$1,063,684Average Value$822Average Price per Sq Ft25Homes For Sale
San Mateo’s oldest and most diverse neighborhood
California sun and bay breezes greet residents of this San Francisco Peninsula suburb. Located a few minutes from the Bay shoreline, North Central’s residential streets offer walkability to local parks, shoreline trails and an abundance of dining and shopping in San Mateo’s bubbly downtown district. “North Central is a vibrant, diverse neighborhood in San Mateo that has an authentic flavor,” says local broker Joseph Stein, owner of Realty World Peninsula. “It’s a denser neighborhood but has a largely suburban feel, even though it’s so close to Downtown San Mateo.”
North Central offers scenic views of the bay and a blend of residential and recreational spaces.
Magic Mountain Playground is it a wonderful place to date your family in North Central.
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Eclectic eateries in Downtown San Mateo
Locals can get a taste of North Central’s unique flavor at an array of eateries in the area. “Restaurants in North Central and San Mateo rival what you’d find in San Francisco,” Stein says. European-style bakeries, Asian flavors and authentic Mexican can all be found here. Options range from inexpensive street food to upscale establishments like the award-winning Pausa Bar and Cookery. A selection of grocery stores and supermarkets, such as Draeger’s Market, Safeway and Dean’s Market, provide fresh produce and everyday essentials. Larger stores and retailers like Trader Joe’s and TJ Maxx are less than 4 miles south of the neighborhood.
Indulge in sweet treats at Antoine's Cookie Shop near North Central.
Residents of North Central peruse dining options in Downtown San Mateo.
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Condos, apartments and century-old homes
Condos and multi-family buildings make up most of the housing inventory here, with renters accounting for around 65% of the neighborhood’s population. Single-family homes are also available, including many early 20th century bungalow, ranch and Craftsman style homes, along with a handful of newly built townhomes. “North Central features a unique combination of historic homes interspersed with new townhouse construction,” Stein says. The median price of a Townhouses is $1.2 million, while condominiums range from $555,000 for a studio to $900,000 for a corner unit in a luxury plaza. Single-family homes, many featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms, range between $1.2 and $2.6 million.
North Central showcases classic Craftsman homes with inviting porches and charming details.
Victorian architecture in North Central shines with intricate woodwork and elegant design.
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Highly rated San Mateo schools
Students in North Central may attend top-rated schools in the area, including College Park Elementary, which earns an A rating from Niche. Borel Middle School serves sixth through eighth graders and has an A-minus rating. Centrally located within North Central, San Mateo High School is ranked the fifth-best public high school in San Mateo County and boasts an A-plus grade. Students can enroll in the high school’s performing arts center, which features award-winning music, drama and dance programs.
Borel Middle School serves students in grades 6-8.
San Mateo High has a beautiful campus in Tobin Clark Estates.
College Park Elementary, San Mateo: Shaping Bright Futures with Care.
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Community parks and Bayshore scenery
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is an anchor for North Central, Stein says. The center and its park offer various recreational options, such as dance and fitness classes and community events. Athletic opportunities for all ages are found here, from outdoor basketball courts and soccer fields to the baseball diamond. The park’s playground and seasonally open swimming pool offer family-friendly fun. In the downtown area, San Mateo Central Park provides a stunning escape for residents as they stroll through the 16 acres of Japanese gardens. Residents also take advantage of the San Fransisco Bay through Coyote Point Recreation Area and Seal Point Park in the neighboring North Shoreview community.
A woman enjoys a stroll with her two dogs at MLKJ Community Park.
San Mateo Recreation Area is situated next to a marina.
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Getting around the Peninsula and beyond
North Central is wedged between two major Caltrain stations in Burlingame and Downtown San Mateo, offering an easy way to get to either San Francisco or Silicon Valley. Thoroughfares like State Route 101 and El Camino Real connect folks to neighboring communities by car, and the San Francisco International Airport is 15 miles north. “From a quality-of-life standpoint, San Mateo has one of the highest of any community in the Bay Area because you’re centrally located on the peninsula with great commuting options,” Stein says, adding that the walkability to Downtown San Mateo is a significant draw for residents.
