San Francisco Neighborhoods

• Alamo Square: These popular four blocks surround the grassy park and playground called Alamo Square. Most famous for its picture-perfect row of colorful Victorians, the "Painted Ladies," Alamo Square has true San Francisco charm. Price Range of Housing: $650,000-$1,850,000

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• Anza Vista: was developed during the 1930s and 1940s. A quiet neighborhood in the Western Addition, the homes, flats and apartments of Anza Vista are designed with little ornamentation. Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$860,000

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• Ashbury Heights: Uphill from the heart of the Haight Ashbury is the community of Ashbury Heights, also known as Upper Haight. Price Range of Housing: $725,000-$2,000,000

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• Bernal Heights: South of the Mission District and bordered by Cesar Chavez/Army Street, Bayshore and Alemany boulevards, Bernal Heights with its pastel-colored houses sits quietly away from the hustle and bustle of urban San Francisco. Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$1,300,000

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• Bayview/Hunters Point: This working-class neighborhood is on the southeast side of the city and is near the former Navy yard and 3Com (Candlestick) Park. There is a mixture of single-family homes, apartments and factories. The main commercial strip for this area is Third Street. Price Range of Housing: $350,000-$700,000

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• Buena Vista Hill: Lies adjacent to Ashbury Heights and is home to the city's most heavily forested area, Buena Vista Park. Steep slopes with vast views are lined with baroque mansions, restored Victorians, family homes, flats and apartments. Price Range of Housing: $800,000-$2,000,000

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• Castro: Considered the center of alternative living in San Francisco, the Castro district offers some of the most colorful and vibrant settings in the city. The neighborhood's main thoroughfare, Castro Street, is home to many restaurants, alternative bookstores and diverse shops. The Castro is the center for the city's gay-lesbian population. Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$1,850,000

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• Cow Hollow: Located between Pacific Heights and the Marina consisting of a small section along Union Street. Once filled with natural springs, sand dunes and a small lagoon, Cow Hollow is home to many young professionals and is characterized by quaint homes and apartments. At the heart of Cow Hollow is popular Union Street, which is lined with fashionable shops and restaurants. Price Range of Housing: $825,000-$5,000,000

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• Crocker Amazon is a middle-class neighborhood on land that once belonged to the Crocker Estate. The neighborhood is well-maintained, with some streets beautifully landscaped and most front yards well-manicured. Boundaries include Amazon and Crocker avenues, Mission Street and LcLaren Park. Price Range of Housing: $350,000-$700,000

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• Downtown/Financial District: Some call San Francisco's downtown "Wall Street West" because it is ranked as one of the top financial centers in the nation. The Financial District begins at Montgomery Street and extends east toward the Embarcadero, comprising only a few city blocks. Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$1,500,000

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• Duboce Triangle: Beautifully restored Victorian homes line the Duboce Triangle. Nearby, Noe Valley provides public transportation, and the lively 24th Street, filled with restaurants, coffee houses, pubs and boutiques, provides entertainment. Price Range of Housing: $800,000-$1,500,000

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• Eureka Valley is made up of both flat land and hills. On the lower slope is the San Francisco archbishop's headquarters, and on the upper is the dramatic pinnacle known as Corona Heights. Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$1,850,000

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• Excelsior borders McLaren Park on the east and Portola District on the north. The homes in this area are about 50 years old and older, and are predominantly single-family, stucco and wood frame. There are apartments, duplexes and public housing available. Only a short bus ride to downtown. Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$700,000

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• Forest Hill: Once a part of a 4,000-acre ranch owned by the last Mexican mayor of San Francisco, Jose Noe, Forest Hill was broken down into single-family home lots in 1912. The streets and common areas in Forest Hill are beautifully maintained by the Forest Hill Association. Price Range of Housing: $900,000-$3,000,000

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• Glen Park: On the lower slopes of Diamond Heights, just south of Noe Valley, sits the charming and quiet neighborhood of Glen Park. Victorians and architecturally interesting modern homes line Laidley Street. Price Range of Housing: $550,000-$1,350,000

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• Golden Gate Heights: Sometimes called Larsen Peak or Sunset Heights Park, Golden Gate Heights is perched on a 725-foot-high bluff and is characterized by huge retaining walls and panoramic views of the ocean. Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$1,900,000

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• Haight Ashbury: Universally known for its '60s flair, Haight Ashbury is still recognized for its creativity and diversity. Haight Ashbury is home to colorful Victorians, eclectic shops, sidewalk cafes and popular night clubs. Haight Ashbury is also famous for its residents of the past, including Jerry Garcia, the Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin, to name a few. Price Range of Housing: $650,000-$1,500,000

