Welcome to Burlingame
An unparalleled quality of life is waiting to be discovered in this prestigious San Mateo County gem
Burlingame, known as the “City of Trees” for its 18,000 trees, is one of the most desirable communities on the northern San Francisco Peninsula. Burlingame thrives in its downtown areas surrounding Burlingame and Broadway Avenues, which attract visitors from far and wide. High-end boutique shops, charming cafes, and upscale restaurants create a vibrant place to gather with friends and family. Burlingame is close to the San Francisco International Airport and is midway between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Homes range from those with charming, vintage character to chic and luxurious, offering a variety of choices for any lifestyle.
Burlingame is affectionately referred to as the “City of Trees,” thanks to its aromatic copses of eucalyptus and bevy of trees that line its downtown and residential streets. Ranked one of San Francisco’s most desirable suburbs, the small city naturally prompts an active, delightful way of life, whether you’re keen on spending a Saturday strolling its darling and exceptionally-walkable downtown or hiking on one of its trails.
Burlingame’s relatively small population, particularly for the San Francisco Bay Area, gives this enclave a warm, intimate feel, rendering it a natural fit for families with children and retirees who want a quieter pace of life but effortless access to “the city.” Add terrific schools and a slew of real estate options, and you can see why so many people throughout California aim for this coveted zip code.
What to Love
- Proximity to Silicon Valley and San Francisco
- Verdant and naturally stunning
- Brimming with world-class dining and shopping
- Exceptional public school system
History & Heritage of Burlingame, CA
Burlingame, CA, has a rich history that reflects its evolution from a Spanish land grant to a vibrant city. Initially part of Rancho San Mateo, the area was granted to Cayetano Arenas in 1846. The transformation of Burlingame began when it was purchased by William Davis Merry Howard, who planted numerous eucalyptus trees on the property. After Howard's death, the land was acquired by William C. Ralston, a prominent banker, who named it after Anson Burlingame, the U.S. Ambassador to China. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Burlingame saw an influx of residents seeking new homes. The city was incorporated in 1908 and continued to grow, especially after it annexed the neighboring town of Easton in 1910. Burlingame's commitment to preserving its tree-lined ambiance is evident in the early ordinance prohibiting the cutting or injuring of trees, earning it the moniker "City of Trees".
Francis Newlands, William Sharon's son-in-law, envisioned Burlingame as a playground for San Francisco's elite. This vision took shape with the establishment of the Burlingame Country Club in 1893 and the growth of the town as a preferred location for San Francisco's high society. Burlingame's name, honoring Anson Burlingame, reflects its international connections and aspirations. The city's growth was further propelled by its accessibility via the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad and its attractiveness to those displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Over time, Burlingame has retained its unique character while embracing growth, becoming a cherished community with excellent schools, parks, and a vibrant downtown.
Local Lifestyle
Burlingame organically boasts an inviting, friendly energy that makes everyday life downright pleasurable. Whether you’re an entrepreneur who works in downtown San Francisco or a budding artist who thrives in a serene setting, you’re bound to be amazed by the affability of this community. Here, you’ll find your neighbors shopping on Burlingame and Broadway or practicing their swing at one of the city’s impeccable tennis courts or golf courses.
Dining, Shopping & Entertainment
Whether you’re planning a girls’ night out or a family dinner, in the mood for fine Italian fare or hyper-fresh seafood, you’ll find nearly everything you could possibly want in Burlingame.
Twelve Month is the hottest new Vegan restaurant on the peninsula with an amazing bar scene and outdoor space to mingle. Mingalaba Restaurant is a perennial favorite for Burlingame locals and residents throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The stylish, colorful venue specializes in superb Burmese and Mandarin cuisine. Here, you can start off with crab and cheese dumplings, split a mango salad with garlic and shrimp, and share a plate of spicy Shan noodles with pickled radish and cilantro. SAKAE Sushi & Grill is an optimal spot for date night, and their organic Jidori Yaki is outstanding. Caffe Central and its sidewalk seating epitomize Burlingame’s welcoming ambiance.
A healthy lifestyle is a cinch to find and maintain in Burlingame. Pure Barre and Bay Club Broadway Tennis and Pickleball are just two fitness venues from a handful of many. And while Burlingame quiets down at night (which is one of the many appealing things about this city), a few of the restaurants are positively dynamite. Mykonos is as delicious to the eyes as it is on the palate with its selection of artisan cocktails, like their Smoky Smoky, a concoction of bourbon, fig puree, rosemary, and Aztec bitters.
