| Weather | | How much crime? | | What are the neighborhoods like? | | What are the people like? |
| Thanks to its location right next to the SF Bay, Millbrae has a very moderate climate. Winters rarely get colder than the mid-40s and summer temperatures rarely get above 80. In the summer the winds keep most days cool and dry. The winter months are generally free of winds, but most of the rain does take place from late October until mid-April. | | Crime is such a small problem in Millbrae that the city recently closed down its police department and outsourcing it to the local Sheriff's Department. Serious crimes are rare and even property crimes such as vandalism are usually confined to the areas around the Highway 101 business district. No place is crime-free, but Millbrae is as close as it gets. | | In a town where even a 1970s-era ranch house sells for close to $500,000, "worst part of town" is a relative description. The most desirable part of town is along Skyline Boulevard, which offers the best views of the Bay Area. It boasts the newest houses and while the lots aren't large, they are secluded and exclusive. The least desirable part of town is the lowest level, which borders the very busy Highway 101 and lies the closest to the nearby San Francisco International airport. This area includes the city's few apartment buildings and cheaper (relatively speaking) small ranch houses. | | The residents primarily work in San Francisco and the nearby suburbs and tend to be young and single. Millbrae also has a substantial Asian population (nearly 40 percent) and many of them have lived in the area for generations. They are often working-class families who wouldn't be able to afford to live there if they hadn't have been lucky enough to purchase their houses decades ago. The tension between these two groups can be awkward, especially since the only people who can afford to move into the area typically work in the well-paid tech industry. |
| Downtown Area | | Restaurants | | Schools | | Noise |
| The downtown area doesn't have a lot of shopping options, but it is a historical district and the places that are there are clean and inviting. Most people travel to San Francisco or into the south suburbs for most of their major shopping needs. | | The Millbrae Pancake House isn't the fanciest restaurant in town, but it's a local legend and popular enough to draw diners from around the Bay Area. | | The Millbrae schools have a reputation for being some of the best in Northern California. | | Millbrae is relatively close to the San Francisco Airport, although the plane traffic flies away from the city, lessening the sound pollution. |
| town comparison vs. | | Tourist attractions | | General comments | | |
| San Bruno lies to the immediate north of Millbrae and demographically the two towns look a lot alike. The biggest difference is that San Bruno has a much larger number of rental units, which makes the town a bit less exclusive and a lot more middle class and affordable. Burlingame is directly to the south and is even more expensive than Millbrae. The town is the headquarters for a number of tech start-ups and its location just next to the San Francisco airport means the town boasts a lot of companies that are involved in shipping and transportation. Unlike sleepy Millbrae, Burlingame is a much more frenetic town. | | The downtown area near Broadway Avenue and El Camino Rey is an attraction for locals and for visitors staying at one of the city's many hotels. | | Millbrae tries hard to retain some of the charm it had 50 years ago. There is a strong preservation movement and a real effort to save classic old houses and buildings. But the reality is that it's also a town where the cheapest two-bedroom apartments can run close to $2,500 a month. The only reason that there is a working class of residents still in town is that they got in early and now can't afford to move anywhere else. | | |
