Cities in San Mateo County, Ranked: Best Places to Live

Portola Valley neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Scenic Trails, Luxurious Living, Environmental Harmony

Portola Valley is a serene and affluent town nestled against the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Known for its natural beauty and quiet charm, the town prioritizes environmental preservation and offers a peaceful retreat while maintaining proximity to hubs like Palo Alto and Menlo Park. The ... See Full Page

Hillsborough neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Luxurious Estates, Serene Living, Architectural Landmarks

Hillsborough is a prestigious and serene town in San Mateo County, renowned for its luxurious estates, privacy, and lush landscapes. Situated between Burlingame and Interstate 280, this residential enclave is characterized by its rolling hills, mature trees, and sprawling lots that provide a tranqui ... See Full Page

Belmont neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Outdoor Recreation, Family-Friendly, Scenic Hills

Belmont is a charming city on the San Francisco Peninsula, known for its rolling hills, serene residential areas, and excellent access to outdoor recreation. Nestled between San Mateo and San Carlos, Belmont offers a small-town vibe while remaining well-connected to the greater Bay Area via highways ... See Full Page

Atherton neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Exclusive Residential Community, Lush, Private Estates, Serene and Luxurious

Atherton, California, is synonymous with exclusivity and prestige, representing the pinnacle of quiet luxury in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tucked away amidst lush foliage and sprawling estates, Atherton is where privacy and tranquility reign supreme in a setting of understated elegance. This resid ... See Full Page

Burlingame neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Tree-Lined Streets, Upscale Downtown, Historic Homes

Burlingame is a picturesque city on the San Francisco Peninsula, affectionately known as the “City of Trees” for its abundant greenery. Burlingame boasts a serene, suburban feel, complemented by a thriving downtown and convenient access to major Bay Area destinations. The city is defined by its tree ... See Full Page

Woodside neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Redwood forest setting, Equestrian estate properties, Access to Peninsula open space preserves

Woodside sits in the wooded hills between Redwood City and the Pacific coast and feels worlds away from the tech campuses and dense suburbs nearby. The town is known for its rural character, large estates, and heavily forested landscape. Tall redwoods line many of the roads, and properties are often ... See Full Page

Menlo Park neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Silicon Valley Charm, Tree-Lined Neighborhoods, Community-Centric Living

Menlo Park, nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, is much more than its reputation as a tech hub. It's a city that offers a blend of small-town charm with the innovation and dynamism of some of the world's leading tech companies. In Menlo Park, you'll find a housing market as varied as the ... See Full Page

Brisbane neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Small-Town Charm, Natural Beauty and Preservation, Community-Centric and Peaceful

Brisbane, CA, often referred to as "The City of Stars," is a hidden gem nestled at the northern end of the San Bruno Mountain in San Mateo County. This small, close-knit community offers a peaceful respite from the bustling cities of the San Francisco Peninsula while maintaining easy access to the u ... See Full Page

San Carlos neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Laurel Street Downtown, Family-Friendly, Outdoor Recreation

San Carlos, CA, known as the "City of Good Living," is a welcoming and vibrant city in San Mateo County. Nestled between Belmont and Redwood City along the San Francisco Peninsula, San Carlos offers a perfect balance of small-town charm and modern amenities, making it a popular choice for families, ... See Full Page

About Millbrae

Keywords: Transit hub connectivity, Hillside Bay views, Restaurant-lined Broadway corridor

Millbrae sits on the Peninsula just south of the San Francisco Airport and has long been valued for one thing above all: connectivity. It is one of the most transportation-accessible cities in the Bay Area. BART, Caltrain, Highway 101, and Interstate 280 are all within minutes, making it one of the ... See Full Page

About Montara

Keywords: Montara Coast, Highway 1, Half Moon Bay

Montara is an unincorporated coastal community in San Mateo County, one of the Coastside towns strung along Highway 1 between Pacifica to the north and Half Moon Bay to the south. The county, not a city council, handles planning, and the place has kept a rural edge that newer development never fully ... See Full Page

