PENINSULA · CITY GUIDE

San Bruno

San Bruno sits on the northern Peninsula immediately south of San Francisco International Airport, with residential neighborhoods spread from the bay flats up onto the western hills.

At a glance

  • Where it is: northern San Mateo County, between South San Francisco and Millbrae.
  • Known for: BART and Caltrain access, the Tanforan site redevelopment, and Skyline College.
  • The environment: primarily residential, with commercial along El Camino Real and San Bruno Avenue.
  • What sets it apart: unusually strong transit access for a city of its size.

Housing character

  • Mid-century single-family homes across most of the city, many on compact lots.
  • Newer townhomes and condominiums near transit and along the main corridors.
  • Hillside homes on the western side with views toward the bay.

Places within San Bruno

Belle Air
Flat neighborhood near El Camino Real and the Caltrain corridor.
Crestmoor
Western hillside neighborhood with mid-century homes and views.
Rollingwood
Established hillside neighborhood on the southwestern edge.
Downtown / San Mateo Avenue
Older commercial street with nearby residential blocks.

Around town

  • San Mateo Avenue downtown with restaurants and small businesses.
  • The Shops at Tanforan site and its ongoing redevelopment.
  • Junipero Serra County Park and the Sawyer Camp Trail nearby.
  • Skyline College on the western hills.

Getting around

  • San Bruno BART station, with direct service to SFO and San Francisco.
  • San Bruno Caltrain station downtown.
  • US-101, Interstate 280, and State Route 35 (Skyline Boulevard).
  • San Francisco International Airport is adjacent to the city.

What to check

  • Aircraft noise affects parts of the city — check the specific address and flight path.
  • Hillside terrain means steep streets and driveways in several neighborhoods.
  • Older housing stock in many areas, with the renovation and permitting considerations that come with it.
  • Sections near US-101 and the rail corridor experience road and train noise.
  • Verify current transportation service, school assignment, permit requirements, hazard information, and total housing costs for the specific address.

Nearby guides

South San FranciscoNorthern Peninsula city with BART and Caltrain, a large life-sciences employment base, and bayfront redevelopment.MillbraeSmall northern Peninsula city where BART and Caltrain meet in a single station, with a walkable Broadway district.BurlingameTree-lined mid-Peninsula city with two Caltrain stations, a walkable Burlingame Avenue downtown, and older housing stock.PacificaCoastal city just south of San Francisco, made up of several distinct beach and valley neighborhoods.