$1,313,030Average Value$616Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Suburban living close to Downtown San Luis Obispo
A few miles southeast of Downtown San Luis Obispo, Islay is a small residential suburb that attracts families looking for highly rated schools, outdoor recreation and neighbors they can get to know. “Everyone here is really friendly, and people are outside all the time walking their dogs,” says area resident Amy Daane, owner and realtor at Avenue Central Coast Realty. “You tend to have a lot of families with kids in the neighborhood too, and kids here go over to each other's houses." Islay is served by the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, which Niche names #1 in San Luis Obispo County, and also offers proximity to downtown conveniences and Edna Valley wineries. "The neighborhood's also very popular for Halloween, when people go all out with decorating," Daane says, "which I think just goes back to the sense of community Islay's known for."
The residents of Islay enjoy the short distance to downtown San Luis Obispo for shopping.
A large sign on Route 227 greets wine enthusiasts from Islay to Edna Valley Vineyard.
1/2
Sports courts and hiking at local parks and Islay Hill
The neighborhood is anchored by 5-acre Islay Park, where kids can enjoy a large playground and residents of all ages can play on courts for tennis, basketball and sand volleyball. “There’s a lot of walking and biking paths through the neighborhood, and they kind of all feed off the park,” Daane says. “They run through a lot of the other nearby neighborhoods, and they even eventually connect to Marigold Shopping Center.” At the base of the park, Islay Hill Open Space Park has an additional network of short family-friendly trails, which can be taken to the top of Islay Hill Peak for panoramic views of Edna Valley and San Luis Obispo from an elevation 520 feet. Just west, 10-acre EA French Park has a playground and sports facilities of its own for basketball, baseball, tennis and pickleball, and commonly hosts birthday parties and other family events at its barbeque area.
Take a morning hike up the Islay Hill through the open space adjacent to neighborhood homes.
Residents enjoy the short walk to Islay Hill Park during their morning routine.
1/2
Modern builds with larger lot sizes
Most single-family homes in Islay are Mediterranean-style with stucco exteriors and concrete-tile roofs, built between the 1980s and early 2000s. “In this neighborhood you’re looking at anywhere from 1.3 to 1.8 million,” Daane says. “Unlike the brand-new construction in nearby areas, the homes in Islay have larger lot sizes. In Islay you’re looking at anywhere from 6,000 to 11,000 square feet, as opposed to 4,000 to 5,000 square feet.” Daane continues, “The bigger homes also have more square footage than a lot of other areas in San Luis Obispo, and a lot of them have an extra, bonus family room. The primary bedrooms tend to be on the main floor, too, which a lot of people like.” Daane also says, "People here take pride in their yards, and a lot of the homes sit up a little bit, so you can get nice views of the sunset, of Islay Hill, and several of the area’s prominent mountains in the background.” More modest condominiums can be found in the northern end of the neighborhood for under $800,000.
The homes that were built up against the Islay Hill are two-story and have small front yards.
Most of the homes in Islay have a Spanish inspired architectural design.
1/2
Learning in the highly rated San Luis Coastal Unified School District
Islay is served by San Luis Coastal Unified School District, which Niche gives an overall A rating and names as the best school district in San Luis Obispo County. Students can start school at Los Ranchos Elementary, which receives an A-minus rating from Niche, and continue to the A-rated Laguna Middle. At San Luis Obispo High, which also receives an A, students can enroll in a variety of career and technical education courses in fields ranging from engineering and architecture to performing arts.
A beautifully carved sign at the front of Los Ranchos Elementary School greets Islay students
A stone sign outside San Luis Obispo High School greets Meadow Park students.
1/2
Shopping and dining options a mile west and in Downtown SLO, with nearby wineries
A mile west, Marigold Shopping Center has a Vons grocery store and a handful of local restaurants; Shalimar serves traditional Indian and Pakistani cuisine cooked in a clay tandoori oven, and Kumi Ko serves artfully prepared sushi and other Japanese dishes. Residents can head a few miles north to Downtown San Luis Obispo for a lot more local eateries and shops, as well as chain retailers like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. Edna Valley wineries are nearby to the south, along Orcutt Road and State Route 227; standouts include Baileyana, known for its chardonnay and pinot noir, and Saucelito Canyon, known for its zinfandel.
Islay resident enjoy the convenient location of their local Vons supermarket.
Anthropologie
1/2
Museums and a farmers market in Downtown SLO
Downtown San Luis Obispo is home to several museums, including the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, which showcases paintings, photography, pottery and other work by regional artists, and the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum, where kids can learn about the world around them through interactive exhibits. Each Thursday, the Downtown SLO Farmers Market hosts local produce and prepared-food vendors, as well as live music.
Proximity to State Route 227
State Route 227, known locally as Broad Street, is a mile west of the neighborhood, as is San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, providing nonstop service to major cities throughout the western U.S. “People do like being close to the airport, because you have a lot of people here that commute,” she says. SLO Transit bus stops line Tank Farm Road just north and Broad Road to the west. Dignity Health’s French Hospital Medical Center is a few miles north near Downtown San Luis Obispo.
Islay residents can get around town easily with several stops for the SLO Transit bus.
Islay residents enjoy the convenient location of the nearby San Luis Obispo County airport.
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
Are you familiar with the Islay neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Islay
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Islay Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Islay, San Luis Obispo sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Islay, San Luis Obispo over the last 12 months is $1,287,500, down 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
UPDATE 11/12/25: MOVE IN READY---NEW INTERIOR PAINT COMPLETED! Islay Pointe Villas is a beautifully landscaped planned unit development neighboring the Islay Foothills and Islay Hill Park where the picturesque mountain views set a serene country backdrop. The common areas at Islay Pointe Villas are beautifully maintained and include a private recreation facility, featuring a swimming pool and
Melina TrujilloSapphire Real Estate Services, Inc.
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.
