It’s a foggy beachtown with stellar surfing, the most beautiful Taco Bell on God’s green earth and pound for pound more open green spaces than any city in the area. What’s not to love? Pretty much everything here is good. The pier is good, the bbq is good, the haircuts are good, the fish and chips are good and the lifestyle is just chill and good. When it’s scorching hot inland it’s always quite a bit cooler here. And that’s true for both the temps and the people. Everyone here is a bit more nonchalantly cooler than the rest of the area - the singles, the couples, even the families and the dogs are groovy in Pacifica. 


It’s Pretty Frickin Groovy

The Best Thing About Pacifica?

Many people will argue for the fog as the worst thing about Pacifica but that’s a tiny bit of a myth. Sure it blows in the summer but most of the year it clears up and is sunny-ish. What does kind of suck about Pacifica is it’s pretty isolated from most of the Bay Area. You’re a short hop to San Francisco but most other destinations require you to drive through the mountains and across convoluted roads to get there. Some of that isolation is part of the charm but to many it can lead to feeling a bit alone. 


The isolation

The Worst Thing About Pacifica?

In addition to the aforementioned groovy surfer scene it’s important to remember that Pacifica is a suburb. Lots of families enjoy the coastal lifestyle and raising their kids in an extreme outdoor culture. Obviously taking the kiddos to the beach is a treat but there are also tons of hiking and biking trails as well as parks, golf courses and even an archery range. While there are plenty of traditional smaller parks for play there are also amazing places like [**Frontierland Park**](https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/parks-beaches-recreation/parks-and-beaches-locations-maps-safety-guides/frontierland-park). It has a wonderful playground space, and picnic/BBQ amenities but it also has a massive outdoor open space and it nestles up to the hills of Pacifica offering everyone all the trails and hikes they could possibly want.  

There are six miles of beach and one thousand acres that belong to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. So when it comes to living outdoors you and the family won’t tire of things to do in Pacifica.  There isn’t a major downtown but Pacifica does have a couple dozen restaurants/bars to keep locals happy when they don’t feel like driving 15 minutes to San Francisco. Like a lot of California coastal towns the commercial districts stretch narrowly along the ocean and so it’s less dense and walkable as a result.
 
Pacifica also has a nonstop stream of community events happening, like the [**Pacific Coast Fog Fest**](https://pacificcoastfogfest.com/), a mixed entertainment fair that happens in September (ironically when the fog clears) and includes local foods and brews, a race, a big parade and countless other fun activities for the kids and the grownups. There is also a big Farmer’s Market, an Art Center, a performing Arts Theater, and plenty of live music at Sam’s Castle and other more intimate spots. For a small town it offers a lot to do. Check out the [**calendar of events**](https://visitpacifica.com/things-to-do/events/) for all the happenings. 


Lifestyle of Pacifica

The Pacifica School District only manages the schools in the area at the elementary school level. The schools in the district are a mix of B’s, B+’s and A-’s on [**niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/pacifica-school-district-ca/)  so if you’re focused on the scoring of the schools then keep an eye out for the neighborhood you choose. At the high school level Pacifica is in the [**Jefferson Union High School District**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/jefferson-union-high-school-district-ca/). Two schools, Oceana and Terra Nova, are in Pacifica and both are considered decent schools with Terra Nova edging out Oceana by most standardized grading standards. There is a beautiful theater and sports facilities at Terra Nova and overall a ton of school price among the students, families and faculty so good options at that level in Pacifica. 

Schools in Pacifica

Whether you’re a young professional looking to enjoy the surf and tacos or a family interested in raising fabulous beach kids Pacifica could be your spot. There are plenty of traditional suburbs surrounding San Francisco if that’s your thing but if you’re ready for something with more groove then check out Pacifica. 


Feelin Groovy

Why You Should Move Here Now?

As you descend the beautiful Highway 1 from San Francisco into Pacifica the first neighborhood you enter is  Fairmont. This community, built mostly by developer Henry Doelger, offers some of the best views of the city. The homes built by Doelger were made famous in the theme song, “Little Boxes”, on the TV show Weeds. Built after WWII for returning soldiers, they are notable for their small size, typically under 1,500 sq ft. with a median price of $1.5m. Expect the smaller homes that have not yet been expanded/updated to be under the median and the newer/remodeled homes to be over the median. 

