Hillside

Nestled between the San Bruno Mountain State Park and Mission Street, Hillside is a largely residential neighborhood. It is located within the vastly unglamorous Daly City, but is conveniently located to San Francisco and its many peripheral attractions. Demographically speaking, the total population is very diverse and hosts over 16,000 residents. In fact, the majority is split between hispanic and asian residents, while a small white minority makes up the rest.

The district’s residential quarters are not much to look at. Houses are typically two-stories in size and tightly packed along gritty suburban streets. Most homes are designed with two-car garages situated on the ground floor, while the rest of the residence sits above (whether it be one or two more stories). For perspective home buyers, house values are estimated around $500,000 to $750,000 in price, while pricier homes concentrated around the eastern quadrant. Moreover, the average resident rakes in around $80,000/year. Properties are somewhat unattractive as well. Front yards are just cement lots for parking, almost as if you were in congested San Francisco suburbia. Many people also rent here, but residences are too plain looking to offer anything special.

For young families, Hillside offers a few elementary schools within its limits, which include John F. Kennedy Elementary and Hillsdale Elementary School. Elsewhere you can find Jefferson High School, which skirts the western edge of Mission Street. Unfortunately, none of these schools have a good reputation amongst locals. If you travel along Mission Street, you’ll hit Hillside’s unpolished commercial quarters. It hosts a handful of fast food chains, unkempt business fronts, rundown neighborhood restaurants, a Starbucks and one or two auto repair shops.

Hillside’s proximity to public transportation makes it a somewhat bearable community. The Daly City bart station is just a couple blocks northwest of the neighborhood’s limits while Colma Bart station anchors the southern edge. Travel too far south and you’ll be in the midst of a handful of cemeteries. Elsewhere, you can find the Market Place Shopping Center. The shopping hub sits along East Market Street and provides a liquor store, a deli and a couple other unattractive neighborhood restaurants.

For about a decade, Hillside has been one of the most popular neighborhoods in Daly City, which both explains why the real estate market is packed with foreclosures and still fairly overpriced homes. The homes are okay, but the median price here is around $450K, which should really be closer to the ceiling. Instead many push the $900K mark.

Overall, your best bet in Hillside is up in the hills where there are some modestly priced condos, with good views. That said, I can’t recommend it for families because of the poor performing schools—especially the high school.