Highlands
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Written By
K.T. Phillips
Photography Contributed By
Anthony Lindsey
Video By
Jordan Sain
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Robert Stuart
Robert Stuart
Professional Real Estate Brokerage
(650) 514-5562
6 Total Sales
1 in Highlands
$1,698,888 Price
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Ken Kwok
Ken Kwok
Responds QuicklyMaxReal
(650) 514-5752
80 Total Sales
1 in Highlands
$2,738,792 Price
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Janice Lee
Janice Lee
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Realty
(650) 540-7140
166 Total Sales
1 in Highlands
$2,218,000 Price
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Eileen O'Reilly
Eileen O'Reilly
Responds QuicklyeXp Realty of California Inc
(415) 704-6967
58 Total Sales
1 in Highlands
$3,500,000 Price
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Donna Byrne
Donna Byrne
Responds QuicklyIntero Real Estate Services
(650) 431-3077
39 Total Sales
1 in Highlands
$1,850,000 Price
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Omar Murillo
Omar Murillo
(510) 296-0032
161 Total Sales
1 in Highlands
$2,525,000 Price
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Mosta Grove Millbrae
Rotary Park
Millbrae Spur Trail
Millbrae Skate Park
Josephine Waugh-Soroptimist Park
Transit
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
Highlands Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Highlands, Millbrae sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Highlands, Millbrae over the last 12 months is $585,241, up 50% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$525,000
Median Sale Price
$585,241
Median Single Family Sale Price
$420,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$365,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$370,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
44
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
50%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$251
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,507
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Median Year Built
1946
Months of Supply
0.80
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,995
On par with the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
3,031
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,138
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Millbrae
A small city in the Bay Area with Main Street-style shops and suburban charm
Mills Estates
Midcentury modern homes with sweeping Bay views and highly rated schools
Downtown Millbrae
A walkable neighborhood in the middle of the San Francisco Bay
Green Hills
1970s master planned community with a golf course and green spaces by downtown
Telescope Hills
Suburban living with views of the San Francisco Bay near Downtown Millbrae
Ray Park
High-value homes in an attractive Bay Area location
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