Population 13,288 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Hillsborough
Household size in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.85 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.05 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.05 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.05 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.20 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Hillsborough is a place of big households: 3.05 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.85, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.7 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.7 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.7 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.0 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.8 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.0, Hillsborough is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 47.7, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the south.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.9% of households in Hillsborough, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Hillsborough has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Hillsborough
Renters in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Hillsborough is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 9.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a third of owners (34.9%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 2.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Hillsborough: 6.4% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the San Francisco area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.4 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Hillsborough is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,952 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,927 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $3,077 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,419 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,467 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Hillsborough costs $3,419 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,467 a month since 2006–10, up 75%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 16.4% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Only 11 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Hillsborough
Bachelor's degrees in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.0% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 74.3% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 77.8% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 82.0% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.0 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Hillsborough is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (82.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 12.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only nine of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.6% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.7% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.6% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.7% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Hillsborough: 98.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.1 points, mirroring the country. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Hillsborough
| Period | Hillsborough | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Hillsborough: 6.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 0.9 points, even as the national rate fell. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Hillsborough compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough | 3.05 | 47.0 | 6.9% | 9.6% | 6.4% | 1965 | $3,419 | 82.0% | 98.7% | 6.3% |
| Burlingame | 2.51 | 41.7 | 6.9% | 50.9% | 11.0% | 1956 | $2,806 | 65.1% | 94.7% | 5.6% |
| Highlands-Baywood Park | 3.19 | 43.8 | 0.8% | 9.9% | 3.5% | 1963 | $3,501 | 84.3% | 98.7% | 2.3% |
| San Mateo | 2.69 | 39.2 | 8.9% | 49.4% | 7.4% | 1966 | $3,100 | 56.6% | 90.0% | 4.6% |
| Millbrae | 2.82 | 44.1 | 7.0% | 38.8% | 7.2% | 1964 | $3,142 | 51.9% | 93.2% | 5.2% |
| Belmont | 2.61 | 40.9 | 5.3% | 44.5% | 8.8% | 1965 | $2,949 | 69.9% | 95.5% | 6.6% |
| Foster City | 2.55 | 41.5 | 7.1% | 49.2% | 5.9% | 1979 | $3,442 | 73.8% | 96.3% | 4.9% |
| San Bruno | 2.91 | 40.7 | 7.2% | 38.2% | 8.6% | 1963 | $2,856 | 44.4% | 90.7% | 5.2% |
| Millbrae Meadows | 2.54 | 55.7 | 2.4% | 4.4% | 8.5% | 1972 | $3,501 | 56.9% | 96.3% | 2.9% |
| San Carlos | 2.76 | 42.6 | 6.4% | 31.0% | 6.9% | 1962 | $3,060 | 71.2% | 96.9% | 4.7% |
| Pedro Valley | 2.82 | 46.0 | 5.0% | 24.5% | 17.2% | 1970 | $3,453 | 43.1% | 93.0% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lake Geneva, WI · Santaquin, UT · Sandston, VA · San Marino, CA · Sabana Hoyos, PR · Rogers, MN · Lincolnwood, IL · Laurel, DE · Las Marias, PR · Lantana, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Hillsborough. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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