Home Demographics Baby Boomers The Surprising Truth About Grandparents and Gilroy Average Home Price

The Surprising Truth About Grandparents and Gilroy Average Home Price

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Market TrendsTrend Breakdown

The Surprising Truth About Grandparents and Gilroy Average Home Price

Timothy Alston

Timothy Alston | Broker

Aegis Luxury Real Estate · DRE# 01328224

Published

October 10, 2023

Gilroy, California

Garlic capital, South Valley gateway

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The truth about grandparents relocating to be near family is simpler than most people expect: it comes down to time, not square footage. The Gilroy average home price sits around $1.67 million, which sounds steep until you run the equity math from a higher-cost market. For grandparents moving more than 100 miles, Gilroy real estate often pencils out better than anywhere else in Santa Clara County, and the commute access makes it genuinely practical.

You know how it goes. Another birthday passes. Another first step you heard about secondhand. Another school play you watched on a phone screen instead of from the third row. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a question starts forming that you have not quite said out loud yet.

How much longer are you willing to do it this way?

A lot of grandparents across California are sitting with that exact question right now. Many of them are not just thinking about it anymore. But here is the part most people have not stopped to consider yet: what is staying put actually costing you, in ways that do not show up on a bank statement?

Trend #1: Grandparents Are the Fastest-Growing Long-Distance Movers

Have you ever stopped to think about why so many people in the 55-to-74 age range are suddenly willing to pick up and move more than 100 miles? According to the National Association of Realtors, adults in that exact age group are now moving farther than any other demographic in the country. The top reason they give is not weather, cost of living, or retirement communities. It is proximity to loved ones. The average age of a grandparent in the United States is 67, which means this data is almost certainly describing someone you know, or describing you. Does that resonate with where you are right now?

Trend #2: The Pandemic Gap Is Still Driving Relocation Urgency

For nearly two years, grandparents were asked to keep their distance. Schools reopened, kids returned to classrooms, and the grandparents who wanted most to be present were the ones told to stay away. That separation stretched from weeks into months for many families. Reporter Vance Cariaga, writing for Go Bank Rates, found that baby boomers are now relocating farther from their previous homes than in prior generations, specifically to close that gap with their grandchildren. The isolation of that period did not just create longing. It created a clarity that is still moving people today. What would it mean for you if the distance between you and your grandchildren was no longer a factor?

Trend #3: What the Gilroy Average Home Price Actually Means for Out-of-Area Buyers

The Gilroy average home price of approximately $1.67 million reflects a seller’s market with tight inventory, averaging just 10 days on market. That number may look large in isolation, but grandparents selling out of higher-cost metros, whether in Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, or the Bay Area core, often find that their home equity covers a substantial portion of the purchase price in Gilroy, sometimes all of it. The cost per square foot in Gilroy real estate runs around $1,123, which is meaningfully lower than comparable homes in Cupertino, Los Gatos, or Saratoga. Can you see how the numbers might actually work in your favor, depending on where you are moving from?

Trend #4: The Real Cost of Waiting Is Not on Any MLS Listing

What happens if nothing changes? If you stay where you are for the next three to five years, watching those grandkids grow up on a screen instead of in your kitchen, where does that leave you? The truth about grandparents who delay this decision is consistent: the financial math rarely improves, and the time lost never returns. A grandparent who relocates to Gilroy homes for sale and captures today’s equity position is also locking in a stable monthly payment, reducing carrying costs, and right-sizing into a community that fits the next chapter. The cost of waiting is real. It just does not show up in your bank balance.

