It’s a foggy beach town 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. 

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. 

It’s Pretty Frickin Groovy

LookyLOO Review of 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 raise their kids in an extreme outdoor culture. 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 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. 

We highly recommend visiting Pacifica 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 

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 pride among the students, families, and faculty so good options at that level in Pacifica. 

Schools

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?

**ms_sinn**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Lots of families in general. Mine are older now so can’t speak for how young.

Fog is not nearly as bad as you think but we don’t like to tell people that. Linda Mar and Back of the Valley tend to be sunnier than not.

Neighborhoods- Linda Mar, Back of Valley and Park Pacifica are all very safe, as well as Vallemar.

Safety- generally very safe. For instance when I lived in a nice neighborhood in San Jose my car and house were broken into more than once. We haven’t had a single issue here in 12 years we’ve been here.

I moved here when my kids were in 3rd and 4th grade. They’re in college now. I have zero regrets about the move. They made friends easily, kids play outside here, it’s safe. They now complain it’s boring but I remind them we are close to the city when they want to escape boring.

For more locals' reviews of what living in Pacifica is like, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/pacifica/reviews).

Reviews of Pacifica from Locals

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

**requiem_whore**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Moved here 20 years ago from San Francisco with a 5-year-old once we realized that we did not want to raise kids there. Have raised two more kids here. Best decision we ever made was to move to the Sharp Park neighborhood.

The restaurants are good enough for families with kids. If you have expensive tastes you are going to drive to expensive restaurants but especially with kids the restaurants here are just fine. Pacifica Thai is a favorite of ours.

While our schools are not perfect, they have a tremendous amount of Parental involvement and some dedicated teachers and administrators who keep things running year in and year out. Our older kids have gotten into fine colleges.

The north end of town is a bit more public transit accessible than the south end of town. If Pub trans is important, then I would focus my search on Sharp Park and going north from there.

**ms_sinn**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Lots of families in general. Mine are older now so can’t speak for how young.

Fog is not nearly as bad as you think but we don’t like to tell people that. Linda Mar and Back of the Valley tend to be sunnier than not.

Neighborhoods- Linda Mar, Back of Valley and Park Pacifica are all very safe, as well as Vallemar.

Safety- generally very safe. For instance when I lived in a nice neighborhood in San Jose my car and house were broken into more than once. We haven’t had a single issue here in 12 years we’ve been here.

I moved here when my kids were in 3rd and 4th grade. They’re in college now. I have zero regrets about the move. They made friends easily, kids play outside here, it’s safe. They now complain it’s boring but I remind them we are close to the city when they want to escape boring.

**Anonymous**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉🦉

I am a foreigner who moved to the Bay Area few years ago and I was blown away by the beauty of the area. It is a hidden gem and probably one of the most beautiful spots in California if not the world. I live 15 min from the town solely because Pacifica is my favorite hiking area.  Fog is not really a problem, wind is. It bothers you mostly in evenings after 4pm from the month of May to October. The temperatures are pretty mild so you save alot on not needing air conditioning in summers. 

**asielen**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

Pacifica is amazing. Lots of great places but has a strong community feel.

Don't live too close to the ocean, live up in one of the valleys for better weather. There are days when there is thick fog in Daly City but then you drive down to Pacifica and it is sunny, or at least partially cloudy. The worst fog will be on the north end Fairmont neighborhood.

Only downside is the drive out of Pacifica to anywhere can be a challenge, basically one road in and out. (Well more than 1 but highway 1 is the main one)

Invest in LookyLoo for as little as $100

Pacifica, California

The Real Fog City

Looklyloo Score: 92