Daly City is right in the middle – at least when it comes to California waters. With the massive Pacific Ocean lying to the west and San Francisco Bay to the east, Daly City truly is the “Gateway to the Peninsula.” Its 2 square miles and population of just under 110,000 residents make this a thriving hub of Bay Area living. Located near San Bruno Mountain, it also boasts a consistently cool climate with few weather extremities. Top employers include Seton Medical Center, Jefferson School District and the City of Daly City government. Daly City is also a place of care and empathy. In fact, in 2024, it was the first in the nation to declare loneliness a public health crisis and its city council is committed to building a stronger, more connected community. These modern elements and progressive measures make Daly City an example of prosperous urban living with the future in mind.
Mussel Rock Park is a famous location for paragliders on clear windy days in Westlake.
Daly City is known as the Gateway to the Peninsula.
San Bruno Mountain State Park runs along the east border of the Hillside neighborhood.
Seton Medical Center sits above St. Francis offering premium medical care.
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Daly City's different neighborhoods and housing styles
The city’s most desirable areas include Saint Francis , Westlake , Crocker and Serramonte . The historic Broadmoor neighborhood acts independently, down to having its own police department, but is centered in the heart of Daly City. These neighborhoods feature brightly colored condos, angular midcentury moderns and ranch-style homes with built-in garages arranged in compact rows. Because the city is 246 feet above sea level, many homes have views of the Pacific Ocean or the San Francisco Bay. The median listing price for a home in Daly City is $1,039,000, and the average home sale price experienced a 3% year-to-year increase as of October 2024. "It was one of the last cities on the peninsula where houses measure 1,000 dollars per square foot," adds Maryann Cruz, a Corcoran Icon Properties Realtor who has sold homes in the city.
Broadmoor sits at the center of Daly City.
Rows of attached mid-century homes are indicative of Serramonte.
Many Westlake homes are mid-century modern examples.
Some streets in Westlake look towards the Pacific Ocean.
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Mountain, beach and lakeside fun
Whether it’s taking on the hiking trails at San Bruno Mountain State & County Park or traveling down the rocky shoreline at Mussel Rock Park, Daly City has tons of spots to enjoy the fresh air. Palisades Park and Thornton Beach State Park have stunning views, with the latter doubling as a great spot to see hang-gliders coast over the San Francisco Bay. Lake Merced is also just a short drive away with its fishing and other lakeside recreation. The Bayshore Community Center is a 26,000 square foot building with recreation rooms, a Boys and Girls Club and the Bayshore branch of the Daly City Public Library.
The Summit Trail leads to the peaks of San Bruno Mountain Park near Broadmoor.
Mussel Rock Park in the Westlake neighborhood draws locals to its beautiful views.
Play ping-pong at the Bayshore Community Center.
Thornton State Beach is a popular spot for parasailing enthusiasts.
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Four school districts and six higher ed schools
Daly City is served by multiple school districts including: Jefferson Elementary School District, rated B by Niche; Jefferson Union High School District, rated B-plus; Bayshore Elementary School District, rated C; and South San Francisco Unified School District, rated A. There are also six colleges and universities within a 10-mile radius, including San Francisco State University.
San Francisco State University has a large campus serving Daly City.
South San Francisco High School serves area neighborhoods.
Bayshore Elementary School shares a building with the school district.
Jefferson High has a large sprawling campus.
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Broncos and Victorian Christmases
Many of Daly City’s events can be attributed to the historic Cow Palace Arena and Event Center, which has hosted some exciting events. Elvis Presley performed here in 1976. The Grand National Rodeo puts on a Wild West extravaganza with broncos, livestock and more. There is also the annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair. For five weekends in late November to December, the fair transports visitors to Christmas Eve in Dickensian London. Holiday parlor games, puppet shows, gourmet international food and unique marketplace treasures from English shops are only a few of the fun activities to be expected.
Cow Palace is a Daly City landmark.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair draws lovers of Victorian London to the Cow Palace..
Enjoy a Victorian tea at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
The annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair is packed on every weekend.
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The many ways to get around Daly City
Highways 101 and 82 offer significant connections to major California cities and beyond. Interstate 280 winds through the heart of Daly City and links San Francisco with both San Mateo and Santa Clara County. The SamTrans bus system and Daly City BART station offer public transit, and San Francisco International Airport is 9 miles away. Downtown San Francisco is 8 miles immediately to the north.
Shopping and dining in Daly City
Hillside 's long district of local joints and businesses creates busy foot traffic on the regular. Grocery shoppers can head to 99 Ranch Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Kukje Supermarket, Safeway or Trader Joe’s. Serramonte Center is a top shopping destination in Daly City for its recognizable brands and local specialty shops. In addition to its stores, it is also the site of the Daly City Farmers’ Market. Every Thursday, the market illustrates the diversity in the community and became so popular it launched an additional market on Saturdays.
Westlake shoppers can enjoy the weekly Daly City Farmer's Market.
Popular national brands can be found at the Serramonte Center.
Small cafes and diners sit along Mission Street in Crocker.
Daly City is famous for its Asian grocery markets.
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Daly City's climate trends and crime reports
Daly City enjoys mild and humid summers and cold, wet winters. “We usually call it Fogtown because it’s usually foggy most of the year, especially in the summertime. It is much cooler and a bit more moist than other areas up and down the peninsula. It's like there's a big cloud over Daly City. You could go not even 10 miles, maybe just 5 or 6 in either direction away from the city and be in the sun again," says MaryAnn Cruz, a Realtor for Corcoran Icon Properties who has sold homes all over the Bay Area. It's also important to note that First Street reports Daly City is at severe risk for poor air quality and moderate risk for both flooding and wildfire.
Crime rates have slightly shifted between 2022 and 2023. The Daly City Police Department reported violent crimes at an average rate of 77 per 100,000 people, while property crimes were at an average of 177. In the same period, California’s larger rates of 197 property crimes and 105 violent crimes are significantly higher.
On average, homes in Daly City, CA sell after 29 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Daly City, CA over the last 12 months is $1,188,000, up 8% 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.
