San Carlos Community Guide

San Carlos has always been a nice place to live, noted by their motto, “The City of Good Living.” The schools are consistently good and it’s common for people to raise their families here and stay through retirement. It’s become even more desirable over the past 15 years with a revitalized downtown, a wave of new construction and young professionals recognizing the appeal of its small town feel with all the modern amenities.

Located between San Francisco and San Jose, San Carlos is suitable for most commutes. There are a ton of community events to keep residents busy—a Sunday Farmer’s Market, seasonal Wine Walks, a summer concert series and Hometown Days, a tradition since 1979.

Once a sleepy downtown with a handful of restaurants, Laurel Street is now thriving. It’s almost impossible to find a parking spot at lunch or dinner time. There are a few local chains like Blue Line Pizza and Susie Cakes but mostly you will find places unique to the area like Town or Pazzo, which was featured on the Food Network channel. There’s a string of wine bars, boutiques and popular, family-owned Bianchini’s Market.

New construction is prevalent. Condos and apartment buildings are springing up near the Caltrain station and on the edges of downtown. And many of the more modest single-family homes are going down to the studs and coming back with more than double the square footage. Still, San Carlos has retained much of the charm and character that has always attracted people to the city.

Here’s a look at the five neighborhoods that make up San Carlos:

Howard Park

Howard Park encompasses downtown and residential streets with great walkability. Burton Park is a town landmark with playground, sports’ fields, Youth Center and a host to many community events. Nearby, you’ll find Eucalyptus Street, the most famous street in San Carlos, attracting thousands of visitors during the holidays with their all-out decorations. If you sell your home on this street, you even need to mention the lights in your disclosure package.

El Sereno Corte

Situated between Burton Park and Redwood City, locals tend to call this area White Oaks. It’s the type of community where neighbors become lifelong friends. Block parties are common, the streets are all flat and kids are always playing outside. Every home here is a little different, and you’ll find a mix of original and remodeled architecture. Lots are average in size and many backyards are shrinking as homeowners opt for larger homes.

Photo by Valentina Nurmatova — Photo by Valentina Nurmatova

Cordes

This neighborhood sits opposite of downtown, between El Camino and San Carlos Avenue, all the way to its shared border with Belmont. Near downtown, you’ll find a lot of multi-family buildings but the rest of the community is predominantly single-family homes. There are many hilly streets with some quite large homes at the top. Arguello Park is a great escape with BBQ pits, hiking trails, sports fields and a playground.

Beverly Terrace

This is considered the hills of San Carlos, and has a very outdoorsy, resort vibe. There are a ton of mature trees up in the canyons and it’s common to see deer walking down the street. This is where you’ll find the largest homes in San Carlos, many with sweeping Bay views. You’ll also find clusters of townhouses and condos.

Alder Manor

This neighborhood is bordered by Alameda and Brittan Avenue and flows into Redwood City’s Emerald Hills neighborhood. Some parts of this neighborhood even fall under Redwood City schools, which can affect resale value. Houses here are typically larger than those closer to downtown, many with views, good-sized lots and more privacy. Eaton Park is a great place to hike if you’re looking for a view. It’s also the site of the 4-H Club so it’s common to see kids walking their lambs in the neighborhood.

Clearfield Park

This neighborhood is the only part of San Carlos that sits east of El Camino. Homes here are smaller and typically more affordable than the rest of the city but come with a lot of charm. You’ll find a mix of residential and industrial use in this neighborhood. There’s quite a few wineries and breweries like Blue Oak, Devil’s Canyon and Domenico—many with a hip, warehouse feel and occasional live music or food trucks. There are plans for a huge biotech campus that could bring up to 7,000 more workers into the community.

Bonus: San Carlos Airport

There’s been an airport in San Carlos since World War I. It was relocated to its current location, on the other side of highway 101, in 1948. It’s home to around 500 aircrafts, 25 aviation-related businesses and is a hub for emergency services and pilot training. There’s also the very popular, family-friendly Hiller Aviation Museum. They have a revolving fleet of food trucks on site once a week for lunch.

Cover photo: FilterGrade on Unsplash