Looking for the perfect piece of jewelry for a loved one (or yourself)? Stop by Patronik Designs. Owned by team member Christine & husband, Nick Kosturos, this elegant shop features unique designs, stunning jewelry, and expert service for resizing and design requests for custom jewelry.. If you’re searching for the perfect housewarming present, visit Anthem Burlingame for beautiful home furnishings. Five Little Monkeys is another popular destination for children’s gifts, educational toys, and books.
Things to Do
Neither boredom nor monotony is possible in Burlingame, which boasts an abundance of pleasurable activities. The city teems with lush, well-kept parks. Washington Park presents an array of ways to get active, from tennis courts to playing fields. It’s also here that you’ll find the always wonderful Music in the Park, a widely-attended community event featuring live music, beer and wine, and tons of camaraderie. Village Park is a splendid place to relish a picnic, while Pershing Park is ideal for families with young children.
The town’s library is as popular with adults as it is with children; it also amplifies the city’s small-town charm. The annual Burlingame Pet Parade is not to be missed whether you have a pup or not, and the Peninsula Tennis Club caters to novice and accomplished players.
New Mom in the community? Join the Burlingame Mothers Club right away for connection, education, events & more.
Community Events
Burlingame, CA, is bustling with upcoming community and cultural events designed to cater to a wide range of interests. Here are some highlights of what you can look forward to:
- Burlingame Multicultural Festival: Celebrate diversity and community spirit at the Burlingame Multicultural Festival. The festival promises a blend of music, fun, and cultural exhibitions on Burlingame Avenue. This event is scheduled from August 25th to 27th and again on September 1st and 2nd, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Expect vibrant performances ranging from Psychedelic Soul, R&B, Reggae & Blues, to Neil Young tributes and much more.
- Fresh Market Sundays: Experience the local flavor with Fresh Market Sundays, a recurring event that offers a variety of fresh produce and goods. This is a perfect opportunity to support local farmers and artisans while enjoying the community atmosphere.
- Business Mixers and Ribbon Cuttings: Engage with the local business community through events like the Nob Hill Gazette Business Mixer, Tesla Burlingame Business Mixer, and the Sola Salons Ribbon Cutting and Business Mixer. These events provide great networking opportunities and a chance to learn more about the vibrant businesses in Burlingame
Real Estate Overview
The Burlingame real estate scene is highly competitive, with the median home price reaching $2.6 million recently, a significant increase from the previous year. Additionally, the median price per square foot has slightly adjusted to $1,300, showing a minor increase over the same period.
Schools
Children in Burlingame are served by the Burlingame School District. There are six elementary schools: Franklin Elementary, Hoover Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary & Washington Elementary. Registration for TK/K begins February 1st for most years. The other leading public schools include:
Prefer the private route for your children, here a few of the desirable schools in the community:
In 2023, the Burlingame average price for a single-family home was $2,818,566, a 9% decrease from the previous year.
Burlingame Gardens
The Burlingame Gardens neighborhood offers smaller, entry-level homes at the most affordable price point in Burlingame. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $1,350,000 to $4,250,000.
Burlingame Gardens offers a great location with easy access to Highway 101 and proximity to shopping and dining on Broadway. It’s a short walk to Burlingame High, a public high school south of the neighborhood with top-tier facilities including tennis courts and an extra-large public swimming pool. The community is also served by Burlingame Intermediate, a public middle school located a short distance away in the Ray Park neighborhood, while the closest elementary school is McKinley Elementary.
Burlingame Grove
Burlingame Grove enjoys well-priced homes that are smaller in size than those found west of El Camino Real. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $1,336,666 to $4,610,000, and there were no condo/townhomes sales here in 2023. This neighborhood’s charming streets are dotted with trees, and it’s just a short walk from here to the shops and restaurants on Broadway.
Burlingame High, a public school, with its excellent athletic amenities, is only about a 5-minute drive. Similarly, the public middle school, Burlingame Intermediate, situated in the Ray Park neighborhood, is 5 minutes from the area, while Lincoln Elementary is the elementary school for this neighborhood.
