccha.com
Units: 100 (95 one-bedroom, 5 two-bedroom)
Age requirement: 62+
Best for: North Santa Clara seniors who want shopping and services close by.
What stands out: It is part of the Rivermark master-planned community on the former Agnews site, and it is named for the Housing Authority’s longtime executive director, who led the agency for more than 30 years.
9. Belovida Santa Clara
Address: 1820 Main St, Santa Clara, CA 95050
Operator: Charities Housing
Website: charitieshousing.org
Units: 27 apartments
Age requirement: 62+
Best for: Seniors who want a small, walkable community near downtown Santa Clara.
What stands out: It’s a mission-style building with an interior garden courtyard, a 1,200 square foot community room with a full kitchen, a computer room, free Wi-Fi, an elevator, and gated parking. Most units have a private balcony or patio.
Sunnyvale
10. Fair Oaks Plaza
Address: 690 S Fair Oaks Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Operator: MidPen Housing
Website: midpen-housing.org
Units: 124 (one- and two-bedroom)
Age requirement: Seniors
Best for: Sunnyvale residents on fixed incomes who plan to stay put for the long haul.
What stands out: The apartments were designed to be fully adaptable, so they can be modified as mobility needs change, and the location is right in the heart of Sunnyvale.
11. Life’s Garden
Address: 450 Old San Francisco Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Operator: HumanGood
Website: humangood.org
Units: 208 studio and one-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: 55+
Best for: Seniors who want an active, social community with some safety features built in.
What stands out: It has a 24-hour emergency nurse call system, a dining room and lounge, a big central garden courtyard, and a steady calendar of fitness classes, art programs, and outings. It is also pet friendly. As of this update, it is taking applications for its tax credit and market-rate units through September 30, 2026, though the Section 8 waitlist is closed.
Cupertino
12. The Veranda
Address: 19160 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014
Operator: Charities Housing
Website: charitieshousing.org
Units: 19 studios (about 350 sq ft)
Age requirement: 62+
Best for: Cupertino seniors with very low incomes who want to stay in town.
What stands out: It is right across from Main Street Cupertino, with private balconies or patios, an elevator, and a citrus garden. Units are covered by project-based vouchers, which is rare in Cupertino.
13. Westport Senior Apartments
Address: 21267 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014
Operator: Professionally managed; see website for leasing contact
Website: pwapt.com
Units: Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: Seniors
Best for: Seniors who want newer construction in Cupertino.
What stands out: It is part of the newer Westport development on Stevens Creek, with energy-efficient appliances, private patios or balconies, a community room with a kitchenette, and controlled-access entry.
Mountain View
14. Ginzton Terrace
Address: 375 Oaktree Dr, Mountain View, CA 94040
Operator: MidPen Housing
Website: midpen-housing.org
Units: 107 (studio, one- and two-bedroom)
Age requirement: 62+
Best for: Mountain View seniors who value community spaces and activities.
What stands out: The community room has a full kitchen and a grand piano, and there is a library with computers, a fitness area, and a community garden. Klein Park and nearby shopping are an easy walk.
15. Eagle Park Apartments
Address: 1701 W El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040
Operator: Alta Housing
Website: altahousing.org
Units: 67 studio and one-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: Serves seniors along with other individuals and households
Best for: Seniors and veterans with a Section 8 voucher or VASH certificate, especially those who live or work in Mountain View.
What stands out: It accepts Section 8 and VASH, gives preference to Mountain View residents and workers, and is close to transit, shopping, the senior center, and the library.
Palo Alto
16. Stevenson House
Address: 455 E Charleston Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Operator: Independent nonprofit with a volunteer board
Website: stevensonhouse.org
Units: 120 studio and one-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: 62+
Best for: Seniors with ties to Palo Alto who want green space and on-site activities.
What stands out: It sits on nearly three landscaped acres near Mitchell Park, with a pool, an exercise room, and computer access, and it offers weekday lunches through a partnership with La Comida.
17. Sheridan Apartments
Address: 360 Sheridan Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Operator: Alta Housing
Website: altahousing.org
Units: 57 one-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: 62+ or disabled (per HUD definition)
Best for: Seniors who want to live near California Avenue without a car.
What stands out: It is a short walk to California Avenue shops and restaurants, close to Caltrain and El Camino transit, and has a resident services coordinator who plans monthly activities. It is HUD Section 8 subsidized.
South County
18. Bella Terra
Address: 235 E Dunne Ave, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Operator: EAH Housing
Website: eahhousing.org
Units: 40 one-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: 55+
Best for: Active older adults in Morgan Hill.
What stands out: Rents are posted clearly by income tier. At this update, one-bedrooms were $1,320 at 40% AMI and $1,697 at 50% AMI. The waitlist is currently closed, so it is worth checking back.
19. Morgan Hill Senior Housing
Address: 16685 Church St, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Operator: HumanGood
Website: humangood.org
Units: 81 one-bedroom apartments
Age requirement: 62+ (or 55+ at 70% AMI)
Best for: South County seniors who want brand-new construction.
What stands out: It opened in 2024, so everything is new, including a fitness center, a community room with a kitchen, and a landscaped courtyard. It is pet friendly with some restrictions.
20. Sunset Gardens
Address: 7750 Wren Ave, Gilroy, CA 95020
Operator: The John Stewart Company for the Santa Clara County Housing Authority
Website: jscosccha.com
Units: 75 (70 one-bedroom, 5 two-bedroom)
Age requirement: 55+
Best for: Gilroy-area seniors who want a quieter, small-town setting.
What stands out: It is one of the few income-restricted senior communities in Gilroy, and the 55+ minimum makes it an option for people a few years ahead of retirement.
Before You Apply
Most of these communities run on waitlists that open and close throughout the year, and several are closed right now, so check each property’s page before you call. Age minimums also vary. Some start at 55 and others at 62, and most set income limits as a percentage of area median income (AMI). Two places are worth bookmarking. The Doorway Housing Portal lists affordable openings across the Bay Area, and the City of San José Housing Portal covers San Jose properties. The Santa Clara County Housing Authority also keeps a list of properties that accept vouchers.
Conclusion
Affordable senior housing in the South Bay is more attainable than you might think. It takes persistence, preparation, and knowing where to look. If you’re ready to explore your options or need help navigating the application process, I’m here to help.
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Gracious Homes at The Villages in San Jose
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