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Portola Highlands

Portola Highlands

$1,642,092 Average Value
$807 Average Price per Sq Ft

A quiet suburb surrounded by Bay Area nature

Situated halfway between Pacifica Pier and San Francisco International Airport, San Bruno’s Portola Highlands neighborhood offers easy access to surfing, travel and nature. "You're high on the hill, so there are great views," says broker-owner Jason Born of Born Real Estate, who has nearly two decades of experience selling homes in the area. "It's a wonderful place to be. Great for outdoorsy people since it connects to the Sneath Lane Trail." This mid-20th century suburban development is also home to scores of colorful, hillside homes overlooking the Bay Area’s terrain and State Route 35
Portola Highlands offers a peaceful retreat with winding roads and expansive hillside views.
Portola Highlands offers a peaceful retreat with winding roads and expansive hillside views.
Sneath Lane trail offers a peaceful retreat with winding roads and expansive hillside views.
Sneath Lane trail offers a peaceful retreat with winding roads and expansive hillside views.
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Backyard trails and Pacific views

Portola Highlands is surrounded by opportunities for outdoor recreation; the Pacific coast is just 5 miles to the west, while San Bruno Mountain is a 10-mile trip to the north. "There are a lot of parks in that area," says Born. "There's an open preserve right behind it that's all park."
Sneath Lane Trail wraps around this community and makes every backyard a gateway to outdoor exploration. This trail connects with the larger Sweeney Ridge Trail, which leads to the site where Spanish adventurer Gaspar de Portola famously first saw the San Francisco Bay .
"Sweeney Ridge Trail is beautiful and connects to the Mori trails - those go to the ocean," says Born. "The views from Mori Point? Amazing. You can practically see all the way down the coast.”
Pacifica Heights Park, just a block north of the neighborhood, includes a small play area for children. The Sharp Park Golf Course, 4 miles west of Portola Highlands, was designed by the same architect behind the Augusta National, home of the Masters Tournament, and is open to the public.
Sweeney Ridge open space offers tranquility for Portola Highlands residents.
Sweeney Ridge open space offers tranquility for Portola Highlands residents.
Sneath Lane trail has winding paths that make Portola Highlands a haven for outdoor lovers.
Sneath Lane trail has winding paths that make Portola Highlands a haven for outdoor lovers.
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Hillside homes with views of San Bruno Mountain

Portola Highlands is named for Portola, whose travels in the 1770s took him through the Bay Area hills atop which this neighborhood was developed two centuries later. Homes built from the 1960s to 1970s line Portola Highlands’ hillsides, most of them raised ranches with small front yards and driveways. Portola Highlands’ streets tend to be grid-patterned, and Sneath Lane wraps around this compact neighborhood and forms its border. Houses in Portola Highlands vary in price from $1.4 million to $1.7 million and in size from three bedrooms to four bedrooms.
Portola Highlands offers charming homes and quiet streets surrounded by lush greenery.
Portola Highlands offers charming homes and quiet streets surrounded by lush greenery.
Enjoy Portola Highlands' scenic roads and charming homes, just minutes from scenic Pacifica.
Enjoy Portola Highlands' scenic roads and charming homes, just minutes from scenic Pacifica.
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Shopping around San Bruno

Though Portola Highlands may be distant from downtown San Bruno, shopping and dining options are just around the corner. Lunardi’s supermarket sits just across Skyline Boulevard from the neighborhood, while Sneath Lane connects Portola Highlands to the shopping centers along Interstate 280 and El Camino Real.
The Bayhill Shopping Center, located along San Bruno Avenue, includes a Mollie Stone’s Markets grocery store in addition to several eateries. One of them, Ichika Izakaya, specializes in wagyu beef, sushi and other Japanese staples.
Family waiting to buy a piñata adding festive joy to their day near Portola Highlands.
Family waiting to buy a piñata adding festive joy to their day near Portola Highlands.
Customers waiting for their hot food at Lunardi's near Portola Highlands.
Customers waiting for their hot food at Lunardi's near Portola Highlands.
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Avid learning at Capuchino High

Portola Elementary School receives a B rating from Niche, while Parkside Intermediate School scores a B-minus. Capuchino High School, given an A-minus rating, has a strong reputation of academic and athletic excellence. The Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) program prepares students for their post-secondary futures through challenging International Baccalaureate classes. This school’s varsity sports programs vary from basketball and soccer to golf and swimming. The school’s baseball and softball teams both won their section titles in 2024.
Capuchino High School is a highly rated, public school located in San Bruno.
Capuchino High School is a highly rated, public school located in San Bruno.
Portola Elementary School is where Portola Highlands locals prefer to send their kids.
Portola Elementary School is where Portola Highlands locals prefer to send their kids.
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Commuting into San Francisco

Portola Highlands is connected to the wider Bay Area by both highways and public transportation. San Francisco International Airport is 5 miles away. Residents can get to downtown San Francisco by hopping on Interstate 280 for 15 miles. The ride to the city on the SamTrans bus and from the San Bruno BART station both take about an hour.
Portola Highlands offers convenient SamTrans bus routes, linking residents to Skyline College.
Portola Highlands offers convenient SamTrans bus routes, linking residents to Skyline College.
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Bay Area from Portola Highlands, a tranquil hilltop community.
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Bay Area from Portola Highlands, a tranquil hilltop community.
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Jacob Adelhoch
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
Sean Viray
Photography Contributed By
Sean Viray
Joey Kaigler
Video By
Joey Kaigler

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Jason Born, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

San Francisco International

12 min drive

Bus

Sneath Ln & Monterey Dr

Bus

Sneath Ln & Colusa Ct

Bus

Riverside Dr & Sneath Ln

Bus

Sneath Ln & Mendocino Ct

Bus

Riverside Dr & Moreland Dr

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Portola Highlands US
Homicide 1 4
Sexual Assault 1 4
Assault with Weapon 2 4
Robbery 2 4
Burglary 2 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 3 4
Larceny 2 4
Crime Score 2 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Portola Highlands Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$1,549,000
Median Sale Price
$1,650,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,650,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
-3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
17
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-1%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$807

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
495
Median Year Built
1965
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,968
On par with the national average
1,927
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Jason Born, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
1,526
Median Age
46
Population Density
10 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.2%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$156,250
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$193,632

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
87.6%
College Graduates
57.4%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
15.1%
% Population in Labor Force
73.2%
Above the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
20''
Average Winter Low Temperature
44°F
Average Summer High Temperature
73°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

14 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

25 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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Reviews

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Portola Highlands
Jason Born
Born Real Estate, Inc.
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