Colma, CA Area Guide

Colma's unique identity stems from having so many cemeteries in the area. Cypress Lawn Memorial Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and stands as one of the region's most architecturally significant burial grounds. The town was incorporated in 1924, originally under the name Lawndale, and took the name Colma in 1941.

Dining options within Colma's city limits are limited. Chain restaurants line the El Camino Real and Serramonte Boulevard corridor, and the adjacent communities of Daly City and South San Francisco expand the choices considerably, with a wide range of Filipino, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Mexican cooking nearby.

Getting around Colma relies heavily on a car -- the commercial corridors and cemetery land use make the area more auto-oriented than pedestrian-friendly. That said, the Colma BART Station connects directly to downtown San Francisco and to San Francisco International Airport via the Yellow and Red lines, and it sits just over a mile from the town center. SamTrans bus routes also serve the area, and the regional Clipper Card works across BART, Muni, Caltrain, and SamTrans.

For drivers, El Camino Real (SR 82) runs through the heart of the commercial district, with Interstate 280 and US-101 accessible nearby. Caltrain stations in South San Francisco and San Bruno are both within 10 minutes by car, adding a second rail option for trips down the Peninsula or into the city.

San Bruno Mountain State Park sits less than five miles away and offers some of the most accessible hiking on the Peninsula, with trails winding through native plant habitat and terrain that supports rare species including the mission blue butterfly. It draws hikers, wildflower enthusiasts, and anyone looking for open space close to the urban core.

Candlestick Point State Recreation Area is roughly 18 minutes by car and offers waterfront access along San Francisco Bay. The San Francisco Zoo is also within 15 minutes, rounding out the regional options for outdoor recreation beyond Colma's compact, largely commercial footprint.

Rents in Colma run above both state and regional benchmarks, reflecting the town's proximity to San Francisco and SFO. The median household income is $103,688. Compared to the California statewide average for a one-bedroom, Colma rents come in notably higher, and they also exceed nearby Daly City and South San Francisco, making this one of the pricier small-city rental markets on the Peninsula.

Retail is one of Colma's defining roles in the region. The commercial corridors along El Camino Real and Serramonte Boulevard host a concentration of big-box retailers, department stores, and one of the Bay Area's densest clusters of auto dealerships, drawing shoppers from San Francisco and surrounding Peninsula cities. Serra Center and the Winston Manor shopping area add neighborhood-scale retail close to residential pockets.

Serramonte Center, a large regional mall just across the border in Daly City, anchors the broader shopping zone with major department stores and national brands. Together, the corridor makes Colma and its immediate surroundings a significant retail destination for the entire northern Peninsula.

Colma's history give this small town a character unlike any other in the Bay Area. Add direct BART access to San Francisco, a major regional retail corridor, and San Bruno Mountain State Park just minutes away, and the town packs a lot into two square miles.