At the turn of the 20th century, Menlo Park was a summer home location for wealthy San Francisco professionals. Many large homes remain from that era with huge oak trees and other lush vegetation. Today, Menlo Park is an upscale community, primarily residential, with an excellent public school system, private prep schools, and the reputable Menlo College. A complete selection of shops and stores is available downtown on Santa Cruz Avenue, along with many fine restaurants. Located at the southern-most end of San Mateo County, with a population of approximately 30,000, most of the homes are valued well above the Peninsula average, yet there are affordable areas in Menlo Park.