Foster City

Aerial view of Foster City homes lining a winding canal with boats and mature trees.

Welcome to Foster City

Foster City was founded in the 1960s, being one of the younger cities on the Peninsula. Foster City has a distinctive look and feel due to its unique architecture and numerous bridges crossing over its beautiful lagoons. With 223 acres of waterways, 13 miles of shoreline, and 12 residential islands, Foster City offers its residents a variety of recreational opportunities such as canoeing, paddle boating, electric boat rentals, bicycle park, and windsurfing. There are plenty of dining and shopping options around -- you'll find everything from Mediterranean to Chinese to Sushi to Italian to Burgers.

Did You Know?

Foster City’s K-12 public school system is amazing: all four public schools (three elementary and one middle school) within city limits have won California Distinguished School awards. Although there are no high schools within Foster City, there are excellent public and private options nearby.

In years past residents would gather around Ryan Park either on land or on the water to watch the 4th of July fireworks.

Housing and Real Estate Current Market

Foster City is biking and walking friendly and its atmosphere is calm and tranquil; the streets are clean and pleasant with lots of trees, and a lagoon stretches around the entire city.

You'll find some mid-rise apartment complexes but unassuming homes on quiet streets dominate. Despite the lack of ostentation, prices are high due to its location and amenities.

Overall, if you’re looking for a great place to land in Silicon Valley, Foster City is a solid option.

Overview for Foster City, CA

32,964 people live in Foster City, where the median age is 39.7 and the average individual income is $95,509. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

32,964

Total Population

39.7 years

Median Age

High

Population Density Population Density
This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

$95,509

Average individual Income

Around Foster City, CA

There's plenty to do around Foster City, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.

25

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score

Points of Interest

Explore popular things to do in the area, including Brazilian Fire Experience, 99 Ranch Market, and Foster City Farmers' Market.

Name	Category	Distance	Reviews	Ratings by Yelp
Visit the Brazilian Fire Experience page on Yelp Search 1202 Admiraty Ln on Google Maps	Dining	2.01 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the 99 Ranch Market page on Yelp Search 1070 Foster City Blvd on Google Maps	Dining · $$	2.04 miles	334 reviews	3.1/5 stars
Visit the Foster City Farmers' Market page on Yelp Search 1010 Metro Center Blvd on Google Maps	Dining · $$	2.17 miles	60 reviews	3.9/5 stars
Visit the River Phin Coffee Roasters page on Yelp Search 1010 Metro Center Blvd on Google Maps	Dining	2.2 miles	39 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the KickButtKookies page on Yelp	Dining	2.22 miles	2 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the The Bistro page on Yelp Search 550 Shell Blvd on Google Maps	Dining · $$	2.29 miles	2 reviews	3/5 stars
Visit the Tasty Eats page on Yelp	Dining	2.3 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Jimmy's French Bread Pizza page on Yelp	Dining	2.3 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Costco Food Court page on Yelp Search 1001 Metro Ctr Blvd on Google Maps	Dining · $	2.31 miles	45 reviews	3.1/5 stars
Visit the Brazilian Skewer page on Yelp Search 499 Catamaran St on Google Maps	Dining	2.34 miles	4 reviews	4.3/5 stars
Visit the Trans Bay Metal Detectors page on Yelp Search 321 Sea Horse Ct on Google Maps	Shopping	1.66 miles	25 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Niko Lighting page on Yelp Search 1167 Chess Dr on Google Maps	Shopping	2.09 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Foster City Shopping Center page on Yelp Search 1000 Metro Center Blvd on Google Maps	Shopping	2.32 miles	1 review	3/5 stars
Visit the Shorebird Park Foster City page on Yelp Search Beach Park Blvd on Google Maps	Active	1.85 miles	6 reviews	4/5 stars
Visit the Bay Area Dragons - Dragonboat Racing page on Yelp Search Foster City Boatpark on Google Maps	Active	2 miles	11 reviews	4/5 stars
Visit the Biocompass Kids page on Yelp	Active	2.1 miles	4 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Spinnaker Club page on Yelp Search 703 Catamaran St on Google Maps	Active	2.18 miles	1 review	4/5 stars
Visit the Foster City page on Yelp	Active	2.21 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Ketch Park page on Yelp Search 150 Ketch Ct on Google Maps	Active	2.22 miles	3 reviews	4/5 stars
Visit the Jazzercise Foster City Community Center page on Yelp Search 1000 East Hillsdale Blvd on Google Maps	Active	2.25 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the William E. Walker Recreation Center page on Yelp Search 650 Shell Blvd on Google Maps	Active	2.29 miles	2 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Tony Lupieri page on Yelp	Active	2.32 miles	1 review	5/5 stars
Visit the Beaute by Fernanda Amaral page on Yelp Search 1451 Beach Park Blvd on Google Maps	Beauty	1.27 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Beauty Hair & Nails page on Yelp Search 1485 Beach Park Blvd on Google Maps	Beauty	1.27 miles	60 reviews	3.6/5 stars

