San Carlos, California

San Carlos, California is often a city people drive by when they’re making their way from Palo Alto to San Francisco. But if you’ve never had a chance to stop and wander Laurel Street, you’re in for a treat next time you make the detour. After all, they don’t call it “The City of Good Living” for nothing.

Where Is San Carlos, California Located?

Nestled almost midway between San Francisco and San Jose, the city of San Carlos is a small suburban community located on the San Francisco peninsula of Northern California. It is one of 20 cities in San Mateo County, with easy access to Interstate 280 and US Highway 101 - the two main arteries for north/south travel in the region.

San Carlos is bordered on the west by the Santa Cruz Mountains, just 30 minutes from the Pacific Ocean, and on the east by the San Francisco Bay. So no matter which direction you turn, beautiful water views are not far away.

Demographics

Area: 5.51 square miles

Estimated Population in 2017: 30,499 of which 61% are between the ages of 18 and 65 (24.1% under 18, 14.9% are 65+) and slightly more than half (52.3%) are females

Diversity: 77.3% White, 14.8% Asian, 10.2% Hispanic, less than 1% are Black, African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

Education Level: 97.3% are high school graduates or higher and 66.3% possess at least a Bachelor’s Degree

Median Household Income: $152,521

Median Home Value: $1,240,800

Median Gross Rent: $2,043

Average Travel Time To Work: 28.8 minutes

(Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts)

Top 10 San Carlos Employers - 2018

Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Natera Inc
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Recology San Mateo County
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Delta Star Inc.
The Home Depot
Opportun, Inc.
Check Point Software Tech, Inc.
George P. Johnson Company

(Source: City of San Carlos Comprehensive Annual Fiscal Report, 2018)

Because San Carlos is in the heart of Silicon Valley, many more employment opportunities are available - within a short commute - at some of the nation’s largest, most reputable companies such as Apple, Alphabet (part of the Google family of companies), Oracle, Cisco Systems, Facebook, Kaiser Permanente, Stanford Health Care, Stanford University, and many more. (Source: Silicon Valley Business Journal).

If big and corporate aren’t your style, the Silicon Valley is also known as the home of tech start-ups - small, agile, companies that are focused on creating new technologies or re-imagining existing technologies to revolutionize our lives.

There are also lots of other small to medium-sized businesses in the area that serve a variety of industries...which is probably the reason why the unemployment rate for San Carlos is so low (2.3%) and projected job growth is expected to be 36.6% over the next 10 years - outpacing than the national average of 33.5%. (Source: Sperling’s Best Places)

Cost of Living

So you may be wondering what it costs to live in an area with great views, great weather year-round, and great jobs. And the answer is… it isn’t cheap.

The overall cost of living in San Carlos, California is 88% higher than the national average, most of which is attributable to housing costs which are almost 4.8 times the national average.

In spite of the high cost of housing, when it comes to quality of life, San Carlos ranks in the top 10 percent of cities nationwide due to amenities (like access to groceries, restaurants, shopping, schools, parks, libraries, entertainment, etc.), low crime, abundant employment opportunities, awesome schools, and great weather.

(Sources: Payscale, AreaVibes)

Is San Carlos Safe?

The total crime rate for San Carlos is 25.28 per 1,000 residents, making it safer than 23% of U.S. cities. What’s important to note, though, is that the majority of those crimes are property crimes (burglary, automobile theft, arson, shoplifting, vandalism). Violent crimes are substantially lower at only 2.03 per 1,000 residents, which is 48% below the national average, and almost 55% below California’s average - making San Carlos a great place to live and raise a family.

(Source: NeighborhoodScout)

Weather

Temperatures range from 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the coldest winter months (December and January) to around 82 degrees Fahrenheit during the warmest summer months (July and August). But the average temperature in San Carlos, California is 51-63 degrees Fahrenheit. So it’s a good idea to dress in layers and have a sweater or jacket handy for the cooler parts of the day - in the early morning before the sun has had a chance to warm things up, when ocean breezes kick in, and after the sun sets and temperatures begin to drop.

(Source: AreaVibes)

Airports & Transportation

When it comes to travel and transportation, residents of San Carlos have lots of choices.

Two international airports - San Francisco International Airport and San Jose International Airport - are within 30 miles, and the San Carlos airport (just off US Highway 101) is available for private jets or charter flights.

Commuters benefit from the local Caltrain station - a rail line that serves customers in San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties - and Samtrans - a bus service that shuttles commuters throughout San Mateo County, into portions of San Francisco and Palo Alto, and to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations or other community shuttles.

