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Living in
Hillsborough.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent, $250,000+ for household income and $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above those.
About
Life in Hillsborough
Hillsborough is a community of 11,122 people in California. The median household income is $250,001, median rent runs about $3,501 per month, and median home values are around $2,000,001. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Hillsborough at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.0%
Foreign-Born
27.1%
Broadband Internet
97.8%
of households
Population Growth
-1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics27.1% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Hillsborough: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hillsborough, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (23.7%), and 14.4% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
26.7%
of residents
65 and Older
20.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.0%
of households
Married Couples
76.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.07
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 72% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Hillsborough
In Hillsborough, rent runs 72% above the CA average, and home values are 172% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
11.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
8.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
93.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $5,532,259 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.6 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Hillsborough and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in San Mateo County, which includes Hillsborough, is 1.6 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Hillsborough: San Mateo County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
San Mateo County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Hillsborough is about 1% of San Mateo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Hillsborough Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area
Commute27.1 min avg
How Hillsborough residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hillsborough, most residents drive alone to work (52%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 86% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hillsborough runs 86% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
45
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
494.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hillsborough Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Mateo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Mateo County, which includes Hillsborough, the most common type is strong wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Flood | $10 |
| 2024 | 14 | Flood | $30 |
| 2023 | 15 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 11 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 25 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 42 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 23 | Strong Wind | $10,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
286 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Mateo County, county-wide
Hillsborough is about 1% of San Mateo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality27 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in San Mateo County, which includes Hillsborough, is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
27
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
38
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
San Mateo County, county-wide
Hillsborough is about 1% of San Mateo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate73°F summers, 45°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hillsborough has mild summers (avg high 73°F) and warm winters (avg low 45°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
73°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/45°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
25.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
65
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 45°F | 3.89" |
| Feb | 61°F | 46°F | 3.96" |
| Mar | 63°F | 48°F | 2.73" |
| Apr | 66°F | 49°F | 1.36" |
| May | 68°F | 52°F | 0.48" |
| Jun | 72°F | 54°F | 0.14" |
| Jul | 73°F | 55°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 73°F | 56°F | 0.04" |
| Sep | 75°F | 56°F | 0.07" |
| Oct | 72°F | 53°F | 0.79" |
| Nov | 64°F | 49°F | 2.04" |
| Dec | 58°F | 45°F | 4.14" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hillsborough
Uninsured
1.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Hillsborough's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Peninsula Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Burlingame
San Mateo Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · San Mateo
Sequoia Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Redwood City
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hillsborough
Hillsborough's student/teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 83.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
83.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hillsborough (within 15 miles)
San Francisco State University
13 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 18,639 students · in-state tuition $8,324 · 67% graduate · median earnings $73,299 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,977 students · in-state tuition $1,332 · 30% graduate · median earnings $60,507 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,620 students · in-state tuition $1,332 · 27% graduate · median earnings $62,578 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,554 students · in-state tuition $68,544 · 96% graduate · median earnings $125,340 (10 yrs after entry)
California College of the Arts
14.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 990 students · in-state tuition $61,764 · 73% graduate · median earnings $58,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Point National Historic Site, 18 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hillsborough
Hillsborough has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Point National Historic Site (18 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
18 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
19 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
24 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
25 mi awayEugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
26 mi awayMuir Woods National Monument
National Monument
26 mi awayCities Near Hillsborough
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hillsborough?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hillsborough FAQ
Is Hillsborough, California affordable?⌄
Hillsborough's median rent is $3,500+/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $250,000+/year. Median home value is $2,000,000+.
Is Hillsborough, California safe?⌄
Hillsborough's violent crime rate was 45 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 494 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hillsborough, California?⌄
San Mateo County, which includes Hillsborough, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hillsborough, California?⌄
The cost of living in Hillsborough is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,500+/month and median household income is $250,000+/year. The median home value is $2,000,000+. About 12% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hillsborough, California?⌄
The average commute in Hillsborough is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from