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Burlingame vs Millbrae

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (4.5× in Burlingame) and trails (2.2× in Millbrae).

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Burlingame, CAHomes around $2.81MCalifornia · 30,525 people
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Millbrae, CAHomes around $2.05MCalifornia · 22,689 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $4,300 more a month in Burlingame

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Burlingame$15,920/mo
Typical home $2.81M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.50%+ · or rent about $2,785/mo · Housing →
Millbrae$11,620/mo
Typical home $2.05M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.52% · or rent about $3,272/mo · Housing →

The difference: $4,300 a month, about $51,500 a year, between Burlingame and Millbrae.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value; “+” means the Census top-codes that town’s bill at $10,000, so its real rate is higher.

Where they are

Burlingame and Millbrae share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

BurlingameMillbraeBurlingameMillbrae
Burlingame ↔ Millbrae2.2 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
523 Millbrae residents work in Burlingame (5.6% of its workers)
Work & commute in Millbrae →
Report cards

Burlingame places higher on 13 of 22 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
BurlingameMillbrae
Snow a year0″0″
January low45°F45°F
July high69°F69°F
Growing season (days)365d365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)90th91st
Outdoors & history
BurlingameMillbrae
Trails2 mi4 mi
Conserved land4.6%3.8%
National Register places41
Archive photos3—
Famous people born here25—
Community
BurlingameMillbrae
Library hours a week59 hrs57 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

BurlingameMillbrae
People
Population 30,525Highest 22,689Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +9%Highest CA: +6.1% +7.8%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 41.2±1Lowest 9% above CA 43.7±1.8Highest 15% above CA
Millbrae and Burlingame are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.4%±2Highest CA: 22% 19%±1.9Lowest CA: 22%
Burlingame and Millbrae are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 16.3%±1.7Lowest CA: 15.7% 20.3%±1.9Highest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 64.2%Highest CA: 37.1% 52.7%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.1%±1.3Lowest CA: 7.6% 6.4%±1.3Highest CA: 7.6%
Millbrae and Burlingame are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $174,000±$12kHighest 76% above CA $163,476±$11kLowest 65% above CA
Burlingame and Millbrae are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $2,000,001Highest 172% above CA $1,934,900±$91kLowest 163% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,785±$120Lowest 37% above CA $3,272±$163Highest 61% above CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $10,000+Highest at least 95% above CA $9,996Lowest 95% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 44.4%±5.8Lowest CA: 55.3% 49.5%±9Highest CA: 55.3%
Millbrae and Burlingame are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 7.1%Highest CA: 12% 6%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 48.2%Lowest CA: 55.9% 60.8%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1957Lowest 19 yrs older than CA 1962Highest 14 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 7% above CA 29 minLowest about the CA average
Work from home 27.9%±2.8Highest CA: 17.2% 22.2%±3.1Lowest CA: 17.2%
Burlingame and Millbrae are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 10.1%Highest 5.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miHighest 12.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.22Highest 0.49Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town San Francisco (21%)San Francisco (22%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Millbrae6% work in Burlingame
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.6%Highest 3.8%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.0 miLowest 4.3 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miLowest 1.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 13Lowest 15Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 97.2Lowest 136Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #41 of 574 in CA#63 of 574 in CA
School district Burlingame Elementary · San Mateo Union HighMillbrae Elementary · San Mateo Union High
High school in town Burlingame HighMills High
Students per teacherat that high school 19.6Lowest 20.5Highest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Burlingame neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Burlingame’s Town Square.

Millbrae neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Millbrae’s Town Square.

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Bordering Burlingame

Towns like Burlingame

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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