$1,337,152Average Value$286Average Price per Sq Ft8Homes For Sale
Proximity to Downtown SLO, hiking trails, and Cal Poly
A few miles northwest of Downtown San Luis Obispo and near Bishop Peak, the Highland area is a popular home base for families and retirees, as well as students and professors at California Polytechnic State University, set 1 mile east. “It truly is a melting pot area and I think that’s what makes the neighborhood truly special,” says area resident Kim Conti DeGroot, principal broker at Kimberly’s Global Real Estate. The neighborhood's melting pot label is also represented in its church offerings, and residents have access to houses of worship belonging to a variety of denominations including Catholic, Baptist, Protestant, Apostolic, Greek Orthodox, Pentecostal and Mormon. “It really does check all the boxes for most homeowners. It’s a great location to hiking trails, downtown and Cal Poly, and shopping and dining is within walking and biking distance for a lot of people in the neighborhood.”
Many of the students of Cal Poly have housing in Highland nearby.
A Highland resident enjoys walking his dogs around the trails of Bishop Peak.
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Modest midcentury homes with larger, newer builds closer to Bishop Peak
Homes in Highland date from the mid-20th century through the 1980s. “It’s an established area that is seeing renovations in a lot of the original homes,” Conti DeGroot says. "It’s not like a planned development where everything looks the same. Everything is custom. If somebody were looking for cookie cutter they would not be looking here.”
Highland's southeast end is primarily lined with small midcentury ranch-style homes and bungalows, many renovated to include accessory dwelling units (ADUs) rented by Cal Poly students. “This part of the neighborhood is more affordable because it's made up of older, smaller homes," says Kerry Sansone, a former neighborhood resident and a real estate agent with Compass, "but you’re still paying a premium because of the neighborhood's desirability and lack of inventory. You typically have 6,000 to 8,000 square foot lots here, and while it’s flatter terrain than in the north, you still have views of Bishop Peak." Conti DeGroot says that in this part Highland, “A lot of the homes are what locals call "railroad homes," which were moved into the neighborhood from the railway station near downtown. A lot of those are currently being renovated and have had ADUs built on them within the past few years. Here you’re starting at probably $750,000 for something that needs some work." A well-renovated home in this part of the neighborhood can go for $1.2 million.
The northern part of the neighborhood is closest to Bishop Peak, higher in elevation and more removed from the student population, with larger custom homes built in the '80s and '90s. Sansone says, “You’re probably not going to get in today for less than $2 million, though you can find some that range to $3 million. It’s not uncommon to have a quarter acre lot. Some longtime residents are aging out, so we’re seeing a lot of younger families move in that can afford that caliber of a home.”
Two large homes in Highland have a great view of Bishop Peak and the neighborhood below.
Highland has several mid 20th century ranch style homes with large yards.
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A community park and access to popular hiking trails at Bishop Peak
In the neighborhood’s northwest, residents can access several hiking trails to the roughly 1,500-foot-tall Bishop Peak, which offers panoramic views of San Luis Obispo. A single trailhead on Patricia Drive leads to two different hikes: one steep and 4 miles round-trip, the other a gentler 2-mile loop. In the neighborhood’s south end, the nearly 3-acre Throop Park offers a playground, baseball field and open green space.
Highland residents can hike the trails leading up to the top of Bishop Peak.
Little League teams from around the region play their annual tournament in Throop Park.
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Learning in the highly rated San Luis Coastal Unified School District
Highland is served by San Luis Coastal Unified School District, which Niche rates an overall A and names the best school district in San Luis Obispo County. A lottery-based admission system means that local kids might start school at the A-minus-rated Bishop’s Peak Elementary or the B-rated, dual-immersion Pacheco Elementary. “Both schools are in high demand, and they’re both within walking distance from a lot of the homes,” Sansone says. For seventh and eighth grade, students can move on to the A-rated Laguna Middle. At San Luis Obispo High, also rated A, students can enroll in a variety of career and technical education courses in fields ranging from information and communication technologies to manufacturing and product development.
Bishop's Peak Elementary School provides updated technology to help students learn.
The campus of San Luis Obispo High School is surrounded by the beautiful hills of SLO.
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Shopping and dining along Foothill Boulevard, with abundant options a few miles away downtown
In Highland's southeast corner, California Fresh Market is the go-to for groceries, and local eateries include Raku Ramen for Japanese favorites and Milestone Tavern for bar bites, craft brews and Sunday brunch. Also here, Scout Coffee serves specialty lattes, and SloDoCo Donuts offers a huge selection of creatively crafted donuts, including vegan and gluten free options. A couple of miles southeast, Downtown San Luis Obispo is home to plenty of locally owned dining and retail options, as well as chain stores like Anthropologie and Pottery Barn.
Highland residents can get everything on their grocery list at California Fresh Market.
Scout Coffee is a popular morning caffeine stop for Highland residents.
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Close to downtown events and museums
Every Thursday evening, year-round, locals can shop for a selection of local produce at the Downtown SLO Farmers Market while enjoying live music and food vendors. Every Friday evening throughout the summer, downtown’s Mission Plaza hosts its "Music in the Plaza" series, featuring live performers in an array of genres. Also downtown are museums like the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, which showcases work from local and regional artists, and the intimate Fremont Theater stages touring musicians and comedy acts.
An easy commute to downtown via bus, car or bike
Highland is bordered to the east by Highway 1, which traces most of the California coast. In recent years, Highland has increased its connectivity to downtown and the Cal Poly campus. “San Luis Obispo is implementing a brand-new bike plan, and Chorro Street is one of these thoroughfares where they’ve taken out a lot of parking to accommodate the cyclists going to and from downtown,” Sansone says. SLO Transit bus stops line Highland Drive and Foothill Boulevard. Adventist Health Sierra Vista is less than 2 miles southeast, and San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is roughly 5 miles southeast.
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
Levi Seligman,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Throop Park
Transit
Airport
San Luis County Regional
17 min drive
Bus
Foothill & Cuesta (W)
Bus
Foothill & Ferrini (W)
Bus
Foothill & University Square (W)
Bus
Patricia & Foothill
Bus
Patricia & Highland
Bus
Highland & Cuesta (W)
Bus
Highland & Jeffrey
Highland Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Highland, San Luis Obispo sell after 115 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Highland, San Luis Obispo over the last 12 months is $434,990, up 55% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to your private sanctuary in the heart of San Luis Obispo, where contemporary elegance meets California’s natural beauty. Perfectly sited to capture panoramic views of Bishop Peak and Cerro San Luis Obispo, this single-level masterpiece offers 4,774 sq ft of refined living, designed for those who expect both luxury and lifestyle. From the moment you enter through the custom solid wood
Lindsey HarnChristie's International Real Estate Sereno
September 1st. Unit is clean and will be ready to move in!!!!! Please fill out application ASAP. If you need to speak and/or text me please do so through this site. Email works too. I am showing unit in August. Thank you for your interest. ****** READ----> Single occupancy only. No extended stay with guests.*******Best Weather SLO. Private. Secure. Clean. New Construction.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Levi Seligman,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
4,269
Median Age
28
Population Density
8 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.3%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$54,086
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$93,893
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
91.5%
College Graduates
62.8%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
28.3%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
59.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
23''
Average Winter Low Temperature
43°F
Average Summer High Temperature
76°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
59/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
22/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
31/ 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.
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.
