Living Mid-Mod Within Reach of SoMa: Peninsula Eichler Neighborhoods for San Francisco's AI Workers
Quick answer: If you work at Anthropic in SoMa, OpenAI in Mission Bay, or another San Francisco AI company, you don't have to choose between a short commute and a mid-century modern home. The Peninsula holds some of the Bay Area's most significant Eichler neighborhoods, including the San Mateo Highlands (the largest contiguous Eichler development and home of the X-100), San Mateo's 19th Avenue Park, Foster City, Redwood City's Atherwood, and Menlo Park's Willows and Vintage Oaks. This guide from the Property Nerds® at the Boyenga Team covers each neighborhood, how it connects to San Francisco, and what to know before you buy.
Why San Francisco's AI workers are looking down the Peninsula
San Francisco is the center of the AI boom. Anthropic has built one of the city's largest office footprints along Howard Street in SoMa and plans a 2027 move into the 25-story tower at 300 Howard Street. OpenAI has more than a million square feet in Mission Bay. Thousands of new jobs mean thousands of people deciding where to live.
The city itself has become the most expensive U.S. housing market, and single-family homes with private gardens are scarce. For many buyers, especially those who want space, light, and a design-forward home, the Peninsula offers a compelling alternative:
More home and land for the money compared with many San Francisco neighborhoods.
Direct transit. Caltrain runs electrified service up and down the Peninsula, and its San Francisco terminal at 4th and King sits at the edge of Mission Bay and SoMa.
Highway access via Interstate 280 and Highway 101.
Two-way flexibility. Many AI companies also have growing South Bay presences, including OpenAI's new Mountain View campus. A Peninsula home keeps both directions open.
And for people who build the future, there's a special appeal to living in homes that were designed as the future. Read more about that idea in From the X-100 to the AI Era: Why Silicon Valley's Builders Are Choosing Eichlers.
San Mateo Highlands: the heart of Peninsula Eichler living
The San Mateo Highlands sits atop Pulgas Ridge in unincorporated San Mateo County, west of downtown San Mateo. Joseph Eichler began building here in 1956 and completed roughly 700 homes by 1964, making it the largest contiguous Eichler development anywhere.
It's also home to the X-100, Eichler's experimental steel-framed "house of the future," designed by A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Setting: hillside streets with views toward San Francisco Bay on the east side and the Crystal Springs Reservoir and Santa Cruz Mountains to the west.
Homes: many later Eichler models, including atrium designs, by architects such as Jones & Emmons and Claude Oakland.
Community: the Highlands Recreation Center and a strong neighborhood identity built around mid-century design.
Commute: quick access to Interstate 280, with Caltrain stations in San Mateo a short drive away.
Schools to research: Highlands Elementary, Borel Middle, and Aragon High (verify by address).
Explore the neighborhood in depth: San Mateo Highlands: Eichler's Mid-Century Modern Community in the Hills.
19th Avenue Park, San Mateo
In San Mateo's flatlands, 19th Avenue Park offers single-story Eichlers with signature floor-to-ceiling glass and open floor plans. Compared with the Highlands, it's a more central, level neighborhood close to Highway 101, shopping, and San Mateo's Caltrain stations, which makes it attractive for buyers who want to walk or bike more of their daily life.
Foster City: bayside modernism
Foster City, a master-planned community on the bay, holds about 200 Eichler homes in tracts including Bay Vista, Treasure Isle, and Marina Point. Many were designed by Claude Oakland and John Brooks Boyd, and Foster City includes a notable number of rare two-story Eichler models.
Why buyers like it: lagoons, waterfront trails, and a relaxed bayside lifestyle.
Commute: Highway 101 and Highway 92 access, with San Mateo Caltrain stations nearby.
Value: Foster City Eichlers have historically sold for less than some better-known Eichler neighborhoods, such as the Highlands.
Learn more: Foster City Eichler Neighborhoods: A Comprehensive Guide.
