$1,292,845Average Value$815Average Price per Sq Ft10Homes For Sale
Home to South San Francisco’s iconic landmark sign
The neighborhood of Sign Hill is named after the park that’s home to the iconic 100-year-old local landmark sign that reads, “South San Francisco The Industrial City.” This South San Francisco suburb was formerly a convenient location for many industrial warehouses that have now become office buildings for numerous biotech companies. Today, its vintage charm is a big appeal for many, with a mixed architectural landscape featuring views of the city and San Bruno Mountain, plus easy access to San Francisco and beyond. “Sign Hill is close to public transportation and is also next to downtown South San Francisco, which is a big draw,” says Wilson Leung, a local realtor of 13 years and co-broker of OWN Real Estate. “It’s probably one of the closest neighborhoods to Oyster Point, which is a big biotech hub in the area, so it’s a very convenient neighborhood for commuting residents.”
Mid-century homes and city views
Sign Hill’s softly hilly streets feature narrow sidewalks with a mix of one-level and two-level homes. “The neighborhood is almost set up into two sections, where in the front part of it, you have a couple of streets with very large homes, more space and nice views of the city,” Leung says. “Then, in the back portion of the neighborhood, there’s more of an older housing track with smaller, one-story homes or properties that have been updated and built up to be two stories.” Although widely varied, the most common housing styles include midcentury ranch homes, split-levels, bungalows from the 1920s and boxy 1930s Mediterranean-style homes. The properties often feature compact front yards either landscaped with flowers and shrubs or transformed into wider driveways. Housing prices start from around $885,000 for smaller single-level properties and up to $1.9 million for two-level, 4-bedroom homes with updated modern interiors and extra lot space.
Sign Hill Park serves as a backdrop for many Sign Hill homes.
Even Mediterranean homes still have a signature San Francisco look in Sign Hill.
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Local dining and shopping along Grand Avenue
While shopping, dining and grocery essentials are more limited within Sign Hill, many options are located nearby. Sign Hill’s proximity to South San Francisco’s downtown area gives residents access to various eateries along Grand Avenue. Locals often wait in lines for a table at Grand Palace, a Chinese restaurant with a spacious banquet-style dining room, well known for their dim sum and Cantonese delicacies. Brothers Café is a highly rated spot for elevated American comfort food and features a quaint covered front patio. The café’s menu items are made from locally sourced ingredients, with favorites including oatmeal pancakes and eggs benedict. One of the most trendy and hip spots along Grand Avenue is Dead Eye Coffee, serving classic and specialty coffee varieties and pastries. Residents can drive less than two miles west along El Camino Real to pick up groceries at Safeway, or the nearby Pacific Supermarket, which offers specialty Asian food items. For more shopping, the Shops at Tanforan is two miles south of Sign Hill, with popular retailers like Petco and Target.
Families can shop along Grand Avenue near Sign Hill.
Grand Palace near Sign Hill draws large crowds for lunch and dinner.
Coffee shops line Grand Avenue near Sign Hill.
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Nearby hiking trails and infamous neighborhood park
Residents can enjoy recreational attractions inside and outside of the neighborhood. Sign Hill Park, which features the popular Hike Ridge Trail, is located within the neighborhood and offers access to the eponymous “sign” on the “hill.” The 65-foot-tall set of letters reading, “South San Francisco the Industrial City" is an infamous Northern California landmark. Hikers here can get close to it from the Ridge Trail, which spans a little over a mile and winds throughout the park. The site is also popular for its scenic natural surroundings, where native wildlife sightings are common. The Terrabay Gymnasium, located in the northern part of the neighborhood, features a public fitness room, playground area and an open gym for playing badminton, basketball, tennis or pickleball. The gymnasium is home to many of the community’s youth sports league games as well. Just outside and directly north of Sign Hill is the expansive San Bruno Mountain State and County Park where residents can explore scenic hiking and biking trails that lead up to panoramic views of the San Francisco Peninsula.
Enjoy a hike at Sign Hill Park in Sign Hill on a warm day.
Outdoor types can run their dogs along the trails on Sign Hill.
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Outdoor concert series and Halloween festivals
Many events take place throughout the year in the South San Francisco area, particularly at nearby Orange Memorial Park. Less than a mile from the neighborhood, the park hosts a Movie in the Parks event each summer, where residents enjoy family-friendly movies on the lawn. The park also holds a Concerts in the Park series each spring, with live music performances from local musicians. The annual Halloween Extravaganza is another favorite at the park, featuring a trunk-or-treat set-up, a petting zoo, a haunted house and a floating pumpkin patch at the site’s public swimming pool.
Hang a hammock in Orange Memorial Park and enjoy the sunny afternoon.
A man reads a book in Orange Memorial Park .
