City Guide
Millbrae
Crossroads of the Peninsula
A transit-rich city where BART meets Caltrain and San Francisco International Airport borders suburban neighborhoods
Millbrae occupies a strategic position at the northern end of central San Mateo County, where the Millbrae BART/Caltrain intermodal station connects the Peninsula to San Francisco and the East Bay. The city's six square miles encompass residential neighborhoods, hotel corridors serving San Francisco International Airport, and commercial development along El Camino Real and near the Broadway Caltrain station.
Indigenous / Early History
Ohlone peoples used the northern mid-Peninsula's creeks and bayshore for seasonal camps and resource gathering. The Millbrae area's relatively flat terrain supported agriculture during the Spanish and Mexican rancho periods. American-era settlers established dairy farms and ranches that gave the community its rural character through the early twentieth century.
Founding & Early Development
Darius Ogden Mills and his family acquire ranch land, establishing the Mills estate that gives Millbrae its name.
The San Francisco and San Jose Railroad opens a station at Millbrae.
Millbrae incorporates as a city, consolidating governance as airport and freeway development reshape the northern Peninsula.
The Mills family influence persisted for generations, with the Millbrae Dairy and estate lands eventually subdivided for suburban housing. Rail access established Millbrae as a commuting address before the automobile dominated Peninsula travel.
Twentieth-Century Growth
Postwar development filled Millbrae with single-family homes and apartments. The construction of U.S. Highway 101 and the expansion of San Francisco International Airport transformed the city's northern edge into a hotel and commercial corridor. The 2003 opening of the Millbrae BART station created the Bay Area's major Peninsula transit hub.
Suburban housing construction and El Camino commercial development accelerate.
Airport expansion and freeway construction increase traffic and employment in hospitality and services.
BART extends to Millbrae, linking Caltrain to the regional rail network.
Economy & Employment
Millbrae's economy includes airport-adjacent hotels, restaurants, and transportation services, along with retail along El Camino Real and Broadway. Many residents commute via BART and Caltrain to San Francisco, the East Bay, and Silicon Valley. Healthcare, airport operations, and technology employment in neighboring cities supplement local job opportunities.
Market & Housing Context
Census tract-level data from the American Community Survey supplements decennial counts for understanding neighborhood-level tenure and structure types.
Public records from city planning departments and county assessor data provide context for land use and housing trends without constituting financial guidance.
The 2020 U.S. Census recorded 23,216 residents and 8,679 total housing units in Millbrae. Census data indicate approximately 60 percent owner-occupied and 40 percent renter-occupied households. Housing types include postwar single-family neighborhoods, apartment complexes near transit stations, and newer infill development along El Camino Real. Transit proximity influences housing demand among commuters seeking BART and Caltrain access.
Living in Millbrae
Millbrae's neighborhoods south of El Camino Real include established postwar streets with sidewalks and front yards distinct from the hotel and commercial intensity near the airport. Community events at Millbrae Library and city parks draw participation from longtime residents and newer arrivals attracted by transit access.
Central Park and Millbrae Avenue's commercial strip provide local recreation and dining. The Millbrae BART/Caltrain station anchors regional connectivity. Green Hills Country Club and the surrounding neighborhoods offer hillside views. Public schools are operated by the Millbrae Elementary School District and Mills High School District. The city's annual Art and Wine Festival draws visitors from across the Peninsula.
Millbrae Today
23,216
Population (2020 Census)
3.2 sq mi
Incorporated Land Area
8,679
Total Housing Units (2020 Census)
1948
Year of Incorporation
Government and Civic Life
Millbrae operates under a council-manager government. City planning emphasizes transit-oriented development near BART and Caltrain stations, airport noise management, and El Camino Real corridor improvements. The city's intermodal station makes it a focal point for regional transportation planning.
Airport Corridor
Hotels and restaurants along the Millbrae Avenue corridor serve airport travelers and conference visitors, creating a hospitality employment zone distinct from the city's residential neighborhoods south of El Camino Real. The city's General Plan evaluates land use near SFO flight paths and BART station expansion.
Geography & Environment
Millbrae sits on flat to gently rolling terrain between San Bruno Mountain and the bay shore. The city borders San Francisco International Airport runways to the north, with aircraft noise contours influencing land use. Mediterranean climate patterns bring fog and cool summers typical of the northern Peninsula.
Regional agencies including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, SamTrans, and Caltrain coordinate service improvements that affect daily commuting patterns for residents employed throughout the Bay Area. City officials participate in these forums to represent local priorities on transit funding, highway maintenance, and Peninsula growth management.
Transportation & Connectivity
Millbrae is among the best-connected cities in San Mateo County. BART provides service to San Francisco, the East Bay, and SFO. Caltrain links the city to San Jose and San Francisco. U.S. Highway 101 and Interstate 380 offer freeway access. SamTrans bus routes serve local corridors. The intermodal station defines the city's regional role.
Green Hills and Lomita Hills neighborhoods offer hillside views and larger lots than the flats near El Camino, creating internal variation in the city's housing stock and price points.
Millbrae's station area specific plan guides height, density, and design standards for development within walking distance of the BART and Caltrain intermodal hub.
Looking Forward
Millbrae evaluates transit-oriented housing near BART, Broadway corridor redevelopment, and airport-adjacent land use. City officials work with regional agencies on station area planning, housing element compliance, and infrastructure for a growing commuter population. Airport expansion and regional rail modernization remain ongoing civic considerations.
Millbrae participates in the Grand Boulevard Initiative, a regional effort to improve El Camino Real as a multimodal corridor connecting Daly City to San Jose through the Peninsula.
SamTrans route coordination with BART schedules remains a priority for commuters transferring between regional rail systems during peak travel periods.
Millbrae's parking management and drop-off zones near the BART station continue to evolve as ridership patterns change across the regional rail network.
The City's Character
Millbrae is the Peninsula's transit crossroads — a suburban city whose identity has been repeatedly reshaped by rail, freeway, and airport development, yet retains neighborhood character in its residential core.
"Millbrae waited a century for two railroads to meet — and built a city where Peninsula commuters step from BART to Caltrain without leaving the platform."
Whether catching an early BART train or walking Millbrae Avenue's shops, residents experience a community defined by connectivity — a northern Peninsula address where regional transportation infrastructure is daily life.