Foster City is a master-planned city located in San Mateo County, California, United States. Foster City is sometimes considered to be part of Silicon Valley for its local industry and its proximity to Silicon Valley cities. There are many notable companies headquartered in Foster City, such as Gilead Sciences, Zoox, and Replit. Visa and Sledgehammer Games were formerly headquartered in Foster City. The 2020 census put the population at 33,805, an increase of more than 10% over the 2010 census figure of 30,567. Foster City contains at least 10 bridges of which seven cross its lagoon, two go across Highway 92 and one is the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge which crosses the San Francisco Bay. Foster…

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From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Foster ranks

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#6Healthiest in CA #9Lowest obesity in CA #17Fewest smokers in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP codeSign in to add

Area code650

Living in Foster

Housing in Foster

$1.84M▲ 1.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Foster home is worth about $1,835,000, up 1.3% in a year, 140% above the California typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market15

Sale-to-list102.9%

Sold in May24

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Foster

B⁺

Safety Grade B+

Foster reports less crime per resident than 74% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Foster 0.7

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Foster 7.6

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Foster

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Most working residents leave Foster for work: only 8% work in town. The top destinations are San Francisco (18%), San Mateo (8%) and Redwood City (5%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

San Francisco

18%

San Mateo

Redwood City

San Jose

8%Work in townlive and work in Foster 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 19,316Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Foster →

Health in Foster

A⁺

Health Grade A+

Healthier than 99% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with California

24better than CA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 8 are too close to call.

Conditions 10▲ 2 close Habits 3▲ 1 close Care 4▲ 3 close Mind 3▲ 2 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

3.6%Fewer uninsured adultsCA 10.6% · better 6.2%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityCA 14.9% · better

Care nearby

San Mateo Medical CenterSan Mateo · 3.6 mi · ER

Ron Robinson Senior Care CenterSan Mateo · 3.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Foster · CMS · HRSAHealth in Foster →

Natural hazards in Foster

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 94% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏚️ Earthquakes

10Does Foster flood?paid flood claims since 1998 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Foster MapFoster vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Foster →

Climate in Foster

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Foster has warm winters and cool summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 72°, a January night drops to 44°, and snow is almost unheard of.

59° / 45°Winter

65° / 49°Spring

72° / 56°Summer

69° / 52°Fall

How much snow does Foster get?Almost none.Rain & snow →Does it ever freeze?In about 12% of years.Frost →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Foster →

Schools in Foster

All Foster schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Foster’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 81% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#19Best public schoolsof 574 in CA

DistrictSan Mateo-Foster CitySchools8

Foster City Elementary A+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 624 students Audubon Elementary AElementary · Grades K–5 · 445 students Beach Park Elementary A+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 347 students Brewer Island Elementary A+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 306 students San Mateo-Foster City Special Education PreschoolElementary · Grades K · 1 students Ronald C Wornick Jewish Day SchoolElementary · Grades K–8 · 199 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.