There’s a lot to like in Daly City. The homes are way less expensive than other cities nearby. It’s an easy commute into the city and people are chill and friendly. Perhaps though the best thing about the city is the rich Filipino culture that permeates Daly City. With 33,000 Filipino American residents, it has been called “the Pinoy Capital of the United States”. The result is a tight-knit community, great food, and a family-friendly vibe that makes it safe and a great place to raise a family. 

Many locals say that global warming has made Daly City a bit less foggy but regardless you need to prepare yourself for the cold and fog that sits on top of the western side of San Francisco and south down through Daly City and Pacifica. Some grow to love the cooler air and some (particularly those who move from SoCal) flee the cold for warmer, sunnier climes. The most important thing is to be sure to tour the city and see the homes on a foggy day so you don’t get tricked into thinking things are mostly sunny here. 


LookyLOO Review of Daly City

Daly City is a suburban, bedroom community. There are a couple of shopping areas but no real downtown so unless you get in your car you don’t have immediate access to a traditional city commercial district. The lifestyle here is built around the family. Kids go to school, soccer, baseball, and volleyball leagues. Going to SF for a bigger night out. Families hitting up parks, the beach (surfing is legit in this area), the zoo in SF that is close, and generally just enjoying the fact that when you live in Daly City you are on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and the border of one of the most culturally interesting cities in the world.  

To see what locals get up to for fun in Daly City check out the [calendar of events](https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ca--daly-city/events/). 

We highly recommend visiting Daly City and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](https://expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.


Lifestyle 

Daly City has an odd structure for schools. Some of the city is in the South San Francisco School District and some are in the Jefferson Union District. It grades out at an average B+ on [niche.com](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/south-san-francisco-unified-school-district-ca/) which means several schools come in as A’s and are considered excellent options and some drop down to C’s. If you’re eyeballing the neighborhoods for better schools look to the West and South for the higher-performing schools. It seems the closer to the Pacific and Pacifica/San Bruno borders you get the higher the ratings but there are exceptions so just keep an eye out for the high-performers if that’s one of your criteria for choosing.

Schools 

Making it work in the Bay Area can be tough. The costs are high and the competition can be fierce. Living in a tight-knit family-centric community that shares in the weight and pleasure of the fog and the ocean can feel really supportive. The secret sauce of Daly City for many though is how valuable these homes are now and much they could increase in worth as mid-century architecture appreciates. If you want to make a bet on America's continuing obsession with groovy design then put Daly City on your shortlist. 


Foggy Families in a Groovy Place

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**cptstupendous**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

It's cold. It's not as foggy as it used to be (which is more than a little alarming because it's a sign that the climate is changing), but it's still colder than most places in the Bay Area. If you want to experience summers or just see the sun, you have to drive south. The cloud cover starts to thin out around SSF and San Bruno.

The benefit of living in Daly City is its convenience. Everything you need is nearby: shopping, freeway, BART, San Francisco, airport, beach.

For more reviews of what living in Daly City is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/daly-city/reviews).


Reviews of Daly City from Locals

If there is a downtown of any kind in Daly City then it’s probably the Westlake neighborhood. The Westlake Shopping Center is here and it draws locals due to its combination of big-box stores, some smaller chain restaurants and a slew of cool boutique shops and restaurants, including Joe’s of Westlake, that acts as a city-center of sorts. The neighborhood is famous for for its mid-century modern architecture that draws both families and hipster-ish types that crave the [**retro-futuristic designs**](https://www.californiahomedesign.com/trending/2012/02/27/go-inside-sfs-famed-westlake-neighborhood/) of the post-WWII homes. 

The families here also get to enjoy the Westlake Park Community Center, a great facility for events, playgrounds, sports fields and general kiddo and doggo play. Overall, it’s a great choice for young families looking to move into a tight-knit community that appreciate the direct access to services in the neighborhood and easy access to the ocean and San Francisco. 


Families/DINKs

Westlake

Southern Hills
One of the most interesting neighborhoods in Daly City is Southern Hills. It has the most sunshine throughout the year and it has some of the best views in the entire bay area. It sits high up on the San Bruno Mountain (which holds a major state park with miles of wildlife and scenic trails that overlook many parts of the bay area). Facing North the neighborhood overlooks pretty much all of San Francisco. Living in Southern Hills means you see the city but live on the edge of the mountain-side nature. Many think of it as offering the best of both worlds as you feel a bit more like you live in San Francisco here but you get the reprieve from city-chaos by being up on the hills.  

The housing includes single family homes but also plenty of townhomes, condos and apartments. Some couples and singles live here for convenient and more affordable access to the 101 and the tech/biotech businesses in South San Francisco. Many young families also flock to the townhomes and condos here as starter options for first purchases while the kiddos are still little. 


Young Families/DINKs

Southern Hills

St. Francis Heights is on the southern side of the city, nestled between San Bruno Mountain State and County Park to the east and the Westlake neighborhood to the west. It’s primarily residential, with mostly families but also a growing number of younger professionals, and retirees. 

Much of the housing is single-family homes, some in the mid-century style of its more famous Westlake neighbor, and the rest in ranch and bungalow styles. There are also lots of townhomes and newer apartment buildings for those looking to rent and take advantage of the easy commuting via 101 or 280. Median home prices are around $1m, which is of course crazy expensive but to find cheaper you’ll need to cross over to the East Bay. 


Families/Young Professionals/Retirees

St. Francis Heights

Daly City

**pandabearak**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉

Foggy weather causes car accidents? What is this, 1980?? And everybody I know in Daly City isn't gloomy since when everyone else is baking in the heat, they can go home and cool off in 55-65 degree weather.

Honestly, it's less foggy than it used to be just 10 years ago. Daly City isn't the place to be if you're young and single and ready to mingle, but it IS the place to be if you want peace/quiet at home and a relatively safe place to live. Also, it's super convenience now - Whole Foods (2) just a few miles north in Stonestown or Ocean Ave, multiple (3+?) Targets, Home Depots, Ross', Trader Joes, Safeways, you name it. And close proximity to the city.

Burlingame, Milbrae, and San Mateo are probably better for you if you're single, though.

**Anonymous**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I've lived in San Mateo and Daly City. In the last year, I've had a week of 80 degree weather in Daly City, while my friends in San Mateo had 105 degree temps and multiple hot weeks. I enjoy the fog and it doesn't really bother me. It adds some variation to the constant sun. All that said, I went from wearing shorts 330 days a year to wearing long pants due to the temp change.

**ChunkyMonkees**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

As someone who has lived in San Francisco their whole life, Daly City is a godsend. Dealing with drugs, homelessness, crimes, and prostitution around the corner of where I live (and mind you, where I live WAS considered decent), DC is a huge upgrade. Decent to good school systems, relatively safe neighborhoods where I can walk out at night and not having to worry about getting attacked, lackthereof drugs, homelessness and crime..


Who cares about fog and gloom when you know your child can grow up in a safe neighborhood. My sentiments go out to all the pansy ass people who care so damn much about the fog affecting their moods because they clearly have not been brought up in areas that are not safe. Appreciate the family orientated neighborhoods and the safety they offer.

**cptstupendous**
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

It's cold. It's not as foggy as it used to be (which is more than a little alarming because it's a sign that the climate is changing), but it's still colder than most places in the Bay Area. If you want to experience summers or just see the sun, you have to drive south. The cloud cover starts to thin out around SSF and San Bruno.

The benefit of living in Daly City is its convenience. Everything you need is nearby: shopping, freeway, BART, San Francisco, airport, beach.

Daly City, California

Fog City

Looklyloo Score: 90