Welcome to Hillsborough
Exclusive private community with spectacular architecture
Hillsborough is an affluent community with beautiful properties nestled in the hills west of Burlingame and San Mateo. This exclusive community has a peaceful suburban feel with quiet tree-lined streets and no commercial district.
Hillsborough has long been one of the mid-peninsula’s most desirable communities, with extravagant estates and gorgeous private residences dotting its rolling wooded hillsides. These lavish properties boast features such as swimming pools, home theaters, private courtyards, and opulent entertaining spaces. Homes here are rich in character, with no two properties looking alike.
What to love
People & Lifestyle
Hillsborough’s reputation as an enclave of luxury and affluence long predates the emergence of the Silicon Valley tech scene. Hillsborough’s traditional grandeur continues to set it apart from other mid-peninsula communities, while its proximity to Silicon Valley tech hubs has only added to its desirability. But despite the rarefied reputation, Hillsborough is a friendly community with an inviting small-town feel. Residents greet each other on the street and many participate in community-orientated groups on social media sites such as Nextdoor. Interstate 280 runs along Hillsborough’s western edge and San Francisco can be accessed in less than 25 minutes. Most Hillsborough residents commute to San Francisco or the many tech businesses located in the surrounding communities.
Explore Hillsborough’s Architectural Wonderland
Hillsborough’s development began in the 1850s, when wealthy businessman William Davis Merry Howard built a ranch in the area. Other affluent figures from the San Francisco elite followed, employing renowned architects to design some of the Gilded Age’s most opulent properties.
While Hillsborough’s many stunning architectural landmarks are privately owned, guided tours are available by appointment at the magnificent
Carolands estate. In the 1910s, the daughter of influential industrialist George Pullman commissioned master architects Ernest Sanson and William Polk to design a residence and gardens to capture “the wonder and admiration of America.” Harriett Pullman Carolan’s former residence is a spectacular Gilded Age masterpiece of Beaux-Arts and American Renaissance architecture, surrounded by magnificent gardens landscaped to emulate those at Versailles.
Take a leisurely walk or drive through the neighborhood and you may catch a glimpse of other landmark Hillsborough properties, such as Julie Morgan’s lavish 1930s recreation of the White House and masterpiece residences from architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and William Polk. While most of Hillsborough’s distinctive properties are classically inspired, the neighborhood also contains a strikingly odd domed structure popularly known as
The Flintstones House.
Refined local institutions such as
Burlingame Country Club and
Crystal Springs Golf Course reflect Hillsborough’s rich heritage of affluence and exclusivity. The 18-hole golf course at Burlingame Country Club was designed by World of Golf Hall of Fame architect Robert Trent Snr, while Crystal Springs’ course provides breathtaking elevated views alongside Crystal Springs Reservoir. The upscale dining rooms at these prestigious private clubs are Hillsborough’s only restaurants, though neighboring Burlingame and San Mateo have plenty of places to dine and shop.
Southern Indian restaurant Rasa on Burlingame Avenue and Japanese eateries
Wakuriya and
Sushi Yoshizumi in Downtown San Mateo have been awarded Michelin stars for their sublime takes on traditional Asian dishes. Other restaurants within Burlingame and San Mateo’s downtown areas range from casual hole-in-the-wall spots to opulent fine dining establishments. Each also offers a plethora of fashion boutiques, chic home design stores, gastropubs, cocktail lounges, fitness studios, and beauty salons.
Schools
Public schools within Hillsborough are operated by the highly-rated Hillsborough City Elementary School District.