Burlingame Hills
The Burlingame Hills neighborhood is ideal for those seeking a larger lot, added privacy, and picturesque, wooded views. Many of the homes in this area are upscale, though there are more affordable options as well. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $1,265,000 to $5,595,000. Prices are similar to those in the Easton Addition neighborhood, though a little lower, owing to the latter’s proximity to El Camino Real.
Though not the most walkable of Burlingame’s neighborhoods, this community’s location, close to Highway 280, makes it very amenable to commuting to Silicon Valley and San Francisco.
Burlingame High, a public school with excellent athletic amenities, is an approximately 10-minute drive from the area. Burlingame Intermediate School, a public middle school situated in the Ray Park neighborhood, is a 5- or 10-minute drive. Also close by, Hoover Elementary School, a public school, serves the neighborhood.
Burlingame Park
The Burlingame Park neighborhood offers some of the most sought-after real estate in Burlingame. Homes rarely come up for sale here, a testament to its desirability. While exclusive classic homes on large lots are the standard in this neighborhood, a row of condominiums on the neighborhood’s eastern border offers a more affordable price point. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $2,494,000 to $5,315,000, and condos/townhomes range from $695,000 to $1,588,000.
One of Burlingame Park’s most enviable attributes is its location. It’s just 15 miles from San Francisco, and it has a WalkScore of 86. This neighborhood affords easy access to the boutiques and restaurants on Burlingame Avenue, while still maintaining serenity.
Schools for this community include Burlingame High, a public high school just a 15-minute walk east of the neighborhood, where top-tier facilities include tennis courts and an extra-large public swimming pool. The community is also served by Burlingame Intermediate, a public middle school, located a 7-minute drive away in the Ray Park neighborhood, and the elementary school, Washington Elementary, is only a 3-minute drive.
Burlingame Terrace
The Burlingame Terrace neighborhood is one of the oldest in Burlingame, and its homes are some of the most charming, offering a mix of architectural styles. Burlingame Terrace also enjoys one of the most convenient locations in Burlingame, situated between Broadway and Burlingame Avenue, affording homes here proximity to myriad boutiques and restaurants. Homes in this neighborhood are mid-priced for Burlingame, and as of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $1,500,000 to $3,900,000.
Burlingame High, a public high school east of the neighborhood, is located within walking distance, and its facilities include tennis courts and an extra-large heated outdoor swimming pool. The public middle school for the neighborhood is Burlingame Intermediate, about a 7-minute drive from the area, and McKinley Elementary School is centrally located in the neighborhood.
Burlingame Village
The Burlingame Village neighborhood in North Burlingame offers smaller homes, ideal for the entry-level buyer, in a range of architectural styles. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $1,750,000 to $3,775,000.
Though not walkable to shops and dining, the neighborhood is centered around the verdant Village Park which offers a playground, basketball court, and preschool. And the icing on the cake for this neighborhood is the sweet smell of chocolate that fills the air thanks to the nearby Guittard Chocolate Company.
Burlingame High is the public high school for this neighborhood. It is situated a 6-minute drive southeast of the area, and it offers excellent athletic amenities including an aquatic center and tennis courts. Burlingame Intermediate School, a public middle school situated in the Ray Park neighborhood, is a 5-minute drive. Also nearby, Lincoln Elementary School serves the neighborhood, and is about a 4-minute drive.
Downtown Burlingame
The Downtown Burlingame neighborhood offers a great price point for the entry-level buyer, or for those wishing to downsize. The inventory here consists largely of apartments and condominiums, though there are some single-family homes as well. The majority of buildings here are 30-40 years old, though within the last 10 years the neighborhood has seen the introduction of newer developments and upscale condominiums. As of 2023, prices for condos/townhomes here range from $730,000 to $1,598,000.
For those who place walkability as one of their top priorities when comparing neighborhoods, Downtown Burlingame has a WalkScore in the 90s and is only steps from Caltrain, Washington Park, and the shops and restaurants on Burlingame Avenue.
Schools for the Downtown area include Burlingame High, a public high school about a 5-minute drive away, where first-class facilities include tennis courts and a heated outdoor public swimming pool. The public middle school for the neighborhood is Burlingame Intermediate in the Ray Park neighborhood, which is a 6-minute drive, and Washington Elementary School is a 3-minute drive.
