Living in Belmont
Belmont sits right between San Mateo and San Carlos, a quick drive down from my home base in Burlingame. Wooded hills, quiet streets, Carlmont High and an easy commute in every direction make it a favorite for families. Here is a neighborhood by neighborhood look to help you find your fit.
Belmont incorporated on October 29, 1926. About 28,300 people live here according to the 2020 census, in 4.6 square miles that run from the bayside flats near Highway 101, across El Camino Real and up into the hills toward Interstate 280. The name is thought to come from the Italian bel monte, or beautiful mountain.
The city's best known landmark is Ralston Hall, the Italianate mansion banker William Ralston built on the Notre Dame de Namur University campus. Belmont also keeps a lot of green space: 14 developed city parks plus 337 acres of open space, including the trails around Waterdog Lake. The Caltrain station sits on El Camino Real at Ralston Avenue, and Hillsdale station is just over the line in San Mateo.
Belmont Neighborhood Map
Belmont neighborhoods on a live street map. Borders follow MLSListings area lines, the same areas agents use to pull sales, so they can differ a little from city limits and local names. Zoom in to see exact streets, and tap an area to see its name and where its border comes from.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Area borders traced from MLSListings MLS area maps, November 2026. Ask me which area a specific street falls in.
Neighborhood by Neighborhood
Neighborhood names follow the City of Belmont's General Plan. Borders are approximate, so ask me about any specific street.
Carlmont
Around Ralston Avenue and the Alameda de las Pulgas, south of Ralston. It has the most variety in town, with condos and apartments alongside single family homes, plus Carlmont High School, a church and medical offices close by.
Cipriani
A large, hilly area north of Ralston Avenue and west of El Camino Real. Expect winding streets, mature trees and single family homes, many with bay views.
Belmont Country Club
North of Ralston Avenue. The southern part is flat with straight streets and even setbacks, while the northern part climbs into the hills with larger lots and curving roads.
Sterling Downs
On the flat land between El Camino Real and Highway 101. Smaller, uniform single family homes and garden apartments, with businesses along Old County Road. One of the more attainable ways into Belmont, and close to Caltrain and the freeway.
Homeview
East of El Camino Real on a flat street grid. Small lot homes, duplexes and apartments, with shops along Ralston Avenue and an easy walk to the Caltrain station.
Hallmark
High in the hills south of Ralston Avenue, near the southwest edge of town. Homes range from compact units near Ralston to large two story homes with landscaped yards, and the Waterdog Lake trails start right here.
Western Hills
Belmont's hilliest area, with a lot of open space. Apartments, townhomes and single family homes sit on the flatter land toward the north and east, many with views.
Sunnyslope
The heart of town near Ralston Avenue and El Camino Real. It takes in Twin Pines Park, City Hall and the historic Waltermire district, so daily errands and Caltrain are close.
Chula Vista
Flat land along Belmont Creek with hills to the west and south. Larger lots, a mix of architectural styles and mature trees.
Recent Sales in Belmont
Homes I have helped clients buy in Belmont, as posted on my Instagram.
1200 Kedith Street, offer accepted
Buyers represented
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A Short History
The Ssalson, an Ohlone group, lived here before Spanish settlement. The land later became part of Rancho de las Pulgas, which gave its name to the Alameda de las Pulgas. In the 1850s Count Leonetto Cipriani built an Italian style villa in the hills, and in 1864 he sold it to William Chapman Ralston, founder of the Bank of California. Ralston expanded it into the grand mansion now known as Ralston Hall, and before his death in 1875 the estate passed to Senator William Sharon.
The Peninsula rail line reached Belmont in the 1860s, and for decades special trains carried picnickers to Belmont Park. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur bought the Ralston estate in 1922, and Ralston Hall became a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Belmont incorporated in 1926, the Bayshore Highway came through in 1927, and the town grew fastest in the 1940s and 1950s, from a village of a few hundred people to the city of about 28,000 it is today.
Schools, Parks and Local Traditions
Public Schools
Most of Belmont is in the Belmont Redwood Shores School District. Central, Cipriani, Fox and Nesbit serve Belmont families, and Ralston Middle serves the middle grades. Teens attend Carlmont High in the Sequoia Union High School District. Assignments go by address, so always check.
Private Schools
Notre Dame High School on Ralston Avenue is an all girls Catholic high school. Immaculate Heart of Mary and Notre Dame Elementary are Catholic schools for the younger grades, Charles Armstrong School serves students with learning differences, and Crystal Springs Uplands has a middle school campus here.
