You can call Redwood City a suburb of San Francisco, but you’d be wrong. Redwood City is a real city, with over 85,000 residents and its own thriving downtown with unique shops, restaurants and a year-long slate of concerts, farmers markets and festivals. It has historic neighborhoods, urban neighborhoods, suburban neighborhoods and neighborhoods that seem miles from the nearest freeway.
Redwood City has 30 parks, including massive Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, a skatepark, a dog park and even two lakes, Upper and Lower Emerald Lake. Homeowners surrounding 1.75-acre Lower Emerald Lake enjoy access to one of the area’s oldest private associations, the Emerald Lake Country Club. Only 50 families can call themselves active members, but summer memberships can be purchased.
The Emerald Lake Country Club was founded in 1926, back when Emerald Hills, the unincorporated neighborhood surrounding the lakes, was mostly empty except for a few rustic weekend cabins owned by San Franciscans. Today, with its large lots, rolling hills and fantastic views, it’s one of California’s wealthiest areas, according to recent census data.
There are so many ways to live in Redwood City: in a stately pre-war Edgewood Drive mansion, a Mount Carmel Craftsman, a post-war tract house near Sequoia High School, a contemporary, or neo-Colonial near the Atherton border. And now hip condos are part of the offering in the revitalized downtown area.
Redwood City has been working on its historic downtown for 20 years, turning a place that had seen better days into a working, thriving urban hub. The Redwood City Downtown Specific Plan calls for more mixed-use, transit-oriented development – apartments, condos, shops and restaurants, all located within easy distance of El Camino Real, the downtown Caltrain station, and schools, including Sequoia High School, an impressive campus whose grounds feature a Japanese Tea Garden and at least 18 notable trees.
Downtown also means access to Courthouse Square, the plaza in front of the restored San Mateo County Courthouse, where Redwood City holds a year-round slate of music, arts and community events. Cultural events at Courthouse Square, now the San Mateo County History Museum, include Friday night “Music on the Square,” a weekly classical music series, the Police Athletic League Blues, Arts and Barbecue Festival, and the annual Salsa Festival.
On Broadway, which runs alongside Courthouse Square, you’ll find the Independence Day Parade and Festival. Another parade runs on the first Saturday in December, when the Downtown Business Group hosts its annual Hometown Holidays Event.
The city’s farmer’s market is also a big draw near the downtown train station. This gives locals a chance to take a break from Redwood City’s vibrant downtown restaurant scene. They know that San Francisco isn’t the only place to find a great meal. Downtown restaurants like Vesta, Milagro’s, and Timber & Salt, lead a full slate of eateries serving a diverse variety of cuisine.
Unlike some of its Peninsula neighbors, Redwood City has been up and running for over 150 years. It was founded in the 1850s by loggers using Redwood Creek to float redwood trees from Woodside to San Francisco Bay. Its quirky slogan, “Climate Best by Government Test” was the result of a 1925 Chamber of Commerce contest. The winner, Wilber Doxsee, pocketed a $10 prize.
The test, held during World War I, did actually determine that Redwood City, along with the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean Coast of North Africa, had the best climate in the world. That, along with a location halfway between San Francisco and San Jose, a great variety of neighborhoods, houses, parks and schools, and an always growing and improving historic downtown, has kept Redwood City popular for well over a century.
83,905 people live in Redwood City, where the median age is 37 and the average individual income is $69,317. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Average individual Income
There's plenty to do around Redwood City, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Baker Billy, Baked By Renie, and Teeny Tot’s Bakeshop.
Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Dining | 3.98 miles | 10 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Dining | 2.8 miles | 5 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Dining | 4.13 miles | 5 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Dining · $$ | 2.44 miles | 94 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Dining | 2.28 miles | 20 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Shopping | 4.34 miles | 15 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Active | 3.82 miles | 10 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Active | 3.09 miles | 32 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Active | 3.1 miles | 41 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Beauty | 2.54 miles | 57 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Beauty | 4.24 miles | 10 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Beauty | 4.46 miles | 8 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Beauty | 4.51 miles | 14 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Beauty | 4.76 miles | 8 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Beauty | 2.61 miles | 35 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
Beauty | 4.63 miles | 6 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
Redwood City has 30,020 households, with an average household size of 2.74. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Redwood City do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 83,905 people call Redwood City home. The population density is 4,339.25 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Median Age
Men vs Women
Population by Age Group
0-9 Years
10-17 Years
18-24 Years
25-64 Years
65-74 Years
75+ Years
Education Level
Total Households
Average Household Size
Average individual Income
Households with Children
With Children:
Without Children:
Marital Status
Blue vs White Collar Workers
Blue Collar:
White Collar:
Chris Iverson has worked in the real estate industry for over 18 years and has amassed a renowned class of clientele and unmatched experience.