Hayward Park

Okay, so when you think of the Hayward Park neighborhood in San Mateo, the first thing that it brings to mind for commuters is the Hayward Park CalTrain Station which is located here right by Highway 92. I like this fact personally since both the bf and I will be commuting in opposite directions in the fall and it would be nice to have a place that is equidistant like this.

The neighborhood here is flat, with mostly older, rather bland homes though the neighborhood is relatively nicely kept. About half the homes here were built before 1950 and there are some Jazz Age and Depression Era bungalows here and there, though it is hardly Bungalow City, Pasadena. Most of the homes here are on the smaller side—closer to 1000 sq. ft. than 2000, which is usually the case with older homes.

The median home price in Hayward Park is around $650K, which is tolerable. More than half the homes here are on the market because of foreclosure.

Prices for renting are more moderate here than in some other nearby neighborhoods. A 2-bedroom here goes for about $2000, which is not too bad.

In regards to schools, I am not exactly sure why but many of the elementary schools in the area are designated as below average in terms of API, getting scores of 3 and 4 out of 10. Even stranger is that this disappears once you hit middle school and high school, where both Borel Middle School and Aragon High have above average scores (7 and 8 respectively).
Usually it is the other way around: there will be no signs of trouble at the elementary school level and then middle schools and high school scores will drop off.

The neighborhood is relatively safe, though perhaps not quite as safe as a family might like. In the last six months for example, there have been a handful of assaults (mostly on the northern end of the neighborhood close to the Downtown area) and about a dozen burglaries. This is not terrible compared to the big city, but it is not exactly what you would like either.

In terms of entertainment and nightlife, you are right by Downtown San Mateo, so you will definitely not miss out on the fun.
But Hayward Park has a few spots worth mentioning as well. You can go to All Spice—an Indian place—or El Sinaloense—a Mexican seafood joint. You are also right by the Borel Shopping Center where you can find an Espetos Deli (a Brazilian bbq whose main restaurant is in Downtown, but which runs this excellent deli) and a Windy City Pizza. Both worth the trip.

Overall it is a pretty good neighborhood for younger couples or maybe even singles who work in the area.

Hayward Park is a lackluster San Mateo community fitted along the San Francisco peninsula. The area is completely residential and is outfitted with undesirable, lower middle-class amenities. It is rather densely populated, spanning just about .7 square miles along US Route 101 and US Route 92. Demographically speaking, there is a large white population (over 65%), while the minority is split evenly between hispanic and asian residents.

Hayward Park’s residential quarters boasts nothing more than an adequate suburban aesthetic. For the most part, homes are tucked away in an uninteresting neighborhood. They are small, boxy in shape and one-story in size (with bland, dull house fronts). Properties are petite, tightly packed along flat, residential streets offering shallow grassy yards and thin driveways. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a one-car garage to which you won’t have to park you’re vehicle on the street. For the perspective resident, much nicer residents are situated closer to US Route 92. According to the 2010 US Census, the bulk of homes are priced between $750,000 to $1 million, while typically rents will cost you over $1,200/month. Moreover, the median household income is about $72,000/year, just under the city’s average.

For commuters, Hayward Park Caltrain is situated along US Route 92 and connects residents up and down the San Francisco peninsula. Elsewhere, the San Mateo Commons Shopping Center anchors the southernmost portion of the neighborhood. The area is outfitted with a Trader Joe’s, a Ross Dress for Less, a Kmart, a Rite Aid and a couple small boutique restaurants.

I lived in Hayward Park for about 2 years, but decided to move back to the city life. I have to say that if you want to raise a family, this place wouldnt be a bad choice. It is quiet, mostly friendly people and lots to do outdoors. One of the things i loved the most about Hayward Park is that the grocery stores are very environmentally friendly. Instead of using countless numbers of grocery bags from the store, they allow you to bring your own bags. You can use anything from backpacks, luggage, pretty much anything you want. Another great thing about this area is how beautiful it is. People take very good care of their landscapes. Everywhere you look are flowers, greenery and nature. Overall, Hayward Park in San Mateo, CA is a great, relaxed place to live for a quiet couple or a family wanting to settle down.