Foothill Terrace, San Mateo
Updated · 866 residents
Foothill Terrace is a quiet, visually appealing residential enclave in San Mateo known for its distinctive mid-century architecture and wooded hillside setting. While the area offers access to highly rated schools and a dog-friendly environment, residents experience significant noise levels from nearby highway traffic.
Key Highlights
About Foothill Terrace
Located in the rolling hills of northwest San Mateo, Foothill Terrace developed primarily during the post-war era as an architectural "bridge" between historic "old" San Mateo and David Bohannan's mid-century Hillsdale developments to the south. The neighborhood's lower streets, built in the 1950s, feature classic California ranch homes that resemble Bohannan's tract designs, though many incorporate more daring mid-century and post-mid-century architectural elements. Moving further up the hills, the neighborhood transitions to larger, heavily wooded properties constructed during the 1960s and 1970s, many of which offer views of the San Francisco Bay. Today, Foothill Terrace remains a quiet residential enclave bordering Baywood Knolls, recognized for its distinct mid-century character.
The neighborhood is defined by its strong residential character and scenic hillside landscape, which provides a high level of visual appeal. According to iHuus data, the area benefits from excellent health insurance coverage and proximity to top-tier educational institutions, including the highly regarded Aragon High School. The community maintains a stable, quiet atmosphere that is well-suited for those who prioritize a low-density environment with open green spaces, despite the lack of local commercial amenities within immediate walking distance.
Living in this area involves specific trade-offs for prospective residents. The most notable challenge is the acoustic environment, as the neighborhood experiences significant road traffic noise. Additionally, the area faces a high risk regarding fire safety, which is a critical consideration for homeowners in these hillside settings. While the streets are conducive to walking and pet ownership, the lack of nearby businesses means that most daily errands require travel outside the immediate vicinity. The neighborhood remains a desirable option for those seeking a balance of academic excellence and architectural character in a mature, established setting.
Neighborhood Scores Across 15 Qualities
Residential spacing provides a moderate level of separation between neighbors, which is notably higher than the San Mateo average according to iHuus data.
Pedestrian infrastructure is excellent here, featuring wide sidewalks on both sides of the street and numerous safe crossings. According to iHuus data, the area offers superior walkability compared to the San Mateo average.
Large residential properties and well-maintained amenities create an aesthetically pleasing environment that is notably more visually appealing than the San Mateo average, according to iHuus data.
Connected green spaces and wide, low-traffic paths make this area slightly more dog friendly than the San Mateo average. According to iHuus data, these features provide safe environments for pet walking.
Open land and scattered homes amid woodland provide a semi-rural feel that is slightly more developed than the surrounding San Mateo average, according to iHuus data.
Suburban blocks featuring green space and local wellness businesses sit alongside a major highway. This area offers a level of activity and amenity access that is roughly in line with the rest of San Mateo.
Local traffic from a nearby busy street creates a consistent level of ambient noise. This acoustic environment is slightly more active than the average for San Mateo, according to iHuus data.
Air quality in this area typically experiences a mix of acceptable and unhealthy days, which is consistent with the average across San Mateo. Sensitive groups should be aware of occasional periods of concern according to iHuus data.
Industrial activity and hazardous sites are absent from this area. This neighborhood offers a more purely residential environment than the San Mateo average, consisting of quiet streets and open green spaces.
Health insurance access is nearly universal among residents, according to iHuus data. This level of coverage is notably higher than the average seen across San Mateo.
Voting patterns and census indicators show a predominantly liberal community, which is consistent with the broader San Mateo area according to iHuus data.
Residents live alongside a diverse range of age groups, including young professionals, families, and seniors. This demographic distribution is slightly more varied than the typical San Mateo profile, according to iHuus data.
Flood risk in this area is harder to predict than in most of San Mateo because FEMA has not yet completed a detailed study. According to iHuus data, this lack of definitive mapping results in a higher level of uncertainty regarding potential inundation compared to the city average.
Address-Level Insights for Foothill Terrace
iHuus Neighborhood Intelligence Insights
Get address-level neighborhood insights for Foothill Terrace
- Street-level scores — see how individual blocks compare, not just neighborhood averages
- Micro-zone boundaries — identify quiet pockets, flood boundaries, and walkable clusters before you visit
- 15 dimensions in full — walkability, noise, air quality, school quality, insurance coverage, population age profile, urban/rural index, and more
- Boundary risk alerts — know if your address sits near a block boundary where scores drop, the kind of detail no listing will ever mention
- School insights — individual school ratings and insights, not just district-level data
- Compare before you commit — side-by-side data across neighborhoods, down to block precision
No credit card required
Compare with Any Neighborhood
| Dimension | Foothill Terrace | Aragon |
|---|---|---|
| 🚶 Walkabilityavg 8.95 | ||
| 🔊 Acoustic Comfortavg 3.72 | ||
| 🤫 Privacy Indexavg 5.13 | ||
| 🎨 Visual Appealavg 7.16 | ||
| 🐕 Dog Friendlinessavg 6.92 | ||
| 🗺️ Urban-Rural Indexavg 6.73 | ||
| ✨ Neighborhood Vibeavg 5.61 | ||
| 🏥 Health Insurance Coverageavg 8.75 | ||
| 🌿 Air Qualityavg 6 | ||
| 🏭 Industrial Proximityavg 9.34 | ||
| 🌊 Flood Safetyavg 5.24 | ||
| 🗳️ Ideological Leanavg 9.68 | ||
| 👥 Population Age Profileavg 4.99 | ||
| 🔥 Fire Safetyavg 0.28 | ||
| 🏫 School Quality |
Foothill Terrace Rankings
School Districts Serving Foothill Terrace
School Insights for Foothill Terrace
Below average outcomes; significant attendance and academic challenges.
School Insights
See what's really behind every school rating near Foothill Terrace
- Individual school ratings — each school's own score with outcome context, not just a district average
- Enrollment & class size data — student-to-teacher ratio and how it compares to the state average
- Full demographics breakdown — ethnicity and gender composition for every school in the enrollment zone
- Every school in the district — all schools within the enrollment boundary ranked by rating, not just the closest one
- Grade levels & benchmarks — elementary through high school, with below/above state-average flags
No credit card required