95117

ZIP code 95117 occupies a compact western pocket of San Jose within Santa Clara County — a postal area anchored by the Burbank neighborhood and extending through portions of West San Carlos and the Winchester corridor. The code sits between the Guadalupe River corridor to the east and the city boundary with Santa Clara and Campbell to the west, placing residents within short reach of major retail destinations, regional employers, and the broader West San Jose submarket.

Geographic Position

95117 lies along the western tier of incorporated San Jose, generally bounded by Interstate 280 to the north and the West San Carlos Street corridor running east-west through its core. Winchester Boulevard forms a major north-south arterial along the ZIP's eastern edge, connecting the area to Valley Fair, Santana Row, and commercial districts that draw traffic from across the South Bay.

The Guadalupe River and associated parkland lie within regional proximity to the east, while the flat valley-floor terrain that characterizes much of West San Jose defines the ZIP's residential blocks. The area's position between Interstate 880 and Interstate 280 provides freeway access to Peninsula employment centers, downtown San Jose, and Silicon Valley campuses to the southwest.

Neighborhood Character

Within 95117, the Burbank neighborhood forms the ZIP's civic and residential core — a grid of tree-lined streets with a mix of owner-occupied homes and rental housing. West San Carlos areas introduce slightly denser development patterns, and the Winchester corridor interface brings commercial activity within walking distance of many residential blocks.

Economy & Employment

Residents of 95117 draw income from employment across Silicon Valley, the Peninsula, and central San Jose. Technology campuses in Santa Clara, Cupertino, and Sunnyvale are reachable via Interstate 280 and Interstate 880. Within and adjacent to the ZIP, retail and service employment centers at Westfield Valley Fair, Santana Row, and along Winchester Boulevard provide local jobs in hospitality, retail, and professional services.

The ZIP's central West San Jose location supports commuting patterns toward downtown San Jose, the North San Jose technology corridor, and Peninsula cities along the U.S. Route 101 corridor. Small businesses, medical offices, and neighborhood-serving retail operate along Stevens Creek Boulevard and Bascom Avenue at the ZIP's periphery.

Market & Housing Context

According to U.S. Census Bureau data for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 95117, the area had a population of approximately 26,953 and 11,366 housing units as of the 2020 Census. American Community Survey estimates for the 2019–2023 period indicate that roughly 36 percent of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 64 percent are renter-occupied.

Housing types span single-family ranch homes from the 1950s and 1960s, duplexes and triplexes, and apartment complexes along major corridors. Rental housing constitutes a larger share of the ZIP's tenure mix than in many neighboring West San Jose postal areas, reflecting decades of multifamily development near commercial nodes. Lot sizes tend to be modest by South Bay standards, with density increasing toward Winchester and Stevens Creek Boulevard.

Living in 95117

Public parks within and near the ZIP include Burbank Park, William Street Park, and the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens corridor accessible to the east. Neighborhood-serving commercial districts along Meridian Avenue and Winchester Boulevard provide dining, grocery, and daily services.

Public schools are operated by the San Jose Unified School District and Campbell Union High School District depending on address within the ZIP. Campuses include River Glen School, Buchser Middle School, and Del Mar High School serving portions of the area. School assignments vary by specific address and district boundary lines.

Valley Transportation Authority bus routes serve Winchester Boulevard, Bascom Avenue, and Stevens Creek Boulevard through the ZIP. VTA light rail stations along the Guadalupe corridor are reachable within a short drive or transit connection.

95117 Today

Geography & Environment

95117 occupies flat valley-floor terrain characteristic of West San Jose, with a Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Urban tree canopy along residential streets and city parkland contribute to the area's suburban environmental character.

The Guadalupe River corridor to the east provides a regional greenway connection, while the absence of significant hillside terrain within the ZIP keeps development patterns uniformly low-rise. Landscaping throughout residential blocks reflects both drought-tolerant adaptations and established mature street trees from decades of suburban growth.

Transportation & Connectivity

Interstate 280 runs along the ZIP's northern boundary, providing access to Peninsula cities and downtown San Jose. Interstate 880 lies within a few miles to the east, connecting to the North San Jose technology corridor and Oakland. Winchester Boulevard, Bascom Avenue, and Stevens Creek Boulevard serve as major surface arterials.

Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is reachable via freeway within approximately 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. Caltrain service is available at stations in downtown San Jose and along the Peninsula, accessible by car or VTA transit connections.

Looking Forward

San Jose's general plan and housing element identify West San Jose — including areas within 95117 — for continued infill development, accessory dwelling unit construction, and transportation improvements along Winchester and Stevens Creek corridors. City-approved projects near commercial nodes may add multifamily housing while preserving established single-family blocks in the Burbank neighborhood.

VTA corridor planning and bicycle infrastructure investments proceed through regional transportation agencies. Residents participate in land-use decisions through city council meetings, planning commission hearings, and neighborhood association advocacy.

The ZIP's Character

95117 embodies the layered development history of West San Jose — from orchard-era farmland through postwar ranch tracts to the commercial corridors that now define its eastern edge. A tenure mix weighted toward rental housing, proximity to regional retail destinations, and a established Burbank neighborhood grid distinguish this ZIP within the broader San Jose market.

“"95117 sits where Burbank's mid-century streets meet the Winchester corridor's commercial pulse — a West San Jose ZIP shaped by ranch-era blocks, regional retail gravity, and the valley floor that still carries its orchard-country past."

From the residential grid of Burbank to the commercial energy along Winchester, the ZIP offers a geographically compact slice of West San Jose within a single postal boundary. Buyers, sellers, and investors evaluating 95117 benefit from understanding its housing tenure mix, corridor adjacency, and position within the broader Santa Clara County real estate landscape.