Redwood City NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE

Redwood City is technically outside the traditional boundaries of Silicon Valley since it's located in San Mateo County. But as tech startups expand north in search of cheaper office space it's commonly lumped in with the Valley scene. Plus, it's a heavy hitter already: technology companies like Oracle, Evernote, and Electronic Arts are headquartered here.

Culturally, it’s a mix of San Francisco hipster and Silicon Valley nerd – its location sandwiched between the two may have a lot to do with that. And its northerly location makes it a great location to commute to either San Francisco or the Valley.

Redwood City is more diverse — both ethnically and economically — than many of its Valley neighbors. In addition to the largely white and Asian populations that are prominent throughout the Valley, there's a large Hispanic population here. And while there are certainly millionaires around town, you'll also find plenty of working class residents. This diversity translates into a well-rounded community.

It also translates into a huge range of dining options, from Greek to Chinese to Gastropubs to Peruvian to Italian to Mexican and more, and from $2 tacos to fine restaurants. It's also got a respectable nightlife: you'll find bars, clubs, lounges, and live music venues.

There’s no shortage of transportation options for commuters, although you’ll do best with a car to get around and run errands. SamsTrans buses connect Redwood City to the CalTrain station and from there it's easy to head north to San Francisco or south ot Silicon Valley.

Redwood City can be broken down into dense urban North and East neighborhoods, the suburban West, and the wealthy, sparsely populated hill neighborhood in the South. Housing-wise, there’s a healthy mix of affordable subsidized housing, apartments, single family homes, and even large mansions in the Redwood Shores area of the city.

For those with kids, there are top rated elementary, middle, and high schools.

Compared to many cities in the Valley, Redwood City is a relatively affordable place to live. Residents here have median incomes comparable to the rest of the United States, whereas Silicon Valley as a whole is a bubble of wealth and high income earners.

Although the crime rate is higher than other cities in the Valley, it’s still significantly lower than the rest of California and in generally a safe place.