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• Hayes Valley: This is one of the up-and-coming San Francisco neighborhoods. Located close to downtown, with Franklin and Divisadero streets at its east and west boundaries, Hayes Valley has been expanding with new restaurants and shops. Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$1,000,000

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• Ingleside is located in the southwestern corner of the city and enjoys more sun than the rest of San Francisco. This neighborhood is close to the Pacific and has good views of San Bruno Mountain and Mt. Davidson. Nearby are San Francisco State University, Stonestown Shopping Center and Lake Merced. Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$1,200,000

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• Jordan Park's boundaries include Geary Boulevard, California Street and Parker Avenue. It is adjacent to Children's Hospital and home to many doctors. The area has handsome stately homes that are well-designed and nicely landscaped. Price Range of Housing: $1,000,000-$3,000,000

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• Lake: The Lake Street area borders the Presidio, Arguello Boulevard and Sea Cliff. Renovated Edwardian homes and apartments line the streets o this quiet neighborhood where parking is easily accessible. Price Range of Housing: $500,000-$3,000,000

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• Lakeshore: Located on the Pacific on the southern border of San Francisco Lakeshore was the last neighborhood in the city to be developed This area includes San Francisco State University, Lake Merced, two golf courses and Stonestown Galleria, which is the only "suburban" shopping plaza in the city. The area has mostly apartment housing, but there are also small tracts, condos and single-family homes. Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$900,000

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• Laurel Heights: This neighborhood centers on the Laurel Village shopping center which caters not only to residents but also to elite clientele from Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights. Price Range of Housing: $525,000-$3,000,000

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• Marina: Once marshland, the Marina is home to many young professionals and the landmark Palace of Fine Arts. The Marina attracts many seeking the pleasures of jogging, sunbathing and strolling by the bay. The Marina Green is a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors, with a pedestrian path that is perfect for rollerblading, walking or running. Price Range of Housing: $950,000-$4,000,000

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• Mission: The Mission is home to the city's oldest structure, Mission Dolores, the sixth Franciscan mission along El Camino Real. Located nearby is the ornate Mission Dolores Basilica. Within the Mission area, it is easy to find spicy taquerias, Mexican bakeries and colorful murals depicting Mexican and Latino history. The original Levi Strauss factory is located in this area at 250 Valencia St. Today, the Mission is a popular area for a mix of working-class Latino families, young professionals, artists and others who enjoy its culturally diverse atmosphere. Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$700,000

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• Mission Bay, also known as Mission Rock, Mission Creek and China Basin, is a rapidly evolving area in the city, thanks in part to the new San Francisco Giants' stadium. This eclectic neighborhood features San Francisco's houseboat enclave, as well as the Lefty O'Doul drawbridge and a new University of California, San Francisco campus. Price Range of Housing: $350,000-$600,000

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• Mt. Davidson Manor: This conservative and well-manicured neighborhood is home to freestanding, middle-income family homes that were built before World War II, many of which offer wonderful views of San Bruno Mountain. Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$1,300,000

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• Nob Hill: hosts some of the most elite San Francisco addresses, as well as some of San Francisco's richest history. With the completion of the cable car in 1843, the influential and wealthy moved to Nob Hill. The Fairmont Hotel and the Pacific Union Club nearby. Impressive apartments and flats dot the area. Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$5,000,000

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• Noe Valley: Nestled in the lowland between Twin Peaks and Diamond Heights, Noe Valley is a quaint neighborhood, centered around 24th Street, with its coffee shops, boutiques, bookstores and multitude of ethnic restaurants. Architecture in Noe Valley is predominantly Victorian. Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$4,000,000

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• North Beach: is known as the "Little Italy" of the West, with its abundant Italian restaurants, cafes and bakeries. The oldest street in the city, Grant Avenue, extends from Chinatown into North Beach where its Chinese eateries and shops are transformed to Barbary Coast saloons, second-hand shops, pizza parlors and clothing boutiques. Price Range of Housing: $620,000-$2,000.000

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• Pacific Heights: One of the most prestigious neighborhoods in San Francisco, Pacific Heights is home to the most breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. It is home to many of San Francisco's first families, as well as successful entrepreneurs and artists. Price Range of Housing: $1.500,000-$20,000,000

