Moving to a new location means lots of changes for you and your family. It's an important event that can often feel like an overwhelming experience. We know that moving is a big job that requires good planning, so we have created these guide pages to help you find the perfect home for you and your family. 

What's it like to live in San Carlos?

San Carlos, often referred to as the city of good living, is a small city located on the San Francisco Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose. As an affluent community with a small population, San Carlos offers a family-friendly, small-town lifestyle with great resident resources and highly-rated schools. The quaint downtown area, made up of mostly small boutiques and restaurants, provides a relaxing setting for community life. It also provides the perfect place for family-friendly events, festivals, parades, art fairs, and music concerts that take place throughout the year. San Carlos is a vibrant city that offers beautiful homes, subtropical weather, great schools and good living.  

What types of homes are in San Carlos?

San Carlos real estate consists of condos and single-family homes. You'll find a variety of contemporary, transitional and California-ranch style homes. Most single-family homes have 2-4 bedrooms, 2-3 full bathrooms, family rooms and large kitchens. Many homes have open floor plans and large windows that take advantage of the amazing hillside views in San Carlos. Homes are well-maintained will beautiful landscaping and many have backyard pools and private patios or decks. San Carlos is an affluent community with many custom-built homes where you'll find a variety of architectural styles and property amenities. 

What's unique about San Carlos?

San Carlos was the first city in California and the second city in the country to open a charter school with strong academics and multi-grade classrooms. In 1993, the San Carlos Charter Learning Center was opened with 83 students in grades K-8. Students came from all over the San Francisco Bay area to enroll in this unique charter school that promised strong academics, excellent social activities, and emotional growth. In 2014, 20 years later, the San Carlos Charter Learning Center maintains an average of 300 students and remains one of the oldest and strongest charter schools in the country.  

Where are the good schools in San Carlos?

San Carlos has an excellent school system. Most public schools are zoned in the San Carlos School District, although there are a few schools located within the neighboring city of Belmont.

• Arundel Elementary School | Grades K-4 | 200 Arundel Road
• Central Middle School | Grades 5-8 | 828 Chestnut Street
• West Bay High School | Grades 9-12 | 1561 Laurel Street
• Carlmont High School | Grades 9-12 | 1400 Alameda De Las Pulgas, Belmont, CA

Stanford University, one of the country's most prestigious universities, is located just 7.3 miles south of San Carlos, an easy 17 minute drive. Other nearby schools include Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont and San Mateo College in San Mateo, CA.  

What are the best things to do in San Carlos?

There are a lot of fun things to do in San Carlos. You'll find more than 10 beautiful parks scattered around the city where you can picnic and relax with the family. Eaton Park and Big Canyon Park have scenic hiking trails that offer rustic views and a good workout. Arguello Park, the largest San Carlos park, has 12 barbeque pits, 8 picnic sites, a baseball field, a soccer field, and public facilities. For a relaxing afternoon, take the family to the San Carlos Museum of History or the Hiller Aviation Museum to experience a piece of the city's past. You can also visit the downtown area where you'll enjoy lots of great shops, restaurants and fun-filled events like the Hot Harvest Nights Farmer's Market every Thursday from 4-8 PM, May through September. The downtown area hosts numerous special events throughout the year like the Chicken's Ball in April, an all-volunteer event to benefit San Carlos schools; San Carlos Summer Concerts held on Friday nights in the summer; and the Art and Wine Faire in October; October through December you'll love the Goblin Walk and the Night of Holiday Lights.  

Is San Carlos right for me?

If you're looking for a small-town lifestyle in a community that values family, you'll love San Carlos. Among beautiful, well-maintain homes, excellent schools and pristine neighborhoods, you'll find strong family and community support. You'll enjoy the year-round warm, subtropical climate, cool ocean breezes and relaxing lifestyle in San Carlos. If you enjoy a metropolitan city atmosphere, San Carlos is just 24 miles south of San Francisco and 25 miles north of San Jose. These cities provide a wealth of great job opportunities, entertainment venues and world-class restaurants that are just minutes away from the tranquil surroundings of San Carlos.