Best Neighborhoods in Belmont, California

Belmont's hills give the city a different personality from the flat Peninsula towns nearby. Belmont Woods puts trees and slopes close to home, while Homeview and Sterling Downs have a more conventional residential feel. Cipriani sits among streets where the elevation can change quickly.

A hillside view can come with steep driveways and extra maintenance. In the flatter pockets, check proximity to traffic corridors before assuming the street will be quiet. Belmont's Caltrain stop is useful, but walking to it from an uphill address can be another matter.

Cipriani

Families

Cipriani is a high-end family-centered neighborhood filled with medium to large single family homes at the top end of the price range for Belmont. It has some of the best schools in the district in Cipriani Elementary and Carlmont High School so if you can find a way into one of the homes here you’ll love the schools. Cipriani Park is also in the neighborhood with beautiful ballfields, multi-use play areas, a playground and best of all, a dog park!

Homeview/Sterling Downs

Families

The Homeview/Sterling Downs neighborhood(s) is the first neighborhood of Belmont and one of the better lower-cost entry point housing options in the area. Smaller mid-century cottage-style homes dominate the all cul-de-sac structured subdivisions and plenty of younger families choose the area for the lower costs and immediate access to the 101 freeway. The neighborhood has several parks with O’Donnell Park the “home base” for the Neighborhood Association and many community events. There are several gyms in the area, including Crossfit, that are part of the light industrial section of the neighborhood and a few restaurants walkable from most of the homes. The schools here are excellent, with most kiddos going to the prized Nesbit Elementary and then Carlmont High School - the path through the public schools is all A-rated.

Central

Families/Young Professionals/DINKs

While there isn’t much of a downtown area in Belmont the Central neighborhood is the closest resemblance to one the city offers. It runs along the El Camino commercial district and has a number of casual, fast casual and fast food options for the family within walking distance of most of the housing. The area is sometimes included in other neighborhood designations, like Antique Forest and Carlmont, but the Central District surrounding El Camino is a bit distinct from the rest for the more commercial availability for locals. While there are plenty of mid-century single-family homes in Central there are also modern designs, and apartment complexes like the Sofi Belmont Glen, that offer nice rentals, a short walk to El Camino, and a good option for young professionals and couples looking to be in the area who aren’t ready for the mortgage. The neighborhood feeds Central Elementary School, another A-rated Belmont school, and then typically kids go on to Carlmont High School.

Belmont Woods

Families

Belmont Woods is a hugely popular neighborhood in large part to the views and immediate access to outdoor recreation via Waterdog Lake and Hiking areas. It’s hard to beat the area if you want to luxuriate in the beauty of Belmont. The hilly blocks are an interesting mix of smaller mid-century cottages, new much larger homes, and plenty of condo/apartment options all for those looking for a quiet, green lifestyle. The schools in the neighborhood are great with many zoned for Fox Elementary another A-rated Belmont school. The western side of Belmont is truly unbeatable for the outdoor options in the neighborhood and via the Santa Cruz Mountains and Pacific Ocean that run just west of the city.