Demographics and Employment Data for Foster City, CA

Population Households Employment

Foster City has 12,865 households, with an average household size of 2.54. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Foster City do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 32,964 people call Foster City home. The population density is 8,704 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

32,964

Total Population

High

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

39.7 years

Median Age

48 / 52%

Men vs Women

Population by Age Group

0-9:

0-9 Years

10-17:

10-17 Years

18-24:

18-24 Years

25-64:

25-64 Years

65-74:

65-74 Years

75+:

75+ Years

Education Level

Less Than 9th Grade
High School Degree
Associate Degree
Bachelor Degree
Graduate Degree

12,865

Total Households

2.54

Average Household Size

$95,509

Average individual Income

Households with Children

With Children:

Without Children:

Marital Status

Married

Single

Divorced

Separated

Blue vs White Collar Workers

Blue Collar:

White Collar:

Commute Time

0 to 14 Minutes

15 to 29 Minutes

30 to 59 Minutes

60+ Minutes

Schools in Foster City, CA

All ()

Primary Schools ()

Middle Schools ()

High Schools ()

Mixed Schools ()

The following schools are within or nearby Foster City. The rating and statistics can serve as a starting point to make baseline comparisons on the right schools for your family. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Type

Name

Neighborhoods

Palo Alto
Los Altos Hills
Los Altos
Redwood City
San Carlos
Menlo Park
Atherton
Hillsborough
Burlingame
Portola Valley
Woodside
San Mateo
Redwood Shores
Foster City
Belmont
Mountain View
Sunnyvale
Millbrae
Half Moon Bay
Pacifica
San Bruno
South San Francisco

Explore Palo Alto

The City of Palo Alto has almost 4,000 acres of open space to explore, recreate, and relax in.
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Explore Los Altos Hills

People often think of Los Altos Hills as a sub-part of Los Altos, but that is not the case.
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Explore Los Altos

Los Altos is now an affluent residential town on the western edge of Silicon Valley.
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Explore Redwood City

Redwood City is known for its great climate and plenty of foothills to enjoy the great outdoors.
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Explore San Carlos

Known as the ‘City of Good Living, this small city offers an array of great things to see and do for the whole family.
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Explore Menlo Park

Offers that small-town charm and it’s only 25 minutes away from the buzz of San Francisco.
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Explore Atherton

An idyllic town regularly ranked as the most expensive ZIP Code in the United States.
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Explore Hillsborough

Prides itself on lovely winding roads, lush landscaping, and gorgeous multi-million-dollar mansions.
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Explore Burlingame

Offer tree-lined streets, charming local shops, designer boutiques, and fine art galleries.
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Explore Portola Valley

A small, quiet, and wealthy community nestled on the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
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Explore Woodside

One of the wealthiest small towns in the United States and the best place to live in California.
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Explore San Mateo

The City of San Mateo is located south of San Francisco in the Silicon Valley tech hub.
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Explore Redwood Shores

There is not much going on for restaurants, bars, and shopping but it's a great and safe place to live.
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Explore Foster City

Foster City has a distinctive look and feel due to its unique architecture and numerous bridges crossing over its beautiful lagoons.
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Explore Belmont

Known for its wooded hills, views of the San Francisco Bay, and stretches of open space.
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Explore Mountain View

Enjoying a Mediterranean climate, Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street.
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Explore Sunnyvale

Offers picnic areas, waterfront paths, boat launches, and a playground perfect for families!
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Explore Millbrae

37.5985° N, 122.3872° W
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Explore Half Moon Bay

37.4636° N, 122.4286° W
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Explore Pacifica

37.6328° N, 122.4901° W
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Explore San Bruno

37.6305° N, 122.4111° W
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Explore South San Francisco

37.6547° N, 122.4077° W
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