Parks and Open Space
Twin Pines Park is the center of town, with tall trees, a creek and the Lodge. Waterdog Lake Open Space has trailheads off Hallmark Drive, Lyall Way and Carlmont Drive. The Barrett Community Center and the Belmont Sports Complex round out the list.
Traditions
The Belmont farmers market runs Sundays from 9 to 1 year round in the Caltrain lot on El Camino Real. Every Labor Day weekend the Belmont Greek Festival fills the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross on the Alameda.
Video Tours in Belmont
A few of the Belmont homes I've walked through on camera. Press play for a quick look inside.
Move in ready Belmont Hills home with a level backyard
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Single level home in the Belmont hills on an 11,815 sq ft lot
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Belmont Hills home with bay and hill views
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Upper Belmont home with views of San Francisco and Oakland
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Belmont 4 bedroom with a flat backyard and ADU potential
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Country feel on E. Laurel Creek Road
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The most unique home in Belmont
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Western Hills retreat in the Country Club neighborhood
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Bay view remodel in Carlmont Woods
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Updated home in Sterling Downs
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Belmont Market Report
Home sales for Belmont pulled directly from MLSListings, the Bay Area's MLS: how many homes sold, what they sold for, and price per square foot.
Last 30 days
October 7 to November 5, 2026
Last 90 days by home type
August 8 to November 5, 2026
| Home type | Homes sold | Median price | Median price per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| All homes | 59 | $2.4M | $1,199 |
| Single family homes | 50 | $2.67M | $1,257 |
| Condos and townhomes | 9 | $1.1M | $828 |
Last 12 months, single family homes
November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026
Source: MLSListings closed sales with a Belmont postal city. 30 and 90 day figures cover single family homes, condominiums and townhouses by close of escrow date; 12 month figures cover single family homes. As of November 6, 2026. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Ask me for a full report on your street or price range.
Belmont FAQ
What neighborhoods are in Belmont?
The City of Belmont names neighborhoods including Carlmont, Cipriani, Belmont Country Club, Sterling Downs, Homeview, Hallmark, Western Hills, Sunnyslope and Chula Vista. Borders are approximate, so ask about any specific street.
What schools serve Belmont?
Most homes are in the Belmont Redwood Shores School District, which runs Central, Cipriani, Fox and Nesbit elementary schools and Ralston Middle School. High schoolers attend Carlmont High in the Sequoia Union High School District. Always check assignments by address.
Is there Caltrain service in Belmont?
Yes. Belmont station is on El Camino Real at Ralston Avenue, and Hillsdale station is just north in San Mateo.
What is my Belmont home worth?
Every Belmont street prices a little differently, especially in the hills. Request a free home valuation and Joseph will send a local estimate based on recent nearby sales. Request a free home valuation
How can I hear about Belmont homes before they hit the market?
Join Joseph's off-market list. You'll hear about coming-soon and off-market homes that match what you want before they're listed publicly. Join the off-market list
How does Belmont compare with nearby cities?
Use my side by side city comparison to line up Belmont against San Carlos or any other Peninsula city on home prices, schools, commute and lifestyle.
Sources
The facts on this page come from the public sources below. Neighborhood names and borders vary by source, and details like school assignments change, so please confirm anything important for a specific address.
- Wikipedia: Belmont, CaliforniaIncorporation October 29, 1926; 2020 population 28,335; 4.63 sq mi; name origin; Rancho de las Pulgas; population growth
- Wikipedia: Ralston HallCipriani villa, Ralston purchase in 1864, Sharon, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur 1922, National Historic Landmark 1966
- San Francisco Peninsula: Belmont historyRail service, Belmont Park picnic trains, 1926 incorporation, Bayshore Highway 1927
- Wikipedia: LamchinSsalson Ohlone people in present day Belmont
- City of Belmont: General Plan EIR, AestheticsNeighborhood names and descriptions
- City of Belmont: Waterdog Lake Open SpaceTrailheads; 14 developed parks and 337 acres of open space
- City of Belmont: Facility addressesTwin Pines Park, Barrett Community Center, Belmont Sports Complex
- Wikipedia: Belmont Redwood Shores School DistrictDistrict schools serving Belmont
- Private School Review: BelmontNotre Dame High School, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Notre Dame Elementary, Charles Armstrong School
- Wikipedia: Belmont stationStation at 995 El Camino Real
- PCFMA: Belmont Farmers' MarketSundays 9 to 1 at 1201 El Camino Real
- Funcheap SF: Belmont Greek FestivalLabor Day weekend festival at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church
- MLSListings: closed sales data for the market reportMarket report figures
Header photo: Ralston Hall in Belmont by Sanfranman59, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0.
Belmont Market Trends
Market Trends are calculated using MLS® sold listing data
