learnlot size + year builtpublic parcel records, october 2026boyenga team at compass
Lot sizes, neighborhood by neighborhood
For each of our 415 neighborhood guides, the median single-family lot, plus the median year built and house size where the city’s records publish them, counted parcel by parcel from public records.
- neighborhoods415in 31 cities
- homes counted426,841single-family, parcel by parcel
- middle neighborhood6,410sq ft median lot; half are smaller
- 10,000 sq ft or more78neighborhoods, by median lot
every neighborhood
Every neighborhood, lot by lot
Every guide with enough homes to count, sorted by median lot size. Sort any column, pick a city, search by name or show only bigger or smaller lots. Each name opens its guide, and most guides show the same median lot on their spec sheet.
| The table needs JavaScript; the city ranges and top lists below show the same figures. | ||||||
Homes = single-family houses where the records identify them, otherwise lots zoned or coded single-family (marked “lots”). Median lot = the middle lot size of the homes counted, rounded to the nearest 10 sq ft. Year built, house size and stories are medians or shares of the homes counted. — = not published in that city’s public records.
by city
Each city, smallest to largest
The smallest and largest neighborhood medians in each city. Select a city to filter the table above.
| city | neighborhoods | homes | median lot, by neighborhood | median year built, by neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atherton | 6 | 2,502 | 22,100–46,600 sq ft | not published |
| Belmont | 9 | 6,634 | 2,590–9,080 sq ft | not published |
| Burlingame | 8 | 6,312 | 4,960–11,540 sq ft | not published |
| Campbell | 10 | 6,480 | 6,320–9,010 sq ft | 1947–1963 |
| Cupertino | 10 | 6,819 | 5,800–10,660 sq ft | 1955–1985 |
| Daly City | 9 | 19,175 | 2,500–5,590 sq ft | not published |
| East Palo Alto | 6 | 3,905 | 5,270–5,800 sq ft | not published |
| Foster City | 6 | 4,532 | 5,710–6,150 sq ft | not published |
| Gilroy | 7 | 12,431 | 6,100–7,380 sq ft | 1951–2006 |
| Hillsborough | 6 | 3,866 | 22,840–25,740 sq ft | not published |
| Los Altos | 11 | 9,028 | 9,580–17,420 sq ft | 1950–1973 |
| Los Altos Hills | 8 | 2,990 | 44,870–54,450 sq ft | 1965–1980 |
| Los Gatos | 10 | 6,421 | 5,500–21,740 sq ft | 1908–1973 |
| Menlo Park | 11 | 7,600 | 5,740–19,920 sq ft | not published |
| Millbrae | 5 | 5,370 | 4,990–9,070 sq ft | not published |
| Milpitas | 9 | 11,216 | 4,960–6,240 sq ft | not published |
| Monte Sereno | 4 | 1,118 | 11,350–43,260 sq ft | 1963–1973 |
| Mountain View | 10 | 6,401 | 5,400–8,240 sq ft | not published |
| Palo Alto | 22 | 13,269 | 5,630–8,000 sq ft | 1908–1957 |
| Portola Valley | 8 | 2,273 | 12,290–112,170 sq ft | 1952–1984 |
| Redwood City | 13 | 18,237 | 4,910–20,940 sq ft | not published |
| San Bruno | 6 | 9,054 | 5,000–5,850 sq ft | 1940–1963 |
| San Carlos | 8 | 8,407 | 5,020–9,540 sq ft | not published |
| San Francisco | 28 | 77,142 | 1,570–5,700 sq ft | 1906–1965 |
| San Jose | 108 | 104,381 | 4,980–34,820 sq ft | not published |
| San Mateo | 14 | 19,096 | 4,720–10,340 sq ft | not published |
| Santa Clara | 10 | 11,445 | 5,960–8,380 sq ft | not published |
| Saratoga | 12 | 9,626 | 10,000–43,560 sq ft | 1955–1975 |
| South San Francisco | 8 | 10,096 | 4,570–5,190 sq ft | not published |
| Sunnyvale | 25 | 18,883 | 5,000–8,560 sq ft | 1942–1969 |
| Woodside | 8 | 2,132 | 16,160–230,380 sq ft | not published |
Ranges compare neighborhood medians, so individual lots run smaller and larger than both ends. Totals cover our guide outlines only, not whole cities.
largest and smallest
The biggest and smallest lots
Among guides with at least 100 homes counted.
