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Highlands

Highlands

Neighborhood in Millbrae, California

San Mateo County 94030

$2,339,198 Average Value
$1,155 Average Price per Sq Ft
1 Home For Sale

Established foothill neighborhood between San Bruno and Burlingame

Fifteen miles south of San Francisco, suburban Millbrae is home to the sought-after Highlands neighborhood. Platted initially as Millbrae- or Glenview Highlands, today, it’s generally called just Highlands, thanks to its position in the Santa Cruz Mountain foothills. That location’s scenic views are just one appealing aspect of the established tree-filled community. Highlands is less than 1 mile from downtown, has trails and green spaces and is known for its respected schools. The original 1920s housing development here was advertised as ‘Your place in the sunshine” to highlight its distance from foggy San Francisco. Highlands is as much a place in the sun as ever, with the desirable neighborhood providing everything residents need within a 5-mile journey. “The Highlands neighborhood is centrally located in Millbrae. It’s easy to walk downtown and has direct access to the 101 and the 280. It’s the end of the BART line and San Francisco International Airport is nearby,” says Eric Chu, a real estate agent with Christie’s International Real Estate with nearly a decade of experience.

Restaurants on El Camino Real and San Bruno shopping centers

Adjacent to Highlands, Burlingame Plaza has an assortment of eateries, like Andersen Bakery and Little Lucca, alongside Lunardi's Market. The Gateway at Millbrae Station is a mixed-use community with a line of restaurants along El Camino Real. Fiddlers Green is an Irish pub serving seafood and Guinness, while Ben Tre makes Vietnamese comfort dishes. Sugandh Indian Restaurant & Bar creates modern cuisine from the subcontinent's traditional meals. Four miles north, the Bayhill Shopping Center contains a hardware store, beauty supplies and a pharmacy. There are also various restaurants serving fast and casual foods. Sun’s Market carries specialty ingredients like potato starch sheets, black slab sugar and shredded squid, while Trader Joe’s sits at the neighborhood’s edge.

Casual eateries along El Camino Real draw crowds from the Highlands area..
Casual eateries along El Camino Real draw crowds from the Highlands area..
Highlands shoppers have numerous retail options nearby.
Highlands shoppers have numerous retail options nearby.
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Skateboarding, the Spur Trail and community events

The neighborhood has several green spaces and is adjacent to Millbrae’s Central Park. Millbrae’s Skate Park opened in 2002 and contains a large skating area with dips, ramps and barriers. Josephine Waugh-Soroptimist Park is named for a community member who lobbied for the area to remain open to the public as a park. Now part of the Spur Trail, the green space offers easy access to the pathway and picnic areas. Immediately north of the neighborhood, Central Park covers 8 acres and hosts community events like concerts and movies in the summer. It features an updated playground, tennis courts, a multipurpose athletic field and a recreation center that offers activities and classes for all ages. Lining the neighborhood’s western border, San Andreas Lake is a public water source, meaning it’s closed to swimming. However, trails around the reservoir provide scenic views of the surrounding foothills.

Millbrae Skate Park has tons of terrain for Highlands skaters.
Millbrae Skate Park has tons of terrain for Highlands skaters.
Highlands kids love the playground at nearby Central Park.
Highlands kids love the playground at nearby Central Park.
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Dual enrollment and career preparation at Mills High School

Students can attend Spring Valley Elementary School and Taylor Middle School, both of which earned an A-minus from Niche. A-plus-rated Mills High School is known for its career and college preparation courses and student-produced media. Concurrent enrollment classes are taught by San Mateo County Community College District professors, and the Career and Technical Education program has 14 pathways, including culinary arts, biotechnology, architectural design and engineering technology. Students prepare for radio, TV and film careers by producing and starring in KVIK school broadcasts. At the same time, those pursuing journalism can write or edit for The Thunderbolt, a student-led publication since 1958.

Spring Valley Elementary has plenty of parking for Highlands parents.
Spring Valley Elementary has plenty of parking for Highlands parents.
Taylor Middle School serves Highlands families.
Taylor Middle School serves Highlands families.
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Meticulously maintained WWI and II-era homes on the San Francisco Peninsula

The Highlands' first houses were built in 1927, and construction continued through 1955. While some contemporary designs exist today, the neighborhood is overwhelmingly known for its early 20th-century cottages, Tudors and Spanish-style homes. Over 75% of Highlands consists of single-family houses, while townhouses and apartments make up the rest. Townhouses come up for sale so rarely, there’s no recent price information for one . Houses aren’t put on the market much either, with only 25 properties selling here in 2024. Many of these high-value residences have finished basements and three or more bedrooms. Homes built in the foothills can sell for higher prices due to their unobstructed bay views. “It’s split between the Upper and Lower Highlands. The lower area has earlier homes on flat lots. They’re more unique with period-specific details. The upper area in the hills has more 1950s housing, so there are more ranch-styles,” says Chu. Homes sell for a median price of $2.5 million after around 18 days, 17% higher than prices in late 2023. Cottages range from $1.7 million to $2.6 million, while Tudor styles sell for around $2 million overall. Spanish-style homes range from $1.9 million to $2.8 million.

Spanish style homes are a common sight in Highlands.
Spanish style homes are a common sight in Highlands.
Highlands homes tend towards traditional style.
Highlands homes tend towards traditional style.
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Winding streets, major roadways and the San Francisco International Airport

Interstate 280 forms the neighborhood’s western border and, together with U.S. Route 101 and State Route 82, make up the community’s most significant highways. People in Highlands tend to be car-dependent due to the winding, sloping roadways in the foothills and the availability of freeways. There are sidewalks in many subdivisions, but in the hills, the inclines could influence how much walking or biking someone does. In fact, the neighborhood has minimal bike lanes in general. On the other hand, public transit, such as bus routes and a train station, are easily found on El Camino Real. Millbrae Intermodal Center station’s line connects to the Caltrain, BART and SamTrans rail systems. San Francisco International Airport is adjacent to the neighborhood, and the Oakland and San Jose International Airports are accessible through the rail line. It can be noisy along more significant roadways and near the airport due to heavy traffic. Mills-Peninsula Medical Center is conveniently less than a mile southeast.

Days of varying air quality and the San Andreas Fault

The city experiences around 11 days of severe air pollution annually. This can cause breathing problems even in healthy people, so those exposed are advised to wear masks outdoors during these periods. The area is also near the San Andreas Fault, a seismically active area that produces frequent tremors of varying strength.

K.T. Phillips
Written By
K.T. Phillips
Anthony Lindsey
Photography Contributed By
Anthony Lindsey
Jordan Sain
Video By
Jordan Sain

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Robert Stuart, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

San Francisco International

8 min drive

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Highlands US
Homicide 1 4
Sexual Assault 2 4
Assault with Weapon 2 4
Robbery 3 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$2,360,000
Median Single Family Price
$2,370,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$1,155
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Last 12 months Home Sales
59
Months of Supply
0.20
Median List Price
$1,998,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
-11%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-3%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,477
Median Year Built
1946
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,992
On par with the national average
1,936
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
3,115
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,138
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Robert Stuart, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
4,862
Median Age
48
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
19.2%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.5%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$152,186
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$172,942

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
94.2%
College Graduates
58.8%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
20.9%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.9%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
20''
Average Winter Low Temperature
44°F
Average Summer High Temperature
73°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

17 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

45 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Highlands
Robert Stuart
Professional Real Estate Brokerage
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