Easton Addition
Easton Addition is one of Burlingame’s most exclusive neighborhoods, and perhaps its most sought-after. The real estate here comprises both classic and contemporary homes spanning a variety of architectural styles including American, Colonial, Craftsman, and Victorian. Highly desirable, homes rarely come up for sale here, but when they do, they’ll likely be gems. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $1,900,000 to $6,000,000, and there was one condo/townhome sale in 2023, which sold for $867,223.
The suburban streets here are quiet and leafy, dotted with mature trees, and adjacent to multiple parks. The neighborhood even has its own branch of Burlingame Library. The tranquility in this neighborhood is coupled with walkable proximity to the amenities on Broadway, and it’s a short drive to Burlingame Avenue. In addition, the Millbrae BART station and the Burlingame Caltrain station are approximately 2 miles from the area.
Top-performing public schools for the area include Burlingame High, Burlingame Intermediate in the Ray Park neighborhood, Roosevelt Elementary, and Lincoln Elementary.
Lyon-Hoag
Lyon Hoag, just south of Burlingables, is one of the more affordable Burlingame neighborhoods. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $900,000 to $3,799,000. Homes in this neighborhood are a mix of architectural styles and they are situated on well-manicured streets that are wider than most found in Burlingame. An added benefit to this neighborhood is its walkable proximity to Burlingame Avenue, for shopping and dining, and Washington Park for outdoor pursuits.
Burlingame High, a public high school, is a 5- or 10-minute walk from this neighborhood, and it offers excellent athletic amenities including an aquatic center and tennis courts. Burlingame Intermediate School, a public middle school situated in the Ray Park neighborhood, is a 10-minute drive. Washington Elementary School serves the neighborhood and is about a 5-minute walk.
Mills Estates
The Mills Estates neighborhood in Burlingame offers open floorplans, with larger square footage, and larger lots. The homes in this neighborhood were mostly built in the 1960s, making them contemporary, comparatively speaking, for Burlingame. There are also a select number of iconic Eichler homes here, offering a taste of midcentury modern design and style. This neighborhood is close to Highway 280, though not very close to Burlingame Avenue and Broadway. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $2,375,000 to $3,775,000.
Top-rated schools for the neighborhood include Burlingame High, a public high school located about a 10-minute drive from the area, with facilities that include tennis courts and an extra-large heated outdoor swimming pool. The public middle school for the neighborhood is Burlingame Intermediate, a 5-minute drive from Mills Estates, and Franklin Elementary is the elementary school for the neighborhood.
Oak Grove Manor
Oak Grove Manor / Burlingables is a well-established and sought-after community in Burlingame, California. A family-friendly neighborhood, Oak Grove Manor / Burlingables enjoys tree-lined streets and walkability to the many shops and restaurants on Burlingame Avenue, as well as proximity to the Downtown Caltrain station and Washington Park.
This neighborhood consists largely of high-value, mid-sized homes with living space ranging from 1,200 to 1,900 square feet, though the area does also boast some lovely, larger homes. Lot sizes in this community are 5,000 square feet on average, smaller than the 6,000 square feet average in Burlingame, but compensated for by the attached garages and spacious yards that are the norm here. Homes in this desirable neighborhood only come up for sale an average of once per month. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $1,855,000 to $3,900,000.
Schools for this community include Burlingame High, a public high school, where top-tier facilities include tennis courts and an extra-large public swimming pool. The public middle school for the neighborhood is Burlingame Intermediate, and the elementary school is Washington Elementary
Ray Park
The Ray Park neighborhood in North Burlingame offers lush leafy-green surroundings and newer homes in a range of architectural styles at mid- to upper-level prices. As of 2023, prices for single-family homes here range from $2,150,000 to $3,770,000.
This is a very walkable and well-located neighborhood, with proximity to Burlingame Plaza, BART, Highway 280, and El Camino Real. The Mills-Peninsula Medical Center is also nearby on Trousdale Drive, and it offers 24-hour emergency care in its 450,000-square-foot facility.
Burlingame High, the public high school for this neighborhood, is a 10-minute drive. This school offers excellent athletic amenities including an aquatic center and tennis courts. Burlingame Intermediate School, a public middle school, is situated in the northern part of the neighborhood. Both Lincoln Elementary School and Franklin Elementary School are within walking distance.