Willow Glen is San Jose’s own little section of Norman Rockwell charm. Named for the Willow trees that abound here, this is essentially a self-contained town within the tenth largest city in the United States. Commercial life here revolves around Lincoln Avenue, a tree-lined main street that looks like it's right out of small town America. Willow Glen is bordered on the north by Downtown San Jose, on the east and south by South San Jose, and on the west by West San Jose.

Downtown Willow Glen is walkable and is a joy to explore. There are over 250 businesses the area, for the most part independently owned. There’s an abundance of restaurants and delectable treats such as pastries, frozen yogurt, and other delights that keep residents and visitors coming back for more. Bookstores, spas, antique stores, dry cleaners, and other businesses have nearly every need covered.      

When it comes to housing, Willow Glen has no shortage – there’s a great mix of subsidized housing, apartments, and single family homes. Homes in the area are an average of 50 years old, compared to an average of 20-30 years old in other parts of San Jose. However, they’ve been well maintained, remodeled, and updated for modern times. Classic exteriors of Victorian and Spanish styles from the 1920s can often be found mixed in with more modern styling, with beautifully remodeled modern interiors.