$1,083,884Average Value$818Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
South San Francisco neighborhood embraces unique history and culture
The neighborhood of Excelsior has taken a piece of San Francisco’s history and added its own color to forge a distinct cultural identity of its own on the south side of the city. Since its streets appeared on 1869 plat maps named for countries and international capitals, Excelsior has embraced the wider world. “Excelsior started being developed in Victorian times, but not completely,” says Tim Gullicksen, a Realtor with Corcoran Icon Properties who has managed over 600 real estate transactions in the area. “It was developed piecemeal, one or two lots at a time.” After the 1906 earthquake destroyed the homes of 250,000 people, the farming community became a refuge for displaced families. Growth was further encouraged by streetcar access to downtown jobs, and waves of first-generation Americans working in the city have made Excelsior home. Today, Paris and Madrid Streets crisscross Russia and Peru Avenues among the grid-style streets that form a hundred blocks of tightly packed homes. Excelsior is flanked by the 300-acre McLaren Park to the east and a strip of international eateries and shops on the west, creating a well-defined and vibrant community.
An early morning sunrise bathes John McLaren Park in Excelsior, San Francisco.
Morning sunshine basks the common Mediterranean home in Excelsior.
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Colorful hillside homes in varying sizes, styles and conditions
While steeply graded streets make foot travel challenging in Excelsior, the hills provide nice views of the city and the bay. Modest homes pick up some of the city’s signature styles. Colorful Victorians with gingerbread trim stand shoulder-to-shoulder with more muted Edwardian row houses. Craftsman-style cottages lean up against small-scale Mission Revivals with stucco facades and terracotta-toned Mediterraneans. Front yards are few and far between; most garages open right on the street. Outdoor spaces hide in fenced backyards. After many families were displaced during the 2008 housing crisis, home values plummeted, but they’re back up. “Since 2013 or 2014, Excelsior has been hot,” says Gullicksen. “People double park on the street for open houses because it’s affordable. The most challenging homes were flipped and are now the nicest ones.” Older homes without updates range from about $530,000 to $930,000. Smaller updated homes range from $900,000 to $1.5 million. Large homes with complete remodels, sometimes with window or rooftop views, range from $1.5 million to $2.2 million.
A small Victorian-style home nestled in Excelsior, San Francisco.
Colorful Mediterranean homes line the streets of Excelsior.
The southern hills and its homes can be seen from Excelsior’s streets.
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Active community makes use McLaren Park
Activity enlivens Excelsior’s parks and community centers. Persia Avenue dissects the neighborhood and rises into John McLaren Park, where hikers can explore miles of trails winding through woods, grasslands and marshes. Second in size to the Golden Gate Park, McLaren Park makes the most of the sweeping views and diverse natural habitat. Folded into the expansive landscape are playgrounds, sports fields, a golf course, lake and pool. The park is known for its friendliness. “People will wave and say hello. That’s not standard in San Francisco,” says Gullicksen. Within the neighborhood proper, smaller parks such as Excelsior Playground and Crocker Amazon Park feature playgrounds and sports fields. Crocker Amazon includes a clubhouse for community events. Adults and seniors can also head to the Excelsior Community Center to hang out or access community resources, or to learn tech skills in English and Chinese.
A beautiful sunrise is seen above John McLaren Park.
McLaren Upper Reservoir sits atop John McLaren Park.
John McLaren’s Jerry Garcia Amphitheater provides a viewing for intimate performances.
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Arts and music celebrated in Mission Street murals and Jerry Day
Excelsior’s community groups display public works and host events to celebrate music and the arts. A mosaic waterfall runs down the staircase in the narrow Kenny Alley, named after a cat who once lived there. Vivid murals on Mission Street facades include the “Last Supper” on the wall of the Royal Bakery, and “Waiting for the 52 Excelsior,” depicting a fishbowl view of everyday life in Excelsior. A painted portrait of Jerry Garcia honors the Grateful Dead legend, who grew up in Excelsior. Among music festivals held throughout the year in Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park, the annual Jerry Day draws thousands of tie-dyed Deadheads for a day of music. Concert goers eventually spill into the neighborhood for a night of art and after parties. Excelsior also participates in San Francisco’s Sunday Streets program, which closes streets to traffic to promote bike and pedestrian activity.
Catch a show at the John McLaren Amphitheatre.
Murals depict Excelsior and local legend, Grateful Dead musician Jerry Garcia.
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Lively Mission Street features international eateries and multiple retail outlets
Dozens of shops, restaurants and service outlets line the Mission Street commercial district from one end of Excelsior to the other. “It’s not a tourist area—no Michelin Star restaurants,” says Gullicksen. “But it’s the main drag and serves residents and their guests.” Among the eateries is Little Joe’s Pizza, in business since 1941. Pupuseria Metapan serves authentic Salvadoran food, and Do Eat Restaurant serves Cantonese. There is a Safeway grocery store on Mission Street, and the strip is lined with banks, bakeries, cleaners and other service centers. The Westlake Shopping Mall is about 4 miles away and includes a Home Depot, Trader Joe’s and Ross Dress for Less.
Order authentic Salvadorian dishes at Pupuseria Metapan in Excelsior, San Francisco.
Excelsior Coffee sits next to Glazed Donut on the corner of Excelsior and Mission Street.
Little Joe’s Pizza in Excelsior, San Francisco has a vintage red interior.
