Just across the county line that separates San Francisco from the South Bay, sits the City by the Bay’s less famous neighbor, Daly City in San Mateo County. While a county line technically separates the two, there are multiple streets that start in one city and end in the other. Bellevue Avenue, for example, starts in Daly City, curves into San Francisco, then comes back into Daly City, according to SF Gate.

Here are some of the perks you’ll enjoy when you live in SF’s little brother, Daly City.

Largest City in San Mateo County

Aerial View of Daly City and Brisbane from San Bruno Mountain State Park

While many San Franciscans may not know much about their little neighbor to the south, Daly City is actually the largest city in San Mateo County with a population over 101,000 at the 2010 Census. Daly City is also broken up into several neighborhoods, such as Westlake, which borders the Pacific Ocean and has excellent schools, and Southern Hills, which has excellent views of San Francisco, plenty of available parking, and easy access to San Francisco–we’re talking a few minutes on the BART. 

Proximity to San Francisco

BART Train in Daly City photo by Shutterstock

If you’re the kind of person who wants easy access to a major city without having to actually live in that bustling city, Daly City is exactly the kind of place where you might feel at home. San Francisco is a hop and a skip away, yet you get to avoid the higher taxes and housing costs as well as the faster pace of life. Instead, you get to come home to a peaceful suburban neighborhood, if that’s what you prefer, yet you’re still able to spend evenings and weekends exploring one of the country’s liveliest metropolitan cities.

Less Expensive Real Estate Than San Francisco

Homes in Dale City photo courtesy of Mike Linksvayer

While Daly City’s homes are by no means cheap, they’re definitely more affordable than homes in the city’s neighbor to the north. The median cost of a home in Daly City is $986,200, according to Business Insider. That’s far lower than the cost of a median-priced home in San Francisco, which will set you back $1.62 million, Business Insider reports. San Francisco’s real estate prices are continuing to skyrocket—in fact, the city’s median home price increased by $205,000 during the first half of 2018, one of the largest pricing swells ever recorded in the city’s history.

Plenty of Hiking Opportunities

Beautiful views from Mori Point

If you love the great outdoors, chances are you’ll love living in Daly City. The city is located right next to the San Bruno Mountains, which you can enjoy by visiting the San Bruno Mountain State and County Park. Also, Mussel Rock Open Space is another great hiking destination that offers gorgeous ocean views and beautiful stretches of sandy beaches. And Mori Point is the place to go for admiring the beaches and bluffs along the cloudy Northern California coastline in Pacifica.