Largest median lots
- Mountain Home Road & Portola RoadWoodside · 230 lots142,960sq ft · 3.3 acres
- WestridgePortola Valley · 275 houses112,170sq ft · 2.6 acres
- Kings Mountain Road & Cañada RoadWoodside · 342 lots90,000sq ft · 2.1 acres
- Central Woodside & Town CenterWoodside · 174 lots82,020sq ft · 1.9 acres
- Skywood, Portola Hills & SkylondaWoodside · 446 lots58,970sq ft · 1.4 acres
- Page Mill Road & Palo Alto HillsLos Altos Hills · 336 houses54,450sq ft · 1.3 acres
- Altamont, Taaffe & Moody RoadsLos Altos Hills · 411 houses50,970sq ft · 1.2 acres
- Woodside Hills & Woodside HeightsWoodside · 452 lots49,940sq ft · 1.1 acres
- Alpine HillsPortola Valley · 250 houses49,480sq ft · 1.1 acres
- Town Hall & Fremont RoadLos Altos Hills · 578 houses48,350sq ft · 1.1 acres
- Mora Drive & Olive TreeLos Altos Hills · 366 houses48,350sq ft · 1.1 acres
- Purissima HillsLos Altos Hills · 303 houses47,920sq ft · 1.1 acres
Smallest median lots
- Telegraph Hill & North BeachSan Francisco · 125 houses1,570sq ft · 0.04 acre
- Bernal HeightsSan Francisco · 4,909 houses1,750sq ft · 0.04 acre
- Excelsior & Outer MissionSan Francisco · 11,584 houses2,500sq ft · 0.06 acre
- Oceanview, Merced Heights & InglesideSan Francisco · 5,675 houses2,500sq ft · 0.06 acre
- Glen ParkSan Francisco · 2,162 houses2,500sq ft · 0.06 acre
- CrockerDaly City · 1,881 lots2,500sq ft · 0.06 acre
- HillsideDaly City · 1,670 lots2,500sq ft · 0.06 acre
- Castro & Eureka ValleySan Francisco · 1,445 houses2,500sq ft · 0.06 acre
- Potrero Hill & DogpatchSan Francisco · 1,229 houses2,500sq ft · 0.06 acre
- Russian HillSan Francisco · 324 houses2,540sq ft · 0.06 acre
- Haight-Ashbury & Cole ValleySan Francisco · 1,126 houses2,650sq ft · 0.06 acre
- Original Daly City & Vista GrandeDaly City · 1,730 lots2,690sq ft · 0.06 acre
oldest and newest
The oldest and newest neighborhoods
Among guides with at least 100 homes counted, in the cities whose records publish year built (Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, San Bruno, San Francisco, Saratoga and Sunnyvale).
Oldest, by median year built
- Pacific HeightsSan Francisco · 1,037 houses1906median built
- Telegraph Hill & North BeachSan Francisco · 125 houses1907median built
- Noe ValleySan Francisco · 2,821 houses1908median built
- Castro & Eureka ValleySan Francisco · 1,445 houses1908median built
- Haight-Ashbury & Cole ValleySan Francisco · 1,126 houses1908median built
- ProfessorvillePalo Alto · 185 houses1908median built
- Mission Dolores & Dolores HeightsSan Francisco · 641 houses1909median built
- Potrero Hill & DogpatchSan Francisco · 1,229 houses1912median built
- Cow HollowSan Francisco · 475 houses1912median built
- Presidio Heights & Laurel HeightsSan Francisco · 910 houses1913median built
- Inner Richmond & Lone MountainSan Francisco · 1,516 houses1914median built
- Sea Cliff & Lake DistrictSan Francisco · 1,231 houses1914median built
Newest, by median year built
- Eagle Ridge & Hecker PassGilroy · 1,281 houses2006median built
- Sunrise ParkGilroy · 1,190 houses2001median built
- Glen Loma & Christmas HillGilroy · 2,672 houses2000median built
- Las Animas & CrestwoodGilroy · 2,672 houses1996median built
- Lions Creek & Country EstatesGilroy · 1,708 houses1995median built
- Monta VistaCupertino · 372 houses1985median built
- Portola Valley Ranch & Blue OaksPortola Valley · 226 houses1984median built
- Page Mill Road & Palo Alto HillsLos Altos Hills · 336 houses1980median built
- El Monte Road & Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills · 509 houses1978median built
- Inspiration HeightsCupertino · 323 houses1978median built
- Miller Avenue & CastlewoodGilroy · 1,589 houses1976median built
- Altamont, Taaffe & Moody RoadsLos Altos Hills · 411 houses1975median built
how to read it
Reading the numbers
Lot size
- An acre is 43,560 sq ftA quarter acre is about 10,890 sq ft and a half acre about 21,780.
- Half are bigger, half smallerThe median is the middle lot size in the neighborhood. Corner, flag and hillside lots often run bigger, so the lot you’re looking at can differ a lot from it.
- Size isn’t buildable areaZoning, setbacks, easements and slope decide what fits on a lot. A flat 6,000 sq ft lot can hold more house than a steep 15,000 sq ft one.
Year built and house size
- Only where it’s publishedYear built appears for Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, San Bruno, San Francisco, Saratoga and Sunnyvale; house size for Campbell, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, San Francisco, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. Other cities publish parcels and zoning only.
- The year a house was builtRecords generally show the year a house was first built, not when it was last remodeled or added to.
- Recorded living areaHouse size is the living area in the assessor’s or city’s records, which can differ from the square footage in a listing.
