The Town FilesMillbrae, California
City in San Mateo County · population 23,216 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,934,900
- Household income
- $163,476
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 43.7
Millbrae is a city of 23,216 people in San Mateo County, California. The median home is worth $1,934,900, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better transit than 98% of California towns, better for young professionals than 91% of California towns, more seaside character than 91% of California towns.
How Millbrae ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Millbrae is worth $1,934,900, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 11.8 times the median household income of $163,476, which is more affordable than 3% of California towns. Median rent is $3,272 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Millbrae | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,934,900 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $3,272 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $163,476 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 11.8× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Millbrae
| People | Millbrae | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.7% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 40.8% | — |
| Work from home | 22.2% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 93.3% |
Weather in Millbrae
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 44.5°F. About 19.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 0 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Millbrae since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an F1, struck on March 20, 2005 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 20, 2005.
Severe weather in San Mateo County since 1996
San Mateo County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | DR-4558: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in San Mateo County
San Mateo County had 416,422 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $196,441 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Millbrae itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Millbrae
5 public schools with 2,893 students, about 22.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mills High | 9-12 | 1,119 | 19.6 |
| Taylor Middle | 6-8 | 724 | 24.1 |
| Spring Valley Elementary | K-5 | 382 | 29.4 |
| Green Hills Elementary | K-5 | 336 | 25.8 |
| Meadows Elementary | K-5 | 332 | 22.1 |
Towns near Millbrae
- Burlingame, CA2.2 mi · 31,386 people · home $2,000,001
- San Bruno, CA2.4 mi · 43,908 people · home $1,207,500
- Hillsborough, CA3.7 mi · 11,387 people · home $2,000,001
- South San Francisco, CA4.1 mi · 66,105 people · home $1,188,800
- Pacifica, CA4.2 mi · 38,640 people · home $1,249,800
- Brisbane, CA5.4 mi · 4,851 people · home $1,232,200
- San Mateo, CA5.7 mi · 105,661 people · home $1,618,700
- Montara, CA6.1 mi · 2,833 people · home $1,580,700
Millbrae questions
Is Millbrae, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Millbrae scores better for retirees than 57% of California towns and quieter than 28%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Millbrae?
The median owner-occupied home in Millbrae is valued at $1,934,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $163,476, so homes cost about 11.8 times income. Median rent is $3,272 a month.
What is the weather like in Millbrae?
July highs average 72.6°F and January lows 44.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Millbrae get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Millbrae since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on March 20, 2005. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)