Belmont

Belmont is the upper middle class community just to the southwest of Foster City.

At Belmont’s heart there is a fairly vibrant commercial area where stores like Sandal World mix in with old bunker style warehouses with curved roofs. If you are an REI type, you might enjoy Planet Granite in Belmont—great for climbers. There is also a pretty good selection of bars and nightspots here—especially if you are into sports bars. The best choices, in my opinion, are Aussiello’s Tavern and the Lariat Tavern. You will also find lots of restaurants here, from Koriander (an Indian place) to Shalizar (an Iranian place). There are also lots of Italian and French places like Iron Gate.

Notre Dame De Namur University, an independent Catholic college with an emphasis on Masters programs, is also in Belmont, so you get a fair number students in the area as well though they mostly commute into Belmont. The schools for younger folks are also excellent—a big draw for families.

Up in the hills surrounding this area, are a number of quaint older homes dating back to the 50s and 60s. As you creep up into the hills, the homes tend to get newer and more expensive, with a fair number around the $1 million range. The median home price in Belmont is probably around $700K with the majority of the lower cost homes being near the freeway and the majority of those above being on the higher elevations.

Sadly, about half the homes are currently on sale due to foreclosure, which means that home prices are probably below the average they would otherwise be.

Nestled between San Mateo and San Carlos, Belmont shares the same upper middle-class appeal as its affluent neighbors. Its proximity to the San Francisco Bay and commute between popular job hubs of San Jose and San Francisco make it a popular spot amongst young families. Aesthetically speaking, it is a quiet residential community, filled with woodsy hills and great stretches of open space. And with a population of over 26,000 residents, Belmont has a bit of a small town ambiance that radiates throughout the community.

A city in San Mateo County, Belmont’s residential quarters are complete with leafy sidewalks, large homes and a sense of tranquility that never seems to get old. The town itself spreads about 4.6 square miles and sits among foothills. Most homes sit on inclines and own great views of the countryside and San Francisco Bay. Residents have enough money to spoil their elegant homes and large secluded yards. To get to these residences, you have to climb steep, narrow and winding roads that carve around the densely hilly/forestry geography. For the average resident, median house prices are estimated at about $830,00, while the typical household rakes in just over $100,000/year. Also, Belmont’s racial makeup is predominately white (about 2/3rds), while the minority is mixed between Hispanic and Asians.

Nestled in between US Route 101 and Highway 280, the city lays few ground to residential quarters. It’s most notable shopping hub is located along El Camino Real. Belmont’s top employers consist of Oracle (up to 1000 Belmont employees) and Cengage Learning which delivers high-quality tutoring for all ages. For young families, crime is relatively non-existent, making for an attractive family-friendly environment. Moreover, the city’s school district ranks among the top in San Mateo County. They include Carlmont High School and Ralston Middle School, both of which boast high test scores