San Martin, CA: ZIP 95046
Population: 6,005 | Median Income: $130,559 | Median Home Value: $1,092,500
About San Martin
San Martin is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Clara County, sitting in the southern end of the Santa Clara Valley, flanked by the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and the Diablo Range to the east. It occupies roughly 11.5 square miles between the city of Morgan Hill to the north and Gilroy to the south, about 30 miles south of San Jose along U.S. Route 101.
The town takes its name from St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of the Santa Clara Valley. Irish pioneer Martin Murphy Sr. arrived in California in 1844 as part of the first wagon train to successfully cross the Sierra Nevada. He settled south of the Bay, purchasing around 9,000 acres of fertile land. Murphy built a small chapel on the property, naming it San Martin after his patron saint, and the surrounding community took the same name. After the Gold Rush, prospectors who came up short shifted to farming the rich valley soil, and San Martin grew into an agricultural hub.
Today, San Martin remains one of the few unincorporated places in Santa Clara County where ranches, orchards, and wineries still define the landscape. Residents have debated incorporation since at least 2004, but concerns about the community's small tax base and the cost of municipal services have kept it under county governance. That unincorporated status helps preserve the low-density character that draws people here in the first place.
What Makes San Martin Unique
- An active general aviation airport: San Martin Airport (FAA identifier E16), operated by Santa Clara County, sits within the community and supports skydiving operations, flight training, and recreational flying. The Wings of History Air Museum is located on the airport grounds and houses a collection of historic aircraft.
- Agriculture in Silicon Valley's backyard: San Martin is a notable producer of garlic, table mushrooms, and wine grapes, sitting just miles from one of the most expensive tech corridors in the world. The contrast is part of its appeal.
- Mediterranean climate with a coastal influence: Average annual rainfall is about 18.9 inches, summer highs hover around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and coastal fog drifts in from the Pacific around 10 p.m. each summer night, burning off by mid-morning.
- CordeValle Resort: One of California's most exclusive golf resorts occupies the San Martin hills, featuring a Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed championship course and a Rosewood hotel property.
- Named for a saint, built by a pioneer: The combination of Mexican land grant history and overland wagon trail heritage gives San Martin a layered backstory unusual even for a California town of its size.
Living in San Martin
Housing in San Martin skews large and pricey. Median home values sit around $1.09 million, and properties tend to come with acreage rather than postage-stamp lots. Residential land frequently borders working farms, horse properties, and vineyards.
Groceries run roughly 43% above the U.S. average, and utilities come in about 9% higher. That said, household incomes reflect the regional economy: the median household income is approximately $130,559, and 2023 Census Bureau estimates place it closer to $156,000.
Most residents commute north toward Morgan Hill, Gilroy, or San Jose for work. The drive to central San Jose via US-101 takes about 25 minutes on a clear morning. Caltrain stops in San Martin, offering a rail option into the Peninsula and San Francisco for those who prefer to avoid the freeway.
The community covers about 11.5 square miles. At the 2020 Census, the population was 7,008, and more recent estimates suggest a figure closer to 6,000. With homeownership rates above 65%, San Martin has a stable, long-term resident base.
Things to Do
Wings of History Air Museum: Located at San Martin Airport on Monterey Road, this volunteer-run museum displays restored aircraft and aviation artifacts. It is one of the more under-the-radar aviation museums in the Bay Area, well worth an afternoon visit for anyone interested in flight history.
Clos LaChance Winery: One of the most visited spots in the zip code, Clos LaChance sits in the San Martin foothills and produces Bordeaux and Burgundy varietals from estate vineyards. The tasting room and grounds offer views of the valley below.
Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Park: Each fall, Uesugi Farms transforms into a family-oriented seasonal destination with pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and farm activities. The Uesugi family has farmed in this valley for generations.
LJB Farms: A working berry farm offering pick-your-own strawberries during peak season, LJB Farms represents the kind of agricultural experience that has all but disappeared from most Bay Area communities.
San Martin Milk Company: A local dairy producer with roots in the area, it supplies fresh milk products and represents the kind of small-scale food production still active in the community.
Skydiving at San Martin Airport: Several skydiving operations use the airport as a jump base, making it a destination for anyone looking for aerial adventure in the South Bay.
Schools
San Martin is served by a single school within its boundaries:
- San Martin Gwinn Environmental Science Academy (Grades KG-8): A public school with an environmental science focus, the academy serves elementary and middle school students. Its curriculum incorporates outdoor learning and science-based programming suited to the agricultural and natural surroundings of the community.
High school students typically attend schools in the Morgan Hill Unified or Gilroy Unified school districts.
Local Insights
San Martin sits at an interesting crossroads: close enough to Silicon Valley's economy to benefit from high incomes and tech-adjacent commuters, but rural enough that horses, vineyards, and flight paths from the local airport define daily life more than office parks do.
The community's unincorporated status means Santa Clara County handles planning and public services, which has kept large-scale development mostly at bay. Residents who value lot sizes, open space, and agricultural neighbors tend to stay long-term. The area around Monterey Road, which runs parallel to 101 through town, retains a stretch of old roadside character, including remnants of the historic San Martin Winery.
For those interested in buying into the area, inventory is typically limited. Properties turn over slowly, and when they do, demand from South Bay buyers keeps prices elevated relative to more distant rural communities.
Explore the San Martin Community Board
Local businesses in San Martin can claim a spot on the community board for $1/month. Each listing creates a dedicated, Google-indexed webpage for your business with full LocalBusiness schema, the same structured data that helps you show up in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews.