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• Parkside: Parallel to Pine Lake Park and Stern Grove, Parkside has a community feel, with two playgrounds, a meadow-like playing field at McCopping Square and elementary schools with their playing fields and swingsets. This area is predominantly filled with single-family residences.Price Range of Housing: $600,000-$900,000

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• Portola Heights: This area is also known as University Mound, because its street names include Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Yale. Landmarks include a home for the elderly, the Convent of the Good Shepherd home for girls and McLaren Park. Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$700,000

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• Potrero Hill sits south of 16th Street an dis framed by Potrero Avenue, Cesar Chavez/Army Street and Highway 280. The neighborhood has a community feel all its own; it even has its own weekly newspaper, the Potrero View. Pleasan window shopping and cafe dining is popular with locals. Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$1,900,000

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• Presidio Heights: Located just west of Pacific Heights and adjacent to the Presidio, Presidio Heights is a small enclave of elegant homes. Some of San Francisco's most elite families and dignitaries reside here. Price Range of Housing: $1,500,000-$15,000,000

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• Richmond: This peninsula is home to many 1920s duplexes and a few spacious Edwardians. The Richmond has many Chinese and Russian restaurants. Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$1,500,000

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• Russian Hill's world-famous Lombard Street twists down the hill to the delight of tourists and the dismay of cab drivers. Just west of North Beach and east of the Marina, Russian Hill offers outstanding views of San Francisco Bay and downtown. Price Range of Housing: $775,000-$5,000,000

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• Sea Cliff attracts many sightseers wanting to see the beautiful mansions and beaches in this area. China and Baker beaches are situated where the Golden Gate meets the Pacific Ocean. Price Range of Housing: $900,000-$7,000,000

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• Sherwood Forest: This neighborhood lies on the southwesterly slope of Mt. Davidson and is home to elaborate ranch-style and groves of eucalyptus, cypress and pine trees. City College of San Francisco is nearby. Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$1,700,000

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• South Beach encompasses the lively Embarcadero, South Park, the new Pacific Bell Park and the newly constructed Muni Metro extension. The San Francisco Giants' ball park has transformed the area, bringing clean streets and new cafes to this South of Market neighborhood. Price Range of Housing: $450,000-$1,300,000

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• South of Market (Soma) is one of the richest historical areas in the city, and, today, has a character all its own. Today, Soma is the creative, cutting-edge center of the city, home to the majority of graphic arts, design, film, multimedia businesses and more, many of which are thriving on the dot-com revolution. Price Range of Housing: $300,000-$1,500,000

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• St. Francis Wood: This neighborhood consists of an elite tract of home on the southwest side of San Francisco. The beautifully landscaped curving lanes lead to distinguished, grand-scale home. Price Range of Housing: $1,000,000-$4,100,000

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• Sunset: Before the 1930s, the Sunset district was made up of sand dunes that extended west to Ocean Beach. The Sunset is located just south of Golden Gate Park, north of Sloat Boulevard and framed by Stanyan Street and Ocean Beach. The Sunset is one of the foggiest pockets of all of San Francisco, thanks to its location near Ocean Beach. Price Range of Housing: $500,000-$900,000

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• Telegraph Hill: Coit Tower, a 180-foot tower resembling a fire-hose nozzle, sits authoritatively at the top of Telegraph Hill. Price Range of Housing: $625,000-$7,000,000

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• Twin Peaks: Named for two hills reaching approximately 910 feet each, Twin Peaks offers the most panoramic views of the city and bay. Some homes on the northern crest of Twin Peaks resemble Spanish Villas, while the eastern side has mainly apartment houses. Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$1,850,000

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• Western Addition: includes the plateau west of Civic Center, stretching west to Masonic and Presidio avenues. Victorian houses, many restored, dominate the area's architecture. Sights include the musically historic Fillmore Auditorium. Price Range of Housing: $500,000-$1,000,000

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• West Portal: On the western side of the lengthy Twin Peaks tunnel, the charming neighborhood of West Portal emerges, nestled at the foot of Mt. Davidson, Forest Heights and Edgehill Heights. With small businesses, a variety of restaurants and a movie theater, West Portal is its own "city within the city." The neighborhood is known for its rather sedate, middle-class lifestyle. Price Range of Housing: $700,000-$1,000,000

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• Yerba Buena: This neighborhood South of Market (SoMa) is centered around the Yerba Buena Center and Gardens, which is quickly becoming a sophisticated center for art and business. Price Range of Housing: $400,000-$950,000

(Neighborhood descriptions and information courtesy of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.)