Real Estate Investing in Hillsborough, California (94010)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

San Mateo County • Population: 42,794 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 94010 (Hillsborough, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (37/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 73.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Hillsborough, CA (94010)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $3,502,303
Avg Monthly Rent $3,976
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $186,198
% Renters 38.1%

Market Analysis: 94010 Hillsborough

ZIP 94010 in Hillsborough, CA carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $3.5M and rents of $3,976/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $3.5M asset, 94010 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within CA, ZIP 94010 trails on several market indicators that neighboring San Mateo County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 94010 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 94010 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Hillsborough:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 54/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 18.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,976/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
38 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 94010

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+3.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
1BR
$795,056/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $795,056 $3,020 2.7% -2.3% $795,056
2BR $1,606,208 $3,660 1.6% +2.7% $803,104
3BR $2,684,625 $4,680 1.3% +3.3% $894,875
4BR $3,769,483 $4,850 0.9% +3.7% $942,371
5BR $5,266,930 +3.4% $1,053,386

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$3.7M$3.1M$2.6M$2.0M$1.5M$911KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$4,075$3,787$3,499$3,211$2,924$2,636May 2017Dec 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 94010 Compare?

Metric 94010 Hillsborough San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA California
Home Value $3,502,303 $3,502,303 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 3.2% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $3,976 $3,976 N/A -
Cap Rate 0.9% 0.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 94010? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 38% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 94010 (Hillsborough, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving San Mateo County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Bayside Property Management is a Peninsula Property Management Company serving San Mateo County. summary from their website

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Boardwalk Investments Property Management specializes in property management and leasing in San Francisco and the Northern Peninsula. summary from their website

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Five Star Property Management is a leader in single-family, condominium, and multi-family apartment rentals property management in San Mateo and Northern California. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
0.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $3,502,303
Monthly Rent $3,976
Price-to-Rent 73.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 1.4%
Cap Rate 0.9%
5-Year IRR 4.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +10.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 0.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (0.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
7.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 94010

Population: 42,794

💰 Median Household Income
$186,198
This area
$186,198
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.1%
This area
38.1%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
68.8%
This area
68.8%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.9 years
This area
41.9 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 55.1%
Asian 30.0%
Other/Mixed 14.0%
Hispanic/Latino 9.2%
Black/African American 0.9%
👶 Under 18
23.9%
This area
23.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.7%
This area
16.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 94010

B+ Avg School Grade
14 Schools
20.1:1 Avg Class Size
$25,369 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Crocker Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
454 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$32,335 Per Student
A+ Excellent

North Hillsborough

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
268 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$32,335 Per Student
A+ Excellent

West Hillsborough

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
294 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$32,335 Per Student
A Very Good

South Hillsborough

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
246 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$32,335 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Peninsula High (Continuation)

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
186 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$31,118 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hoover Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
215 Students
👨‍🏫
21.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,448 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Burlingame Intermediate

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,059 Students
👨‍🏫
21.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,448 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Franklin Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
360 Students
👨‍🏫
23.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,448 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lincoln Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
25.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,448 Per Student
B+ Above Average

McKinley Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
569 Students
👨‍🏫
24.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,448 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Washington Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
24.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,448 Per Student
B Good

Burlingame High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,540 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$31,118 Per Student
B Good

BSD Preschool

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
💰
$20,448 Per Student
B Good

Roosevelt Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
26.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,448 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 1,398 Off-Campus Students
C+
College of San Mateo
9,208 students · 3.5 mi
D
San Mateo County Community College District Office
0 students · 3.6 mi
C
Skyline College
9,428 students · 6.3 mi
C
Notre Dame de Namur University
237 students · 6.4 mi
C
Unitek College
255 students · 7.1 mi
D
Alder Graduate School of Education
453 students · 9.7 mi
C+
Hilltop Beauty School
79 students · 10.2 mi
C+
Canada College
6,141 students · 10.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,398 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hillsborough, CA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Our data puts Hillsborough, CA at 2.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $3.5M and rents around $3,976/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Which real estate strategy fits Hillsborough, CA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Hillsborough, CA. The numbers - $3.5M homes against $3,976/mo rents - support that play.

What is the average monthly rent in Hillsborough, CA?

Rent in Hillsborough, CA is around $3,976/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $3.5M pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Hillsborough, CA?

Hillsborough, CA is a a tougher market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $3.5M price point reasonable to enter.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Hillsborough, CA?

Occupancy in Hillsborough, CA runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $3,976/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 94010 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 94010 ranks in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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