Trend #5: Why Gilroy Keeps Showing Up for Families Moving West

If your children or grandchildren are in the South Bay corridor, Gilroy sits at the southern edge of Santa Clara County in a position that makes genuine daily presence possible. US-101 puts central San Jose within 30 to 50 minutes. Caltrain service from the Gilroy station offers a car-free commute option for any family members who need it. The Gilroy market has seen consistent buyer interest from out-of-area purchasers, including those relocating from other parts of California or from other states entirely. For grandparents making a long-distance move, the combination of relative affordability, community feel, and freeway access makes Gilroy one of the most logical landing points in the entire South Bay region. Homes in Gilroy on half-acre to multi-acre parcels, particularly along the city’s eastern and southern edges, also offer the kind of space that makes extended family visits genuinely comfortable.

Based on what families are telling us, the decision to move closer to grandchildren rarely comes down to a spreadsheet. It comes down to one moment of clarity, where the cost of waiting becomes more obvious than the cost of moving. The National Association of Realtors has found this pattern consistently across the 55-to-74 age group: proximity to loved ones outweighs every other relocation factor, and it has only accelerated in the years since the pandemic created that gap so many grandparents are still trying to close.

If you are somewhere near that moment of clarity, the next step is not complicated. It is a straightforward conversation about whether the equity in your current home actually supports the move you have been thinking about. Not a pitch. Not pressure. Just a clear look at where you are and what is possible from here.

Timothy Alston, Broker (DRE# 01328224), Aegis Luxury Real Estate, works with families navigating exactly this kind of transition. If you would like to talk through what a move to Gilroy could realistically look like for your situation, reach out at (408) 207-4593. Would that conversation be worth having?

Schools in Gilroy

Aegis School Excellence Index · 2024-25 performance data

8
Luigi Aprea ElementaryAegis School Excellence Index · Gilroy Unified SD · Grades K-6
6
Ascencion Solorsano MiddleAegis School Excellence Index · Gilroy Unified SD · Grades 7-8
6
Christopher High SchoolAegis School Excellence Index · Gilroy Unified SD · Grades 9-12

Serving districts: Gilroy Unified SD (K-12). School district boundaries can change; please verify current enrollment boundaries and program offerings directly with the school district.

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Trend Tip

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do property taxes work in Gilroy?
Gilroy property taxes follow California Proposition 13, generally around 1.1% to 1.25% of the purchase price plus local assessments. Some newer communities may have additional Mello-Roos or community facilities district fees.
What should I budget for when buying in Gilroy?
Beyond the purchase price, Gilroy buyers should budget for closing costs, potential Mello-Roos fees in newer communities, and home insurance. If commuting north, factoring in transportation costs is also important for overall affordability planning.
What is the commute like from Gilroy to San Jose?
The commute from Gilroy to San Jose runs approximately 30 to 50 minutes via US-101, depending on traffic conditions. Caltrain also offers service from the Gilroy station, providing a car-free commute option to employers along the Peninsula.
Timothy Alston

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Timothy Alston

Timothy Alston

Broker · DRE# 01328224

Aegis Luxury Real Estate

Harvard Business School Online, Certified Master Negotiation

23+ Years Silicon Valley Real Estate Experience

Retired Military Veteran

MLSListings

Copyright © 2026 MLSListings Inc. All rights reserved.

The data relating to real estate for sale on this display comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the MLSListings™ MLS system. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Aegis Luxury Real Estate are marked with the Internet Data Exchange icon and detailed information about them includes the names of the listing brokers and listing agents.

Based on information from the MLSListings MLS as of June 10, 2026. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.

These statistics are generated using information from the MLSListings Inc. multiple listing service, but have not been verified and are not guaranteed. MLSListings Inc. disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of these statistics. This information should not be relied upon for real estate transaction decisions.

Data updated every 15 minutes. Visit www.MLSListings.com for more information.

Information provided is for general informational purposes only. Equal Housing Opportunity. If you are currently working with a real estate agent, this is not intended as a solicitation.

Aegis Luxury Real Estate · Timothy Alston, Broker, DRE# 01328224 · 10080 N. Wolfe Rd Ste SW3-200, Cupertino CA 95014 · (408) 207-4593

Last updated: August 21, 2026 | Data reflects August 2026 MLS statistics