At a glance
- Where it is: southern San Mateo County, east of US-101.
- Known for: its own distinct city identity, bay frontage, and significant recent residential and commercial development.
- The environment: primarily residential, with newer mixed-use projects near the freeway and the bay.
Housing character
- Post-war single-family homes on compact lots across most of the city.
- Newer townhome and condominium developments, several built in the past decade.
- Multi-family and mixed-use buildings near the US-101 corridor.
- A limited but growing supply of newer construction.
Places within East Palo Alto
- University Village
- Central neighborhood near University Avenue.
- Gardens
- Established residential neighborhood on the eastern side.
- Woodland Park
- Area with a large concentration of multi-family housing.
- Ravenswood / Cooley Landing area
- Bayside neighborhood near the shoreline and open space.
Around town
- Cooley Landing Park and education center on the bay.
- Ravenswood Open Space Preserve and Bay Trail access.
- The Ravenswood 101 shopping center and University Avenue businesses.
- Community events at Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Jack Farrell Park.
Getting around
- US-101 runs through the city, with University Avenue as the main interchange.
- State Route 84 leads directly to the Dumbarton Bridge.
- The nearest Caltrain stations are in Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
- SamTrans bus service.
What to check
- US-101 noise affects parts of the city.
- Portions of the bayside are in mapped flood zones — review the natural hazard disclosure.
- The city has rent stabilization rules that apply to some rental properties, which matters if you are considering an investment purchase.
- Some parcels sit near former industrial land — review any available environmental reports.
- Verify current transportation service, school assignment, permit requirements, hazard information, and total housing costs for the specific address.