Caltrain access in North Central makes commuting to San Jose or San Francisco quick and easy.
North Central offers easy public transit access with its conveniently located San Mateo station.
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
Are you familiar with the North Central neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
North Central
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
North Central Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in North Central, San Mateo sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in North Central, San Mateo over the last 12 months is $833,500, down 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to resort-style living in highly sought-after Woodlake community! Beautifully updated top-floor condo offers bright, airy floor plan, natural light, peaceful tree-lined views. Freshly painted move-in ready, spacious living/dining areas open to private balcony for morning coffee or unwinding in the evening. Upgraded kitchen with stainless steel appliances, elegant stone countertops/modern
Welcome to 320 Peninsula Avenue #316, an updated 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo in a prime San Mateo location, ideally situated between San Mateo and Burlingame. Set within a quiet, well-maintained community, this home offers comfort, convenience, and walkability. The bright, open living area is filled with natural light from large windows and flows seamlessly into the dining space with a new light
Experience the perfect blend of space, light, and modern style in this desirable corner-unit residence. Spanning 1,405 sq ft, this 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home features fresh interior paint, new light fixtures, and luxury laminate flooring throughout, creating a clean, contemporary feel. Expansive windows fill the home with natural light, enhancing the open-concept living and dining area anchored
Perched on the top floor with a south-facing exposure, this charming and airy home is bright, warm, and quietly positioned with leafy cul-de-sac viewsan easy place to settle into and unwind: The home enjoys a comfortable 1-bedroom layout and a sunny, open feel, where the balcony and living and dining room blend the inside with the outside. Woodlake delivers true resort-style living with multiple
Price change for a wonderful opportunity! Perfect 2 bedroom at Woodlake! Top Floor, bright & sunny home, which has been updated with flush ceilings, an updated bath and vanity, freshly painted with crown moldings and resurfaced kitchen cabinets. This 2 bedroom Woodlake home is located on a serene courtyard and on the coveted top floor location with a large and sunny south/southeastern facing
A high-quality Peninsula duplex with stable income, minimal expense drag, and clearly defined long-term upside.117 N. Delaware Street presents a rare opportunity to acquire a well-located duplex in the heart of San Mateo. The property consists of two large units, each configured as 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with garage parking offering strong fundamentals for both owner-occupiers and long-term
**TRANSPARENT PRICING** Welcome to 409 Tilton Avenue, a beautifully updated property offering space, flexibility, and income potential. With a detached ADU, this unique property features a total of 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, making it ideal for multigenerational living, extended family, or buyers looking for a smart investment opportunity. The main home and ADU are designed to feel connected
Recently remodeled (2023) and never occupied commercial space, offering a rare move-in ready mixed-use opportunity in the heart of San Mateo Village and a central Peninsula location. This property features a street-level commercial unit with strong visibility and direct street access, along with a separately accessed upper-level residential unit. The ground-floor commercial space offers an
A secure building, private outside entrance, and extensive remodeling this condominium is perfect for starting out or downsizing. Within the past eight years, the home has been transformed with designer style, including beautiful laminate floors, wood-like plank tile floors in both bathrooms and in the laundry room, Carrara marble vanities, and a fabulous granite-finished kitchen. A fireplace in
Welcome to the Coveted Lake Front Location in the Wonderful Community of Woodlake. This Tastefully Updated 1-Bedroom Condo is The One You've Been Waiting For! First Time on the Market in Over Two Decades, this Home Offers the Perfect Blend of Tranquility and Convenience. Filled with Natural Light and Freshly Painted, this Location Provides a Bright and Inviting Canvas, Ready to Personalize Your
Seller financing/carryback available! Must see this updated one bedroom, one bathroom condo in the heart of Woodlake. Updates include newer kitchen cabinets, counters, and appliances, as well as bathroom tile and fixtures. Unique patio view of the SMHS football field. Fantastic opportunity in a great neighborhood!
