Burlingame is known as the “City of Trees” for its many eucalyptus groves, lush local parks and tree-lined streets. Residents take in the greenery from hilly, midcentury neighborhoods, bayfront parks and café patios along Burlingame Avenue. Home to around 32,000 people, it offers a small-town atmosphere with a stellar school district in the heart of the San Francisco Peninsula — about equal distance from San Francisco and Silicon Valley. “There are a lot of people that move here for the schools, but the small-town feel and strong community keeps people here long after their kids graduate,” says Realtor Beth Taylor of Coldwell Banker Realty, a longtime Burlingame resident.
Burlingame’s towering Blue Gum eucalyptus trees can be traced back to the 19th century, when landowner John McLaren planted hundreds of them as a windbreak for his sprawling Peninsula property. These beautiful trees have become a source of pride for the city — and an occasional headache. Some residents complain that the trees’ gargantuan roots and fallen limbs damage sidewalks, roads and property.
Joggers love the trails at San Andreas Lake near Burlingame Hills.
Aerial view capturing the cohesive charm of row homes in Burlingame Hills.
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Upscale homes at a high price
The city is awash in splendid architecture, with everything from early 20th century Tudor cottages and Craftsman Bungalows to midcentury modern homes built by renowned architects like Joseph Eichler. Neighborhoods closer to the Bay, like Lyon Hoag , Burlingame Terrace and Oak Grove Manor , are laid out on flat, tree-lined streets while the city’s western side have curved roads and steep hills that extend out towards the Santa Cruz Mountain range. In neighborhoods like Mills Estates and Burlingame Hills , many homes have gorgeous views of the surrounding hills and canyons. The median home price is $3 million, which is steep even for the Bay Area. Homes typically sell after 23 days on the market compared to the national average of 45 days.
Aerial view captures the quaint charm of Burlingame Terrace.
Mills Estates is a hilly neighborhood with views to the bay.
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Community parks, Santa Cruz Mountain wilderness
Dozens of parks dot the city, including many small community spaces that are tucked away on residential streets. Sprawling outdoor recreation is also available at Mills Canyon Park, where rugged walking paths lead to scenic overlooks and popular birdwatching spots. To the west are the Santa Cruz Mountains, where hiking and biking trails are covered by coast redwood canopies. Golfers can tee up at Burlingame Country Club, a long-running private club with 18 holes, a clubhouse and croquet, tennis and pickleball courts.
Mills Estates' Mills Canyon Park has a short hiking trail thats perfect for a dog walk.
People living near downtown Burlingame are close to several golf courses.
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Sought after Bay Area schools
Burlingame’s public schools continue to be a draw. The Burlingame Elementary School District, which gets a B-plus rating from Niche, has six elementary schools and a middle school. Older students can attend A-plus-rated Burlingame High, which Niche ranks as the second-best high school in San Mateo County.
Educational opportunities abound at Franklin Elementary School in Burlingame.
Burlingame High School serves students in grades 9-12.
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Silicon Valley has a presence in Burlingame
Burlingame has worn many hats over the years. In the 1920s the city was known as “Auto Row” for its many car dealerships. By the 1960s, aerospace and airline services were opening shop in the city because of its proximity to San Francisco International. But today, tech and biotech companies are most prominent, given its location near Silicon Valley. Companies like Breathometer, Collaborative Drug Discovery, Zecco.com and DataStax all have offices in the city.
Bayfront is home to many tech businesses with modern outdoor campuses for employees to enjoy.
Meta has a beautiful campus in the Bayfront neighborhood.
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An abundance of commuting options
Burlingame’s central location between San Francisco and Silicon Valley have made it a prime spot for commuting. “It’s very convenient to get to San Francisco and South San Francisco,” Taylor says. Residents can catch the Caltrain from the historic Burlingame Station and ride it as far north as Downtown San Francisco and south past San Jose. The Peninsula’s southern-most BART station is also close by in Millbrae. The city’s bus lines are operated by SamTrans, which shuttles people all over San Mateo County. The San Francisco International Airport is less than 5 miles away and offers nonstop flights to places as far-flung as Seoul, Tel Aviv and Guangzhou.
Take a stroll through Downtown Burlingame
Downtown Burlingame is brimming with boutiques, local eateries, cafes, bakeries and grocers. This walkable district has a small-town feel with one- and two-story storefronts, stylish streetlamps, outdoor patios and brick sidewalks. Grocery chains like Safeway, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are within a few miles of the city.
Burlingame Ave. is the social hub of Downtown Burlingame.
Limon in Downtown Burlingame serves up delicious Peruvian food.
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Low crime on the San Francisco Peninsula
Burlingame’s violent and property crime rates are far lower than the statewide and national averages, according to FBI stats. The city’s crime rates, already low, have continued to inch downward over the past decade.
On average, homes in Burlingame, CA sell after 23 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Burlingame, CA over the last 12 months is $2,850,000, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