About Moss Beach

Keywords: Highway 1, Moss Beach Distillery, Barbara's Fishtrap

Moss Beach is a small coastal town in northern San Mateo County, a few miles above Half Moon Bay. Highway 1 runs through it between bluffs on the ocean side and ranchland rising inland, and Montara and Pacifica are the next towns up the road. Two Houseberry neighborhoods share the city page. The no ... See Full Page

About El Granada

Keywords: Barbara's Fishtrap, Pillar Point Harbor, Corral de Tierra

El Granada is a coastside community on the northern San Mateo County coast, set between Pillar Point Harbor and the sandy shoreline that runs south into Half Moon Bay. Cabrillo Highway is its spine, with the Pacific on one side and open coastal hills on the other, and San Francisco sits well up the ... See Full Page

Foster City neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Waterfront Living, Family-Friendly, Outdoor Recreation

Foster City, CA, is a master-planned community located on the San Francisco Peninsula. Known for its picturesque lagoons, waterfront living, and family-friendly atmosphere, the city offers a unique blend of suburban comfort and modern amenities. Its central location between San Francisco and Silicon ... See Full Page

San Mateo neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Diverse Community, Urban and Suburban Blend, Recreational Opportunities

San Mateo, CA, with its central Bay Area location, strikes a delightful balance between suburban relaxation and urban convenience. It's a city where the promise of Californian living — complete with a diverse community, thriving downtown, and scenic outdoor spaces — is fully realized. Drive throu ... See Full Page

Redwood City neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Waterfront Living, Vibrant Downtown, Outdoor Recreation

Redwood City, located in the heart of the San Francisco Peninsula, strikes a balance between suburban charm and urban convenience. Known for its historic downtown and scenic waterfront, it attracts a diverse range of residents, from tech professionals to families. The city’s prime location, between ... See Full Page

Pacifica neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Surf-centered coastline, Dramatic bluffside trails, Foggy ocean climate

Pacifica sits along the Pacific Ocean just south of San Francisco, and the coastline defines nearly everything about the city. Instead of feeling like a typical Peninsula suburb, Pacifica has the atmosphere of a small coastal town. The ocean is always present, whether through the sound of waves, the ... See Full Page

San Bruno neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Large hillside city park, Transit-connected Peninsula city, Mid-century residential neighborhoods

San Bruno sits just south of San Francisco along the Peninsula and functions as a practical, well-located residential city with strong transportation access. Its position between Highway 101, Interstate 280, and the airport makes it one of the more connected communities in the region, while the resi ... See Full Page

About Half Moon Bay

Keywords: Coastside Beaches, Main Street, Pillar Point Harbor

Half Moon Bay is a coastal city on the San Mateo coast, where the Coast Range slopes down to a long crescent of sand. Highway 92 drops in from the Peninsula and Highway 1 connects the town to the Midcoast villages to the north and farm country to the south, and the town feels apart from the rest of ... See Full Page

Daly City neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Pacific coastal bluffs, Foggy hillside neighborhoods, Direct access to San Francisco

Daly City sits immediately south of San Francisco and feels closely tied to the city while maintaining its own identity. Much of the landscape is shaped by rolling hills that drop toward the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Bay on the other. The weather reflects that geography. Fog and cool ocean a ... See Full Page

East Palo Alto neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Baylands trail access, Proximity to Silicon Valley, Mix of older homes and new development

East Palo Alto sits along the Bay between Palo Alto and Menlo Park, and its location places it right next to some of the most expensive and influential tech corridors in the world. Despite that proximity, the city has developed its own identity. It is smaller, denser, and more modest than its neighb ... See Full Page

South San Francisco neighborhoods ranked

Keywords: Biotech employment hub, Steep hillside neighborhoods, Sign Hill skyline views

South San Francisco sits just south of San Bruno along the Peninsula and has long been known as an industrial and biotech hub. The large biotech campuses and research facilities on the east side of the city are a defining part of its identity, but much of the residential life happens on the western ... See Full Page