Upper Monterey
A mix of rentals and owner-occupied homes
Most of the neighborhood's single-family homes are found on the west side, date between 1940 and 1970, and are either ranch-style with low-slung roofs or Spanish Revival-style with clay-tiled roofs. The south side is peppered with Craftsman bungalows from the 1920s. Two-bedroom versions of all these styles range from $800,000 to $1.2 million, while three- to-four-bedroom versions range from $1.2 million to $1.6 million. Duplexes and other multi-family homes built during the same period are found more on the north side, popular with investors for the proximity to Cal Poly, among other factors; prices for these properties range from $1.1 million to $1.7 million depending on how many units it has. Most homes here are set close together, their well-maintained lawns shaded by tall palm and cypress trees and bordered by short wooden fences or neatly trimmed hedges. Garages aren’t common, so many locals park in small driveways or along the cracked streets.Homes on the north side are often rented out to Cal Poly students, including a few Greek life organizations. “There isn’t enough student housing on campus, so it spills over into neighboring communities,” Clarke says. “It’s advantageous if you own a rental, but not as much if it’s your own personal property.” This can bring extra traffic during Family Weekend in late October or early November when many relatives stay in hotels within Upper Monterey.
Hotel restaurants and casual eateries a mile from downtown
Hotels and inns line Monterey Street. One of these is Motel Inn, the world’s first motel when it opened in 1925 and now a historic landmark beside the freeway. Set in the La Quinta Inn & Suites,1865 Craft House and Kitchen serves sandwiches, salads, and steak, as well as homemade craft cocktails and happy hour specials. More nightlife options include Krobar Craft Distillery and Central Coast Brewing, which both share space in The Hub, a social club with plenty of outdoor seating and food trucks. Just off Monterey Street, Frank's Famous Hot Dogs has been a local staple since 1977, with a diner-style interior and specialties like the Double Dare Dog, a nine-inch wiener wrapped in bacon and deep fried. Within a mile is a Smart & Final Extra grocery store, as well as the locally owned restaurants and shops the line Downtown San Luis Obispo.Annual Memorial Day Celebration at the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum
The Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum is set in the heart of Upper Monterey. Established in 2002, the museum features a collection of artifacts and documentation donated by different Central Coast communities. Every year on Memorial Day, the museum hosts a remembrance ceremony honoring San Luis Obispo veterans, followed by a tri-tip barbeque lunch and exhibit talks by local historians.A-rated schools in San Luis Obispo
Local kids can start school at Bishop’s Peak Elementary, rated A-minus by Niche. The Bishop’s Peak PTA puts on family events like family math nights and school carnivals and helps maintain the school garden, which is used as an outdoor classroom and home for the Garden Lunch Club. The A-rated Laguna Middle offers more than a dozen lunchtime clubs that meet once a week, including a Chess Club and an Edible Ecology Garden Club. At the A-rated San Luis Obispo High, located just east of the neighborhood, students can enroll in fashion, manufacturing and animal science pathways.Parks in neighboring communities and Hiking Trails on High School High
Upper Monterey's only public green space is Ellsford Park, with a small deck overlooking San Luis Obispo Creek. Locals can head just east to hike High School Hill, whose namesake trail takes a direct route at a steep incline, with panoramic views at the peak. Santa Rosa Park is about a mile west, with a large skate park, a roller rink and a playground with several slides.Taking the trolley into the downtown core
Upper Monterey is bordered northwest by U.S. Route 101, which leads 190 miles south to Los Angeles. On Thursdays, the Old San Luis Obispo Trolley stops along Monterey Street, taking passengers into the downtown core. Several SLO Transit bus routes stop here and travel the city, including the Cal Poly campus a mile north. Major local roads are lined with bike lanes. Nearby hospitals include Adventist Health Sierra Vista and Dignity Health French Hospital Medical Center, both about a mile away. The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is about 4 miles south, while the much larger Los Angeles International Airport is about 190 miles south.
Written By
Andi Sink
Photography Contributed By
Elliott McCracken
Video By
Jessica Johnson
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Michelle Cozine
Michelle Cozine
Realty Pros - A Professional Real Estate Company
(805) 617-1475
39 Total Sales
1 in Upper Monterey
$1,300,000 Price
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Farid Shahid
Farid Shahid
Responds QuicklyEighty20 Group
(747) 264-9993
72 Total Sales
1 in Upper Monterey
$1,100,000 Price
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Rob Rose
Rob Rose
Responds QuicklyChristie's International Real Estate Sereno
(805) 779-3754
77 Total Sales
1 in Upper Monterey
$729,850 Price
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Erik Berg-Johansen
Erik Berg-Johansen
Responds QuicklyRichardson Sotheby's International Realty
(805) 321-1851
84 Total Sales
1 in Upper Monterey
$1,550,000 Price
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Lindsey Harn
Lindsey Harn
Christie's International Real Estate Sereno
(805) 706-8803
751 Total Sales
2 in Upper Monterey
$730K - $1.3M Price Range
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Hal Sweasey
Hal Sweasey
Keller Williams Realty Central Coast
(805) 329-3346
566 Total Sales
5 in Upper Monterey
$785K - $1.7M Price Range
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
- 7th to 8th
- Public
- K to 6th
- Public
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Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Upper Monterey | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Upper Monterey Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Upper Monterey, San Luis Obispo sell after 245 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Upper Monterey, San Luis Obispo over the last 12 months is $600,000, up 26% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$625,000
Median Sale Price
$600,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$600,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
4%
Last 12 months Home Sales
32
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
26%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$310
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
130
Number of Homes for Sale
0
Median Year Built
1941
Months of Supply
0.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,555
Below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,805
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,534
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
-
$4,750 per month
- House for Rent
- Studio-3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1,721 Sq Ft
- 1624 Mill St
- Unit 1624 Mill
- San Luis Obispo, CA
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
983
Median Age
28
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
17.3%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
6.4%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$45,603
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$64,083
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
100%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
50.4%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
20.2%
% Population in Labor Force
59.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
23''
Average Winter Low Temperature
43°F
Average Summer High Temperature
76°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
80
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
84
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
37
/ 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
Alta Vista
Suburban neighborhood tucked between the Cal Poly Campus and Downtown SLO
Cuesta Park
Proximity to Downtown SLO and Cal Poly in the foothills of the Cuesta Ridge
Downtown San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo's trendy and walkable urban core
San Luis Drive
Quiet, secluded suburban community next to San Luis Obispo High School
Santa Rosa
An established suburb between Downtown SLO and Cal Poly
Woodland Drive
A residential neighborhood close Downtown SLO in the foothills of High School Hill
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