Many peninsula cities and towns feel new-ish and pretty prefab. Burlingame was developed in the late 1800’s and the historic architecture and deep roots give it a different vibe than other cities in the area. The city origins come from San Francisco residents in the late 1800’s building estates just below the fogline. Burlingame is sunny, but not hot, and the pleasant weather combined with beautiful wooded landscapes, made for fabulous estates for city folk escaping the summer fog. Development in Burlingame started in the 1800’s but accelerated after the 1906 earthquake when San Francisco residents moved south to rebuild their lives. A commercial district and train station developed during this same period to serve the growing population and new subdivisions. This early development, much of which remains today, gives the city a sense of history and substance that other options in the area lack. 


Historic Vibe in the Sun

The Best Thing About Burlingame?

You can argue that housing prices are the worst part of every city in the bay area. So, why pick on Burlingame? Perhaps because unlike better known neighbors like Hillsborough, Atherton or Palo Alto, newbies think Burlingame will be a "bargain" but at a median price of $2.7m that just ain’t the case. Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $3.5k so renters get a break for sure but it’s still pricey. 


Housing Prices

The Worst Thing About Burlingame?

Burlingame has the welcome bonus of having two downtowns. The historic downtown runs along Burlingame Avenue and makes the city feel like a classic American town, albeit one with lots of bucks. Much of the lifestyle of Burlingame beyond suburbia stems from the activities in this part of the city. The area has hundreds of stores, restaurants, both upscale and casual, pubs, bookstore, grocery stores and plenty of upscale boutique shopping. While San Francisco isn’t far away, there’s enough to do in Burlingame to handle much of the social life of singles, couples and families, at least for quieter nights. 

Community social activities are also aplenty in Burlingame. Downtown, the community center, and local parks play host to a Pet Parade, Movies in the Park, Farmer’s Market, Community Campout, Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and a Royal Ball, among many others. Seriously, a lot of day and night events happen throughout the year in Burlingame that tie the community together. These events have a very low key vibe, making Burlingame way less upscale/more down-to-earth than it’s fancy neighbors and frankly, that’s a big part of its charm. 


Mainstreet USA

Lifestyle of Burlingame

Burlingame has its own district for elementary schools, and it's highly rated on [**niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/burlingame-elementary-school-district-ca/). There are six different elementary schools, all A-rated, sprinkled throughout the city, so you can’t go wrong regardless of which neighborhood you choose to live. 

At the high school level, Burlingame is in the San Mateo Union High School District and things get even better. [**Burlingame High School**](https://www.smuhsd.org/burlingamehigh) is A+ rated on [**niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/san-mateo-union-high-school-district-ca/) and is a huge part of the community fabric. 

Schools in Burlingame

If you have the bucks to live in one of the multi-million dollar suburbs in the bay area but are craving a bit more subtlety in the exhibition of that wealth then consider Burlingame. Sure, it costs a ton to live here, but the lifestyle does less to celebrate that fact than others, and for many that makes it feel like a more comfortable place to hang. 


 Relaxed (and comfortable) Living

Why You Should Move Here Now?

Burlingables is perhaps the hottest neighborhood in the city. Families love it for plenty of reasons including: it’s just a short walk to [**Burlingame High School**](https://www.smuhsd.org/burlingamehigh), the city's excellent public high school option. It also wins on walkability to Burlingame Ave’s downtown area and the Caltrain station. You can keep the car parked for long stretches here, which makes it a real outlier for peninsula neighborhoods. Finally, Burlingables is home to [**Washington Park**](https://www.burlingame.org/parksandrec/facilities/parks_and_playgrounds/index.php), the oldest park in the city and one of its best (maybe the best?). It’s a year round center for community recreation with hundreds of classes and events both in and around the new Community Center. It offers tennis courts (and YES, even pickleball courts!!!), baseball fields, soccer, doggo play area, basketball, kiddo playground and plenty of open grass to play or relax amidst the stunning trees. 
Combine the amenities, the walkability, the beautiful tree-lined streets and classic Burlingame homes and you get one of the more desirable areas of the city. That’s reflected in the $2.6m average home price in 2022 and the fact that homes rarely come on the market here. Check out where Burlingables sits on the [**map of Burlingame**](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?ll=37.58381458150318%2C-122.3427355&spn=0.040267%2C0.090895&msa=0&iwloc=0004a9a77249e08f771b7&mid=1dtIVQThuEfjMK02ndxWHD8TpG_4&z=16).