Redwood City: Atherwood, Fairwood, and Sequoia Meadow
Redwood City was one of Eichler's first stops in San Mateo County. Atherwood, built in 1950 on the border of Atherton and Redwood City, is among the oldest Eichler neighborhoods. Fairwood (1953) and Sequoia Meadow (1954) followed with slightly larger, more refined designs. In total, Eichler built about 160 homes in Redwood City.
Why buyers like it: early Eichler history, mature trees, and a central mid-Peninsula location.
Commute: Redwood City's Caltrain station and Highway 101 provide strong access to both San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
Menlo Park: the Willows and Vintage Oaks
Menlo Park is where some of Eichler's earliest Peninsula experiments took shape.
The Willows (Stanford Gardens tract): the city's earliest Eichlers, in a neighborhood with a small-town feel near Menlo Park's eastern edge.
Vintage Oaks (Oakdell Park tract): larger Eichlers on roughly quarter-acre lots in the leafy Menlo Oaks area, designed by firms including Jones & Emmons and Anshen + Allen.
Suburban Park: a lesser-known Eichler pocket in the Flood Park area.
Menlo Park is farther from San Francisco than San Mateo, but it's ideal for buyers who split time between the city and South Bay offices. Read more in Eichler Homes in Menlo Park: Where Mid-Century Modern Began in Silicon Valley.
More Peninsula Eichler pockets
Smaller Eichler enclaves also exist in Burlingame, including the Mills Estates area, and in San Carlos and Portola Valley's Ladera. These neighborhoods have fewer homes and less frequent listings, so working with an agent who tracks them closely matters. See our full list of Peninsula Eichler neighborhoods.
Peninsula vs. San Francisco: how to decide
Map your real commute. Test the Caltrain trip from your nearest station to 4th and King, or the drive at the hours you'd actually travel. Factor in how many days a week you're in the office.
Decide what matters most. City life and walkability, or space, a garden, and a quieter neighborhood? There's no wrong answer, but it shapes the search.
Think about both directions. If your company has or may have South Bay offices, a mid-Peninsula home can keep your options open.
Check schools by address. Peninsula school boundaries vary within neighborhoods.
Plan for Eichler-specific systems. Radiant heating, flat or low-slope roofs, and glazing deserve careful inspection.
What to know before buying a Peninsula Eichler
Hillside considerations. In the Highlands, lot slope, views, and drainage vary street to street.
Zoning. The Highlands is governed by San Mateo County rules, while other neighborhoods follow their own city's regulations. Know the rules before planning a remodel or addition.
Remodel quality. Sensitive updates add value with design-minded buyers. Remodels that strip out the architecture can hurt it.
Competition. Well-kept Eichlers in top Peninsula neighborhoods often draw multiple offers, especially as AI-driven demand rises. For the bigger picture, read The AI Office Boom and the Silicon Valley Housing Market.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest Eichler neighborhood?
The San Mateo Highlands is the largest contiguous Eichler development, with roughly 700 homes built between 1956 and 1964.
Which Eichler neighborhoods are closest to San Francisco?
On the Peninsula, the San Mateo Highlands, San Mateo's 19th Avenue Park, Foster City, and the Burlingame and Mills Estates area are among the closest Eichler neighborhoods to San Francisco.
Can I commute to SoMa or Mission Bay from a Peninsula Eichler?
Many residents do, using Caltrain to the 4th and King station near Mission Bay and SoMa, or Interstate 280 and Highway 101. Actual times vary by neighborhood and time of day.
Are there Eichlers in Foster City?
Yes. Foster City has about 200 Eichlers in tracts like Bay Vista, Treasure Isle, and Marina Point, including rare two-story models.
Where is the Eichler X-100?
The X-100 is at 1586 Lexington Avenue in the San Mateo Highlands.
Work with the Peninsula Eichler experts
Eric and Janelle Boyenga and the Boyenga Team at Compass specialize in Eichler and mid-century modern homes across the Peninsula and Silicon Valley, and have represented landmarks including the X-100 and Joseph Eichler's own home in Atherton. Whether you're relocating for a role in San Francisco or want a design-forward home within reach of the city, contact the Boyenga Team to start your search.