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Public schools with state-of-the-art biotech labs
Students can attend Spruce Elementary School, which gets a C-rating from Niche, followed by the B-minus-rated Parkway Heights Middle School. For high schoolers, South San Francisco High School is rated at a B-plus. In 2017, the school launched its popular Science Garage, a state-of-the-art biotech lab and classroom backed by a $7.8 million grant from the Genentech Foundation. For residents looking for a private school alternative, the nearby All Souls Catholic High School is a popular choice. It serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8.
Spruce Elementary School serves Sign Hill students.
South San Francisco High School serves area neighborhoods including Sign Hill.
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Close to main highways and BART stations
Sign Hill sits between two major thoroughfares, El Camino Real and Highway 101's Bayshore Freeway, which connect to Interstate 280 for getting around the Peninsula. San Francisco is located about 10 miles north, and Oakland is 20 miles northeast. Residents have easy access to San Francisco International Airport, less than six miles from Sign Hill. There are multiple public bus stops just south of the neighborhood along Grand Avenue, and less than two miles west is the South San Francisco BART station.
South San Francisco has its very own BART station to get across the central Bay Area.
Sign Hill is not far from the Interstate 280 freeway.
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
Gregory Strang,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Orange Memorial Park
Jack Drago Park
Centennial Way Dog Park
City Hall Play Area
Sign Hill Park
Firth Memorial Park
Transit
Airport
San Francisco International
10 min drive
Bus
Hillside Blvd & Drake Ave
Bus
Hillside Blvd & Lincoln St
Bus
Hillside Blvd & North Spruce Ave
Bus
Hillside Blvd Ext & S San Francisco Dr
Bus
One Tower Place
Bus
Hillside Blvd & Franklin Ave
Bus
Hillside Blvd & Grove Av
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Sign Hill
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Sign Hill, South San Francisco sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Sign Hill, South San Francisco over the last 12 months is $1,307,808, up 6% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Perched atop the South San Francisco hills, this updated 2 BD + loft, 1.5BA townhouse-style condo offers 1,489 sqft of stylish living with unobstructed city views. Enter through a spacious foyer with soaring ceilings and a statement rattan light fixture. The open living, dining, and kitchen area is filled with natural light from high windows and dual sliding glass doors. The kitchen features
Fully updated in 2025, this beautiful 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath single-family home in the desirable Terrabay Village offers 1,950 sqft across 3 levels. This home features new flooring throughout and an open-concept living space that flows from the living room to the kitchen and breakfast nook, with peaceful views of Terrabay Playing Fields. The kitchen has been tastefully updated with quartz
Welcome to 138 Arden Avenue, set in the peaceful Paradise Valley neighborhood of South San Francisco! This rare opportunity offers not just one, but two homes on a spacious corner lot perfect for homeowners looking to offset their mortgage, accommodate multigenerational living, or for investors to add to their portfolio. The main home features 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, complete with a updated
Luxury High-Rise with Stunning Views & Extra Storage! Welcome to 1 Mandalay Pl UNIT 11112 beds, 2 baths, 1,261 sqft, plus a SEPARATE, EXTRA STORAGE UNIT. This bright, beautifully upgraded home features an amazing floorplan, open living space, and stunning views. The gourmet kitchen is ideal for entertaining. Enjoy top-tier amenities like a gym, workroom, and garden. Unbeatable location near SFO,
Experience the pinnacle of high-rise living in this stunning 1-bed, 1-bath condo, offering 907 sq ft w/a large 100+ sq ft private balcony (1 of 6 in the entire Bldg). From the moment you enter the grand lobby, the ambiance of luxury is undeniable. A bright & airy lounge welcomes you before you ascend to the peaceful heights of the 6th floor. Inside, the open-concept living & dining areas are
Welcome home to The Peninsula Mandalay! The Peninsula Mandalay, South San Francisco's iconic luxury high-rise, is ideally located between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, just 5 miles from SFO. Residence 1008 is one of the largest one-bedroom floor plans, featuring a spacious office den and offering remarkably quiet and private living spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows that face the serene
Spacious, Fully Renovated Townhouse with Large Yard & Attached Garage.Discover the perfect blend of comfort, style, and convenience in this beautifully renovated 2-story townhouse offering 2,050 sq. ft. of livable space in the heart of Terrabay a safe, family-friendly neighborhood.Home Features:- Bright & Open Layout Enjoy a thoughtfully designed space that enhances natural
Welcome to 641 Stonegate Dr! This charming townhouse offers modern living with great features. With 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, this home provides 1628 sq ft of inviting living space perfect for those seeking comfort and convenience.Key Features:Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2.5Square Footage: 1628 sq ftParking: 2 private parking spacesLaundry: In unitAppliances:
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Gregory Strang,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
7,057
Median Age
45
Population Density
12 ppl/acre
Population under 18
18.8%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$137,796
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$164,987
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
86.1%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
47.3%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
13.8%
% Population in Labor Force
64.5%
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®
34/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
65/ 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.