Families

Burlingables (Oak Grove Manor)

Burlingame Gardens is another neighborhood prized for its walkability to [**Burlingame High School**](https://www.smuhsd.org/burlingamehigh) and the Broadway downtown area. It’s also popular due to its availability of “starter homes” for families looking for a break from the insanity of other neighborhoods in the area. Now we use that starter home expression lightly as it’s media price tag is still ~$1.8m but that means you can find a home or two in the ~1.5m-$1.6m range if you’re persistent. For a city like Burlingame that’s considered a remarkable bargain, no matter how silly that might sound. In addition to being close to Burlingame High School you’re also near [**McKinley Elementary**](https://mckinley.burlingameschools.org/), a great school to get the kiddos started off right. 

Burlingame Gardens runs along 101 which either makes it too noisy for some or the best of all possible worlds to others, by making your commute to 101 extremely quick. Being on the eastern side of Burlingame also puts the Gardens neighborhood closest to the Bay. If you’re into water sports this will come in handy. Check out the neighborhood on [**google maps**](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?ll=37.5866065992294%2C-122.35358000000001&spn=0.040267%2C0.090895&msa=0&iwloc=0004a9a77249e08f771b7&mid=1dtIVQThuEfjMK02ndxWHD8TpG_4&z=16). 


Families/DINKs/SINKs

Burlingame Gardens

Easton Addition is the city’s signature neighborhood. No area is more picturesque, with a mix of classic bungalows and Arts & Crafts cottages and majestic Victorians, all surrounded by the most beautiful Eucalyptus, Oaks, Maples and Pine trees that line the stunning blocks. They don’t call it Tree City for nothing. 

Unlike other luxurious neighborhoods in other cities, this one is also easily walkable to the commercial district of Downtown Broadway. That’s an unusual mix more typical in college towns. The neighborhood has a number of parks and to some best of all, it is home to the architectural beauty, the [**Burlingame Public Library**](https://www.burlingame.org/library/). 

Median home prices are ~$3.5m and good or bad news, depending on your pov., while other neighborhoods lost value during covid, Easton Addition actually gained value. Check out where it sits in the city on [**google maps**](https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?ll=37.58313016364871%2C-122.37602235270744&spn=0.040267%2C0.090895&msa=0&iwloc=0004a9a77249e08f771b7&mid=1dtIVQThuEfjMK02ndxWHD8TpG_4&z=16). 


Easton Addition

Burlingame

**Should I move to Burlingame or Mountain View?**

I don't know your criteria. But here I go.

Burlingame is a small town. Has a real small time vibe adjacent to an International Air Port. Traffic is always light except at the railroad crossing on Broadway. And there are two main roads. El Camino and California Drive and they run parallel to each other north-ish and south-ish. Thats pretty much it. All other roads criss cross between those two main roads. And I think Toursdale Dr. is part of Burlingame also. But that road just takes you between 280 and 101 and a bunch of homes along a hill.

They have some high end car dealerships in the area (Porsche, Audi, BMW, and 3rd party car shops). Mainly along California Dr. The main businesses are along Broadway and Burlingame Ave. There are no businesses (except by Millbrae there is a plaza) on El Camino Real because it narrows to 4 lanes with no street parking and the roads are uprooted by the tall redwoods on that road. So people drive slower in the rain there because the roads tend to flood there and such.

There is surprisingly an Apple Store in Burlingame.

There is a mix of restaurants in Burlingame. None of them are chain restaurants besides Crepevine which I believe is a bay area chain of family owned restaurants. Actually Mountain View also has a Crepevine Restaurant. There is a Lobster Seafood eatery (really good), a Benihana, 2 - Dim Sum Restaurants, and there used to be an Elephant Bar Restaurant (American chain restaurant now bankrupted). *** I guess Panda Express is the only chain? I don't count Starbucks because they are everywhere....

And that is pretty much Burlingame. If you want Chinese food it is right next door to Millbrae. And next door in San Mateo are more Japanese restaurants along with a good mix/variety of non chain restaurants. Of course there is a Chipotle and Halal Guys. But mostly family owned restaurants in San Mateo.

**Considering a move to Burlingame.**

Answer 1: 
Burlingame is amazing. Old school money so its not as flashy, good food, beautiful homes, central to everything on the peninsula and you can escape east via the San Mateo bridge. I grew up on the peninsula and lived here for 30 years. Always been priced out of Burlingame, but it and woodside are my two favorite communities.

Edit: also, you can actually get to parts of the city faster from Burlingame than if you live non centrally in SF.


Answer 2:

Moved to Burlingame from Southern California 4yrs ago. Lots of residential bike paths and parks. Great weather. A lot of restaurants and bars in both downtown areas. Very quiet at night because everything closes early. I can’t speak to gay friendly—somewhat conservative for the Bay Area but I do not think it’s a problem at all.

Burlingame, California

Tree City

Looklyloo Score: 88

Reviews

What's it like to live in Burlingame?