Hospitals & Healthcare

San Carlos is just 25 minutes from the world-class healthcare provided by Stanford Health Care - a Level 1 trauma center, certified comprehensive stroke center, and #9 on US News & World Report’s Best Hospitals 2018-2019. Stanford has more than 1,800 doctors in 33 specialties and 460 clinics at various locations throughout the Silicon Valley.

Other area hospitals and urgent care facilities include:

Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City
San Mateo Medical Center - a county general hospital
Dignity Heath’s Sequoia Hospital
Sutter Health’s Palo Alto Medical Foundation San Carlos Center
US Healthworks Urgent Care

Schools

The San Carlos School District is comprised of seven schools which serve students from preschool to eighth grade.

Elementary Schools (PreK - 3rd grade)

Upper Elementary Schools (4th - 5th grade)

Middle Schools (6th - 8th grade)

Charter Schools (K - 8th)

San Carlos Charter Learning Center

Students in grades 9 - 12 are served by the Sequoia Union High School District in Redwood City.

Public High Schools

Charter Schools

East Palo Alto Academy

Middle Colleges (11th - 12th)

Canada Middle College

A middle college enables high school juniors and seniors to attend school on a college campus and complete high school English and social studies courses while also taking community college classes that count toward high school graduation and transfer to 4-year university.

GreatSchools.org rates 5 of the area’s 27 schools “above average” while the others are not yet rated.

Colleges & Universities

The State of California has an extensive system of colleges and universities that are governed by the California Community Colleges System and the California State University System. There are 137 campuses statewide with even more off-campus sites conveniently located for students.

The community college system schools provide a more affordable 2-year education and offer courses that transfer to a 4-year college or university, or for personal enrichment.

The state university system is the nation’s largest four-year public university system, and some campuses offer advanced degrees.

Community colleges closest to San Carlos include:

Canada College in Redwood City, California
College of San Mateo
Foothill College in Los Altos, California
Chabot College in Hayward, California
Skyline College in San Bruno, California
De Anza College in Cupertino, California
Mission College in Santa Clara, California
City College of San Francisco
College of Alameda
Ohlone College in Fremont, California
Laney College in Oakland, California
Merritt College in Oakland, California
West Valley College in Saratoga, California
San Jose City College

The state universities closest to San Carlos include:

California State University - East Bay in Hayward, California
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
University of California - Berkeley Extension in Belmont, California

In addition, there are numerous private colleges and universities that serve students throughout California. Most notable and also closest to San Carlos is Stanford University which has been one of the nation’s leading research schools and known for providing outstanding education in law, engineering, business, and medicine since 1885.

Other Things You Should Know About San Carlos, CA

Fun & Friendly
San Carlos is a close-knit community that still encourages block parties as a way to get to know your neighbors and form strong bonds with others in the community.
Safety-Conscious
That’s why they have special firearm regulations that require residents who keep firearms in their homes to store them in a locked container or disabled with a trigger lock.
Health-Conscious
San Carlos has adopted ordinances that ban smoking in multi-unit housing, ban the sale of flavored tobacco products within the city limits, and ban the sale of all tobacco products in pharmacies.
Civic-Minded
Residents of San Carlos care about the challenges facing their community and its members, and are committed to making a positive contribution by participating in local volunteer opportunities .

Things To See And Do In San Carlos, California

And if the great weather, beautiful scenery, and friendly people aren’t enough, there are lots of activities to enjoy in and around San Carlos including:

Relaxing at one of the many area parks
Hiking and exploring local trails
Participating in local adult and youth sports
Attending community events like Music In The Park, Movies In The Park, Art & Wine Faire, the Farmer’s Market, and more
Visiting one of the area’s museums
Visiting a local winery or brewing company
Aerial tours and whale watching via helicopter or airplane
Surfing lessons
Shopping at Hillsdale Shopping Center or Bridgepointe Shopping Center in San Mateo
Visiting the Japanese Gardens in San Mateo
Going to the beach
Dining at one of the area’s fine restaurants

If you’re a fan of professional sports, professional team events are just minutes away! San Francisco is home to the 49ers (football), Giants (baseball), and Bulls (hockey). Oakland is home to the Golden State Warriors (basketball), Raiders (football), and Athletics (baseball). And San Jose is home to the Sharks (hockey) and Earthquakes (soccer).

The Bay Area is also rich in arts, entertainment, music, and cultural events with dozens of music halls, amphitheaters, theaters, playhouses and more.

So you can enjoy the quaint, small-town charm and low-key recreation within San Carlos, or you can venture a few miles away and revel in high-energy big-town entertainment. It’s up to you!