Pacifica has no true downtown but Fairmont isn’t bad for walkability to the restaurants and shops in the neighborhood. There’s a large shopping center and two great playground parks in the hood so things are pretty convenient for locals.  Even nicer you get the best views in the city when you make these walks!

Families

Fairmont

Edgemar was mostly built during the early railroad days of Pacifica and was the first stop on the Ocean Shore line. It sits just below the Fairmont neighborhood and is relatively flat compared to some of the hillier areas of Pacifica. It’s home to a good chunk of the commercial district with a big Safeway and plenty of good eats including: Taqueria La Perla, Camelot Fish & Chips, Grand HotPot and even the venerable Surf Lounge cocktail bar. It’s also where many of the apartment buildings in the city reside, including [**The Bluffs at Pacifica**](https://www.thebluffsatpacifica.com/) so if you’re looking to rent, and walk to restaurants/bars, and basically live on the beach (with great views of the ocean), then this is a good choice. 


Young Professionals/DINKs/SINKs

Edgemar/Pacific Manor

Sharp Park is just south of Edgemar/Pacific Manor and runs along the coastline and then east up into the hills. It has a diverse mix of housing options with single family homes and apartment buildings running along the cliffs. The neighborhoods holds a number of schools including Ocean High School, the Ingrid B Lacy middle school, and several well-regarded nursery and preschools. 

Sharp has a commercial district with pubs and the [**Trip Distillery**](https://www.trippdistillery.com/), a small-batch craft distillery. It also has three cannabis dispensaries so whatever your preference, a drink or a smoke, you’ll find it in Sharp. 

Housing in the area is incredibly varied. There are relatively inexpensive apartments and high-end townhomes on the cliffs. As you head east there are small cottage style homes and then as you get up into the hills there are multi-million dollar new builds for those who want size and views from the heights. 

The neighborhood has plenty of outdoor spaces for play with the doggo, or running and hiking, or just sitting and watching the ocean. Sharp Park Beach is one of only a few black sand beaches, that rises up from the ocean into a beautiful hiking trail park. Up in the hills farther east you also have the [**Milagra Ridge Hiking Trailhead**](https://www.trailspotting.com/2021/07/milagra-ridge-pacifica.html), home to one of several decommissioned military emplacements that is now a panoramic coastal park. 

Finally, [**Sharp Park Golf Course**](https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Sharp-Park-Golf-Course-42) is also here. It’s an historic seaside links course, designed by Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Augusta National, the home of the Masters golf tournament.

Families/Young Professionals/DINKs

Sharp Park

Fairway Park sits on the southern and eastern sides of Sharp Park. Originally built in the 50’s the homes have mostly been upgraded. The upgrades to the homes pushed the media home price up near $1.2m,, with many of the bigger, newer homes in the $2 - $3m range. The neighborhood is framed by the golf course, ocean and the headlands of [**Mori Point**](https://www.parksconservancy.org/parks/mori-point). If you want nature, Fairway Park is a choice spot to consider.


Fairway Park

Rockaway Beach is the neighborhood most people think of when referencing Pacifica. It’s the best known tourist area, with a number of popular restaurants and hotels. [**Nick’s Seafood Restaurant**](https://nicksrestaurant.net/) is perhaps the most iconic location. In addition to a large restaurant it also offers the Horseshoe Bar, an old-timey lounge with a large dance floor and live music on weekends. The beach at Rockaway is lit at night for really beautiful surfing and surf-watching. Below the headland is a small beach perhaps most popular with local surfers for the amazing waves and easy access point. 
Across the highway east of route 1 and up into the hills is the residential neighborhood of Rockaway Beach. Many of the homes are large, custom-built and luxurious with $3+m a common price but there are some smaller homes from the post WWII era available for those looking to get in closer to the $1m level. 



Rockaway Beach

Linda Mar is the largest neighborhood in Pacifica, perhaps in part due to the fact it tends to get the most sun in the city. It sits in front of Pacifica State Beach, one of the best surfing beaches in California. It is also home to what is widely considered to be the most beautiful Taco Bell on the planet. Much of the neighborhood is tract homes, built in the 50’s and 60’s and while that might sound bland, the lush landscaping, mountain and ocean views, and tons of parks and playgrounds makes this a beautiful setting. The median home price is $1.3m with the older homes that are not yet refurbished falling down to $1m and below and those that are redone spiking above that median price. 