Welcome to Colonial Garden Apartments, your next destination for a living experience characterized by unbeatable comforts and conveniences. From an outstanding amenity package to a plethora of exciting features, our gorgeous San Mateo apartments provide a relaxing atmosphere all our residents benefit from.
Feel at home wherever you choose to live with Blueground. You’ll love this cozy North Central furnished two bedroom apartment with its modern decor, fully equipped kitchen, and comfortable living room. Ideally located, you’re close to all the best that San Mateo has to offer! (ID #SFO517)The advertised rate of $5,430/month is the lowest available price, based on a 12 month(s) stay with a
The Ambassador Apartments, our renovated community located in the heart of San Mateo at 145 N El Camino Real near 3rd Avenue, is the perfect place to call home. When you live at The Ambassador Apartments in San Mateo, you'll enjoy a relaxed, residential neighborhood that's convenient to all points in the Bay Area. The staff The Ambassador Apartment is dedicated to providing our residents with
Welcome Home!134 Elm has it all....from its location in San Mateo's Baywood District, to our distinctive floorplans, immaculate surroundings. 134 Elm is just minutes from a myriad of restaurants, shops, parks and more. Upscale Draeger's Supermarket, Central Recreation Center and Park, San Mateo Cal Train, Parkside Plaza Shopping Center and Mills Health Center. Woodlake Shopping Center is just
Show up and start living from day one in San Mateo with this pretty one bedroom Blueground apartment. You’ll love coming home to this thoughtfully furnished, beautifully designed, and fully equipped North Central home. (ID #SFO1123)The advertised rate of $5,360/month is the lowest available price, based on a 12 month(s) stay with a move-in date of May 23, 2026. Rates vary
With an almost unheard-of-in-California Walk Score of 95, the treasure that is downtown San Mateo is always just steps away. Shop the shops, become a regular at a restaurant, and taste every season at the year-round Farmer's Market at the College of San Mateo. The Caltrain and major highways are easy access too, but around here walking is really where it's at. One day you can host a barbeque pool
Please contact the leasing office to schedule your viewing! Visit our website for comprehensive floorplans and photos.Contact us and make this fabulous community your next home.Leasing @ 888sanmateo. com888sanmateo. comSpacious, light-filled floorplans, including:• Grand 9' ceilings• Full-size washer and dryer in each apartment• Central air conditioning and
Nestled among San Mateo Park’s wooded and windy lanes, the Two Clark Drive Apartments offers its residents a tranquil suburban living environment with all the luxuries of contemporary style. The distinctive property includes a beautifully appointed lobby, lushly landscaped grounds, and a serene swimming pool that is perfect for those warm summer days on the Peninsula.The building is
Feel at home wherever you choose to live with Blueground. You’ll love this bright San Mateo Park furnished two bedroom apartment with its modern decor, fully equipped kitchen, and comfortable living room. Ideally located, you’re close to all the best that San Mateo has to offer! (ID #SFO1786)The advertised rate of $4,990/month is the lowest available price, based on a 12 month(s) stay
Discover the best of San Mateo, with this one bedroom apartment in North Central. It’ll be easy to simply show up and start living in this fashionably furnished apartment with its fully equipped kitchen, cozy living room, and our dedicated, on-the-ground support. (ID #SFO435)The advertised rate of $5,650/month is the lowest available price, based on a 11 month(s) and 29 day(s) stay with a
Feel at home wherever you choose to live with Blueground. You’ll love this pretty North Central furnished two bedroom apartment with its modern decor, fully equipped kitchen, and cheery living room. Ideally located, you’re close to all the best that San Mateo has to offer! (ID #SFO1249)The advertised rate of $5,470/month is the lowest available price, based on a 12 month(s) stay with a
Available ImmediatelyUNFURNISHED - ALL FURNITURE PICTURED IS STAGED- All utilities included in price except cable/wifi- North side of El Camino - Second floor- A few-minute walk to Burlingame Ave- Gated entry to parking- Quiet side of the building (the unit is on the back side of the property)- Close bus and train access- No petsIncludes:-
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