6.3 out of 10

Daly City

Ranked 71st best city in California
37.7032888592212 -122.416515106116
Great for
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Safe & Sound
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Shopping Options
Not great for
  • Parking
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • Students

Reviews

1/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 1/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 2/5
2yrs+

"Daly foggy............."

Daly City.... daily foggy. 94014 is beat up, run down and surrounded by cemeteries.. 94015 is close to the ocean, dense fog, landfill, and more cemeteries.
All the houses has similar floor plans and similar sized small lots. Low performing public schools. Virtually 0 night life. But close proximity to SF and good public transportation option make it an affordable place to live for those who can't afford to live in SF.
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Good Transportation Options
Cons
  • Crowded
  • Small Houses
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Students
  • Beach Lovers
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"A Sleepy Secret"

Daly City, in case you aren’t familiar with SF, is the city just to the south of SF on the southwestern end by where SF State is. I used to associate it with high crime when I was growing up, but I understand that it is pretty safe now with much less crime than most places in the city.

In fact, it is a pretty sleepy area these days. Despite the Daly City Chamber of Commerce wanting you to see it as a “gateway” to SF, Daly City is far from a bustling metropolis. It is really little more than what most people would call a bedroom community these days. Lots of tiny houses packed cheek to jowl next to each other on soft rolling hills. They are actually quite attractive from afar, and many places have nice views.

I have some friends who rent in the area and their 3 bedroom goes for $2300 which they say is about average for Daly City. That is okay for the Bay Area but is no longer the steal it used to be.

As far as buying a home—you can probably get one of these cute little joints for under $500K. That is definitely a lot less than you could most anywhere in SF.

Now, Daly City does not have the nightlife or the restaurants that SF has—but it is not a wasteland either. There a number of great Asian restaurants (Asians are the predominant ethnic group in this area) like Banana Island and Burma Café that are well worth checking out if you happen to be around. There are maybe a handful of bars in Daly City as well. In fact, the only one that comes to mind is the Mink Lounge—which is pretty forgettable. Gino’s is another—that is pretty bad too.

One thing that you will find in Daly City, however, are markets that carry authentic East Asian ingredients. If you are a chef looking to create that perfect Dim Sum or Wonton Soup—then this is the place to go for that extra little touch of flavor you haven’t been able to locate.

Overall, Daly City with its easy BART access to the city, affordable rents and low crime rates is one of the those hidden gems for average San Franciscans who can’t afford to live within the actual borders of the city.
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Good Ethnic Markets
  • Good Transportation Options
Cons
  • Small Houses
  • Crowded
  • Little Nightlife
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Students
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 3/5
2yrs+

"The gateway to the peninsula"

What’s coined the “Gateway to the Peninsula,” Daly City is a bustling metropolitan city that lies just outside San Francisco’s limits. It is an excellent regional hub for small businesses, retail and health care. Daly City’s most prominent and utilized service is the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART). The rail connects the city to the whole Bay Area region, including Oakland, San Francisco, Fremont, Pleasanton and Pittsburg to note a few. Neighborhoods of Daly City include Westlake, St. Francis, Serramonte, Toop of the Hill, Hillside, Crocker, Southern Hills and Bayshore (which seems to be the most popular choice among locals).

Located in the northeastern edge of San Mateo County, Daly City is among the most populated cities in the Bay Area. According to the US Census Bureau, the district is currently host to over 100,000 residents. The city also has many affordable housing options for prospective buyers. Median housing prices are listed at around $585,000. Many of which lie within close proximity of the Pacific Ocean or have beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay. Much of Daly City’s working force commutes to San Francisco. In fact, it’s over 50%. They mostly use Highways 101, 82 and Interstate 280 and/or the San Mateo and San Francisco transit system.

Not only is the city a prominent hub for transportation, but Daly City is considered a shopping mecca. The city’s shopping centers are Serramonte Center and Westlake Shopping Center that both host a variety of department stores, chain restaurants, shops and fast food (which is also surrounded by acres of free parking lots and garages). There are also a variety of recreational activities within the city, including a 7 mile coastal trail for exercise enthusiasts and over 2,000 acres of diverse parkland. Moreover, Lake Merced Golf Course and Olympic Golf Course are popular options among golfers. In fact, The Olympic Golf course is tabbed to host the U.S. Open in 2012.

Seton Medical Center is one of the city’s largest employers of Daly City residents (1,500 employees) while also maintaining a reputation as one of the leading medical facilities in the country. Kaiser Permanente is the city’s newest addition adding already to the city’s stellar medical reputation. For students, Daly City has two main high schools: Westmoor High School and Jefferson High School. Although many locals speak well of Jefferson High School, Westmoor is the more popular and academically inclined choice.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
  • Beach Lovers

Best Neighborhoods in Daly City

1

Westlake

4/5
"Good Schools, Close to SF and the Pacific"
37.6837673254912 -122.485255556689
2

Southern Hills

3.5/5
"Southern Hills - Great views, parking, food, transportation and mins from SF!"
37.7060412191845 -122.43624949554
3

Serramonte

3.5/5
"Boxy Homes, Box Stores and Underground Boxes"
37.6628494316005 -122.467155900684
4

St. Francis

3.5/5
"Very good neighborhood"
37.6843708022404 -122.47792694741
5

Hillside

3/5
"Hillside is IT!!"
37.6930655455309 -122.458114069284
"Nothing special"
37.6962793942002 -122.464804382849

Unranked Neighborhoods in Daly City

Bayshore

1.5/5
"Cow Palace headquarters"
37.7040577360026 -122.416957622649

Crocker

3.5/5
"Hidden Gem, Crocker Facelift, Different Than it Was 2 Years Ago"
37.7043825344958 -122.447306558766

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