Much beloved by many of the families in Linda Mar, is the presence of [**Pacifica Community Center**](https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/parks-beaches-recreation/special-event-or-facilities-permits-community-center-rentals/community-center-facilities-rentals), a theater arts complex and outdoor skate park. [**Terra Nova High School**](https://www.niche.com/k12/terra-nova-high-school-pacifica-ca/), the highest rated school in the area, is on the border of the neighborhood. If you’re looking for a community with a close-knit vibe and excellent amenities for families put Linda Mar on your shortlist.  


Linda Mar

Pacifica

**Pacifica - Anyone live there?
If my wife and I land the jobs we are both interviewing for our jobs would be in the North and South bay and Pacifica seems like a good "middle". I have posted about this before but nobody really mentioned Pacfica.**

If you have to commute to the North or South Bay I wouldn't recommend living in Pacifica (I'm assuming that by North Bay you mean across the Golden Gate Bridge and South Bay means San Jose area). To get to the South Bay you would either have to go up Highway 1, through the city, and back down 101 or 280 (thus going backwards before going forwards) or you would have to go down highway 1 through Half Moon Bay, then go over 92 to 280 which takes freakin forever in the mornings. I'm from the Foster City and dated a girl from Half Moon Bay and it took me 25~ minutes just to get from the Peninsula over 92 to see her, and that's only one section of your journey. You're looking at over an hour commute, likely more to get to either location. Highway 1 is one lane in either direction which means if there is traffic you're fucked.

Commutes aside, Pacifica is a really cool town. Right on the water, friendly locals. It's a cool place, good Mexican food.

**Moving to Pacifica. What should I expect?**

My fam moved to Pacifica right before high school. Before that we were near Lake Merced so the fog wasn’t a big deal, and it’s honestly not much worse than Daly City and most parts of SF. Pacifica is lovely, and luckily the tech bros are too scared of the fog to venture there.

Depending on where in Pacifica you live, it can be much closer to SF than people think. I went to school in SF all my life — commute was never an issue. My mom still lives there and I go at least once a week from Oakland. If I leave after 7pm it’s 34 mins door to door.

I moved back from NYC a few years ago and thought I’d be miserable back in Pacifica but I fell in love. If I didn’t work in Alameda I would have stayed in Pacifica. Hope you enjoy it!

**Moving to Pacifica. What should I expect?**

Lived here for 3 years, fog in the summer, not as big of a deal rest of the year. Honestly, I'd take the fog all day long over the heat or bad air that is inland. Amazing hiking trails all over the place, super dog friendly chill town. HMB super close, and I can be in downtown SF in about 20 minutes. It's a food desert though. One good grocery story (Oceana), but some killer bakeries (Mazetti's, Rosalind), and a cool wine shop (Table Wine). Welcome!

**Considering a move to Pacifica -- how is it there?**

It's nice. Palo Alto is still a trek for a daily commute. You're going to be a bit further from some commodities, like we don't really have a movie theater. Traffic gets terrible on the weekends if it's sunny with all of the tourists. Pacifica is kind of a few small towns strung together with one road serving them all, so it can be frustrating. There is hiking and such around here, depending on how much you want to hike there is probably a few hikes you would like, but it's also a bit limited. Luckily there are other beaches than Linda Mar and the Pier that locals will know about, that are only crowded a few days of the year.

It's got a small town feel to it, which I like. Depending on the community you live in you can get more bang for your buck as far as land/housing goes, but there certainly won't be any amenities that an actual city would offer. The biggest downside is you have to go up to Daily City to get to most stores you might need. Need to go to Costco? You have to go into Daily City.


I lived in Manor, which is the most northern neighborhood in Pacifica. The great part about that part of Pacifica is that it is right where Hwy 1/Hwy 35/Hwy 280 all converge. So it is VERY easy to get to the City and easy access to the peninsula. It's great. A little easier than living in the more southern neighborhoods. You don't get stuck in the traffic that you usually see between Linda Mar and Valamar.

Pacifica, California

The Real Fog City

Looklyloo Score: 87

We're on it!