Redwood City, an attractive suburb with a population of a little over 85,000, offers a nice balance of urban and suburban life. While Redwood City used to be more of a quiet suburb, the recent influx of high-end tech jobs has given the area a modern, bustling feel, complete with all the shops and attractions you’d expect from a hot Cali suburb.
Employment
For someone looking to establish a life with a family, Redwood City is humming with potential. The city is home to tech giants like Oracle, Electronic Arts and Shutterfly. In the financial sector, there’s Equinix and Vindicia, which are joined by smaller, local businesses like the Peninsula youth Sailing Foundation.
The mix of big time players and smaller establishments make Redwood City a convenient home regardless of your employment preferences. Thanks to a diverse selection of high-paying jobs, Redwood City has a median household income nearly twice that of the rest of the nation at $107,469.
Safety
Falling well-below the national averages for nearly all types of crime, Redwood City is a safe, secure place to reside. In comparison to the rest of the country, Redwood City has:
- 68% fewer assaults
- 56% fewer robberies
- 61% fewer burglaries
- 49% fewer general thefts
- 32% fewer motor vehicle thefts
Redwood City also has zero murders, making it a safer, more secure place to live when compared to many other areas of the state.
Diversity
In addition to being safe, Redwood City also boasts a diverse demographic profile. The city is home to people of a variety of ages, backgrounds and ethnicities. For example:
- 32% of the population is between the ages of 25 and 44 years old. This may, in part, be due to the influence of the tech sector on the city’s employment profile.
- 21% of the city’s residents are 17 years old or younger, a testament to Redwood being a safe place to raise children.
The educational profile of Redwood City also helps make it an engaging, safe place to live.
- 71% of the residents have at least some college education
- 48% having a bachelor’s degree of higher
- Redwood City has 15% more college educated residents than the average town in the United States
Schools
There are 44 public schools in Redwood City, including Carlmont High School, which sits at #45 of the best public high schools in California. Other highlights include:
- Central Middle School is one of the top-rated schools in the area with a student to teacher ratio of only 20:1 and 518 students
- Brittan Acres Elementary School has 373 students and a student to teacher ratio of 22:1
- Menlo-Atherton High School has a student-teacher ratio below 20, with 19 students for every teacher
Resident Satisfaction
The vast majority of Redwood City residents say it’s either a very good or excellent place to live. People remark that it’s a “peaceful and beautiful” place that’s continuously expanding and improving.
It’s easy to see why Redwood City is a top choice on many families’ lists of places to live. It’s a relatively safe place with high-quality schools and plenty of good jobs. In addition, a diverse selection of residents makes Redwood City a comfortable, welcoming place to call home.