Lot size is public, but it isn’t the whole story. Before you plan an addition, an ADU or a lot split, ask for the plat map in the title report and check the city’s zoning and setbacks for that parcel.
the method
How we counted
- Neighborhoods
- The outlines drawn for our neighborhood guides (approximate; neighboring outlines can overlap). Guides with fewer than 20 counted homes are left out.
- Homes
- The same homes as our flood and fire zone counts: single-family houses from city or county assessor records where available, otherwise lots zoned or coded single-family (marked “lots”). Condos and townhomes are not counted.
- Lot size
- The lot area in the parcel record where the source publishes one (Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Palo Alto, San Bruno, San Francisco, Saratoga and Sunnyvale), otherwise the area of the mapped parcel outline (Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, Campbell, Cupertino, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Millbrae, Milpitas, Mountain View, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Clara, South San Francisco and Woodside). Menlo Park and Portola Valley use records for city guides and outlines for unincorporated guides. Either way it’s approximate. Blank or zero lot sizes are skipped.
- Year built, house size, stories
- Shown only where the city’s records publish them for at least 80% of the homes counted: median year built for 159 neighborhoods, house size for 124 and the share with two or more stories for 118.
- Sources by city
- Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, Daly City (unincorporated guides), East Palo Alto, Hillsborough, Menlo Park (unincorporated guides), Millbrae, Portola Valley (unincorporated guides), Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo (unincorporated guides) and Woodside: San Mateo County parcel layer (use codes as of June 2020); Campbell: County assessor records (City of Campbell layer); Cupertino: City of Cupertino parcel records; Daly City: City of Daly City parcel and zoning records; Foster City: City of Foster City parcel and zoning records; Gilroy: County assessor records (City of Gilroy layer); Los Altos: City of Los Altos parcel records; Los Altos Hills: County assessor records (fire district layer); Los Gatos and Monte Sereno: County assessor records (Town of Los Gatos layer); Menlo Park: City of Menlo Park parcel and zoning records; Milpitas: City of Milpitas parcel records; Mountain View: City of Mountain View parcel and zoning records; Palo Alto: City of Palo Alto parcel records; Portola Valley: County assessor records (Town of Portola Valley layer); San Bruno: County assessor records (City of San Bruno layer); San Francisco: San Francisco Assessor-Recorder secured roll; San Jose: City of San Jose parcel and zoning records; San Mateo: City of San Mateo parcel layer (county use codes); Santa Clara: City of Santa Clara parcel zoning records; Saratoga: County assessor records (City of Saratoga layer); South San Francisco: City of South San Francisco parcel and zoning records; Sunnyvale: City of Sunnyvale parcel records.
- Checks
- Every guide’s spec sheet shows the same median lot as this page (all 415; Sunnyvale’s spec sheets give it to the square foot, rounded here to the nearest 10) and, where it’s published, the same median year built (all 159).
- Not included
- Morgan Hill (no public parcel layer that identifies single-family homes), areas outside our guide outlines, and guides with too few homes.
questions
Questions we hear
Where do the lot sizes come from?
City and county parcel records. Where a record lists the lot area we use it; otherwise we measure the parcel’s mapped outline. Each neighborhood shows the median of the single-family homes counted inside its guide outline.
Why are some year-built and house-size cells blank?
Some cities publish year built and living area with their parcel records, and some publish only parcels and zoning. We leave a cell blank rather than estimate it.
Why do some cities count lots instead of houses?
Where houses can’t be identified in the public records, we count lots zoned or coded single-family, so a vacant lot or a home under construction can be included.
Is the median lot what I’d get?
No. Half the lots in a neighborhood are bigger and half smaller, and the spread can be wide, especially in the hills. Check the parcel itself.
How do I check one lot’s size?
The county assessor’s parcel map and the plat map in a preliminary title report show the lot’s dimensions. We’re glad to pull both for a home you’re considering.
How current is this?
It’s a snapshot of the public parcel records as published in October 2026 (San Mateo County use codes as of June 2020). The same numbers are dataset PN-DS-28 in our Data Library.
more to learn
Keep going
- Lot Value LabWhat a bigger lot and a bigger house each sold for, city by city, from recent sales.
- Flood & Fire ZonesThe same neighborhoods, with homes in FEMA flood zones and CAL FIRE fire zones.
- Build LabADUs, SB 9 homes and lot splits: what a lot can hold.
- Homes by DecadeHomes for sale grouped by the decade they were built.
- Property Nerds Data LibraryDataset PN-DS-28 has these figures as a CSV, alongside every other dataset we publish.
Figures from public parcel records as published in October 2026 (San Mateo County use codes as of June 2020). Lot sizes are approximate; confirm a parcel’s size with the county assessor or a title report.
talk to a property nerd
Looking for more lot?
Tell us what you want to build or how much space you need, and we’ll find the neighborhoods and the listings that fit, parcel by parcel. Commissions are negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what’s included.
