San Mateo vs Burlingame (Oakland, Hayward: middle-class, apartment, crime)

[thenine]

I was looking at houses on move.com and noticed while there seem to be a number of houses in my price range (~500k, 2+ bedrooms) in San Mateo, there are a limited number in Burlingame.

Is there that big of a difference between the areas?

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by thenine

I was looking at houses on move.com and noticed while there seem to be a number of houses in my price range (~500k, 2+ bedrooms) in San Mateo, there are a limited number in Burlingame.

Is there that big of a difference between the areas?

No, not really. San Mateo has a far more robust downtown than Burlingame does and you'd be right next to the san mateo bridge (to the east bay) but that's about it.


If I were you, though, I'd look in other areas on the peninsula where you get more for your money like Redwood City.

[twins4lynn]

Originally Posted by thenine

I was looking at houses on move.com and noticed while there seem to be a number of houses in my price range (~500k, 2+ bedrooms) in San Mateo, there are a limited number in Burlingame.

Is there that big of a difference between the areas?

Burlingame is more upscale, there is no "bad or less desirable area", and all the schools are excellent. San Mateo has its excellent areas, as well as areas you don't want to live in.

[jman650]

Originally Posted by thenine

I was looking at houses on move.com and noticed while there seem to be a number of houses in my price range (~500k, 2+ bedrooms) in San Mateo, there are a limited number in Burlingame.

Is there that big of a difference between the areas?

Yes and no. San Mateo is more than 3 times the size of Burlingame, and it has some sketchy areas, where Burlingame really does not. The housing stock in Burlingame definitely is a step up from the majority of what exists in San Mateo, but San Mateo has some upscale areas as well, mainly on its west side. San Mateo tends to be a bit more affordable than Burlingame, but you still really need to look at the neighborhood you're considering, and it has a lot more middle-class areas; Burlingame ranges from upper middle-class to upper class, with only a few streets and apartment buildings that are less than stellar.

Overall, Burlingame is a step up in terms of where to buy a home. But you'd do really well to choose either one IMO (with the exception of a few areas in San Mateo). Both cities are pretty closely intertwined, and living in one generally means you will frequent the other, so if you like both you'll pretty much have them either way. I grew up primarily in both cities, and to me they were always basically different sections of the same city. Foster City and the bordering parts of Belmont and Millbrae have always felt like that as well.

[thenine]

so... where would one find the not so nice areas of San Mateo?

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by thenine

so... where would one find the not so nice areas of San Mateo?

In general, east of El Camino Real.

[jman650]

Originally Posted by thenine

so... where would one find the not so nice areas of San Mateo?

Speecifically, the North Central, Shoreview, and North Shoreview neighborhoods. Preferably you'd want to avoid anything in San Mateo that's east of the 101 freeway, and the area bounded by Poplar Ave to the north, San Mateo Drive to the West, 101 to the east, and about 5th Ave to the south. I'd also say to avoid most of the area near the court house between Peninsula/Poplar/Humboldt/Amphlett. Most of it is not really THAT bad, but there are some gangs/crime in those areas and they're not where I'd recommend looking into buying a home.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by jman650

Speecifically, the North Central, Shoreview, and North Shoreview neighborhoods. Preferably you'd want to avoid anything in San Mateo that's east of the 101 freeway, and the area bounded by Poplar Ave to the north, San Mateo Drive to the West, 101 to the east, and about 5th Ave to the south. I'd also say to avoid most of the area near the court house between Peninsula/Poplar/Humboldt/Amphlett. Most of it is not really THAT bad, but there are some gangs/crime in those areas and they're not where I'd recommend looking into buying a home.

Yea this... Shoreview is all TCGs (Tongan Crips). San Mateo aint a dangerous city by any stretch but I still wouldnt move to Shoreview. The rest of the areas he mentioned are iffy but not bad.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Nineties Flava

Yea this... Shoreview is all TCGs (Tongan Crips). San Mateo aint a dangerous city by any stretch but I still wouldnt move to Shoreview. The rest of the areas he mentioned are iffy but not bad.

Ugh @ TCGs...its so funny how that never gained steam in Oakland.

You have to forgive me but having traveled to Shoreview more times than I can remember over the span of 35 years(LOL), It doesnt seem bad at all(but I guess that's my Oakland perspective).

Reminds me of Hayward and San Leandro.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

Ugh @ TCGs...its so funny how that never gained steam in Oakland.

You have to forgive me but having traveled to Shoreview more times than I can remember over the span of 35 years(LOL), It doesnt seem bad at all(but I guess that's my Oakland perspective).

Reminds me of Hayward and San Leandro.

Yeah, I used to work in Shoreview, and never had a single problem... but if you had to name the "bad neighborhood" in San Mateo, I guess that would be it! The others gave all the necessary advice, so I'll just say as somebody who grew up at the SM-Burlingame border (West Poplar Ave), you can't go wrong with either town.