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Monroe Elementary offers bilingual tracks
Parents can apply for any school in the San Francisco Unified School District. Assignments are based on their preference and open seats, and if no preferred seats are available, children are assigned to the closest school with openings. Monroe Elementary School is located within Excelsior. It is graded B by Niche and includes Spanish and Cantonese language tracks. James Denman Middle School and Balboa High, known as “Bal,” are located just outside the neighborhood. Denman gets a B rating and Bal gets an A-minus, and offers pathways specializing in creative arts, game design and law.
Excelsior has multiple schools, including Monroe Elementary School.
San Francisco Community School offers small class sizes to promote student success.
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Public transportation and interstates connect community to city and region
Muni buses stop along Mission Street and can transport people downtown or to other San Francisco hot spots. Interstate 280 runs near the northern and western borders of Excelsior. U.S. Route 101 connects to the northern parts of the city. Travelers can pick up Interstate 80 and head to Oakland and the East Bay.
Excelsior is easy to get around thanks to the public bus system.
Sunlight falls from the east upon the Excelsior neighborhood in San Francisco.
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
Eddie O'Sullivan,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Purple Park Playground
John McLaren Park
St Mary's Playground & Recreation Center
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Dog Park
Excelsior Playground
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Picnic Area
John McLaren Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Golf
Cayuga & Lamartine Mini Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
Transit
Airport
San Francisco International
19 min drive
Bus
Sunnydale Ave & Mclaren School
Bus
Moscow St & France Ave
Bus
Geneva Ave & Moscow St
Bus
Mission St & Excelsior Ave
Bus
Silver Ave & Gambier St
Bus
Prague St & Persia Ave
Bus
Russia Ave & Moscow St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Excelsior
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
2
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Excelsior, San Francisco sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Excelsior, San Francisco over the last 12 months is $1,159,446, up 2% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Exceptional Excelsior! This well-maintained, Midcentury home retains its vintage charm. A large skylight brightens the entry stairs leading to a gracious living room with parquet floors and a wood-burning fireplace. The eat-in kitchen offers expansive views north and west and receives natural light from an additional skylight. The tiled bathroom has a walk-in shower and separate soaking tub, both
Dreaming of your own slice of San Francisco charm? Welcome to this beautifully updated single-story home in the heart of the Excelsior, where city living meets comfort and convenience. Just steps from the rolling trails and open space of John McLaren Park, this home invites you in with warmth and ease. Inside, natural light fills every corner. The living, dining, and kitchen areas flow together
Welcome to 210 Edinburgh Street - A Rare Gem in the Excelsior District On the market for the first time in 60 years, this charming four-bedroom, two-bath home is full of warmth, character, and potential. Located in the heart of San Francisco's vibrant Excelsior neighborhood, 210 Edinburgh offers an ideal layout for comfortable living and entertaining. The upper level features two spacious
Welcome to this charming 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom home located in the vibrant city of San Francisco. Offering 1,037 square feet of living space, (with an additional full bath upstairs, a finished basement with 2 rooms, kitchenette and living space). This home features a well-equipped kitchen with a gas cooktop, quartz countertops, hood over range, gas oven, and refrigerator. The flooring throughout
YOU BUY! YOU FIX! YOU SAVE OR BUILD YOU DREAM HOME! Welcome to your new home in vibrant highly desirable excelsior District of San Francisco This charming fixer upper, 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom residence offers 815 sq ft of living space, perfectly situated on a lot of approximately 2,500 sq ft. The kitchen is equipped with modern amenities including a stone countertop, dishwasher, built-in oven range
This Charming home awaiting your personal touch, just need some TLC will transform it into the perfect home. Located in the Excelsior district, the home has the urban convenience you can experience . Upstairs has 2 bed, 1 bath with the added bonus of a separate 2 bed, 1 bath downstairs for flexibility or rental income. The garage has a lifted panel and can be easily converted back into a
4757 Mission Street #5 -- Cross Street: Russia Ave**EMAIL FOR VIRTUAL TOUR**DESCRIPTION:This 1 bed, 1 bath Excelsior Apartment is conveniently located on Mission Street at Russia Ave. The unit consists of a spacious and bright living/dining area open to the kitchen. Excellent location, two blocks to Safeway, minutes to John McLaren and Crocker Amazon Park. Set at the back of
3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Beautiful and Spacious unit in San Francisco Fantastic view of the city, Great natural light, big kitchen, hardwood floor, lots of closet space, modern, spotless, clean, newly painted and upgraded. Washer and Dryer in the unit. Close to most public transportation. Within minutes to downtown. Walking distance to Mission to enjoy multi-cultural shopping and dining. Close
Cute and cozy freshly painted studio in 3-unit building located in a convenient neighborhood. Separate full kitchen with appliances and 2 bar stools included. Yard access. Very efficient heating system. Public transport just steps away. Mission Street shops and restaurants 3 blocks away. BART less than 1 mile away. Laundry in building. Street parking. One year lease. Good credit
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Eddie O'Sullivan,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
17,654
Median Age
45
Population Density
25 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18.5%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$106,353
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$133,896
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
77.1%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
31.8%
Advanced Degrees
8.6%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
68.2%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
22''
Average Winter Low Temperature
46°F
Average Summer High Temperature
68°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
41/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
65/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
67/ 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.
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.
