The area surrounding Redwood, Calif., may be best known for its towering trees and vast wilderness, but those looking for apartments in Redwood City will find a vast array of housing options in closely-knit communities.
As much as nearby Redwood National Park is known for its trees, Redwood City, with a population of more than 75,000, is renowned its profound sense of community, respect for the past and thoughtful planning for the future. While this city draws many tourists looking to explore the nearby parks and forests, it is also home to a significant high-tech industry in the center of the San Francisco Peninsula.
While many people associated Redwood City with the famously huge redwood trees that grow across the upper half of the state, the city itself is actually more well-known for its climate. In the 1920s, the Chamber of Commerce held a competition to create a slogan for the city, which ended up being "Climate Best by Government Test." The slogan is a testament to government testing that took place before World War I and found Redwood City to be at the center of one of the world's three best climates - the other two are on the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean Coast of North Africa.
The climate is indeed seemingly perfect - the average high throughout the year is 77 degrees Fahrenheit and the low is 63, and there are approximately 160 sunny days and 20 inches of rainfall per year.
Those who live in apartments in Redwood City are encouraged to join their neighborhood associations and get to know their neighbors to increase the community's tight-knit atmosphere. Each of the 11 neighborhood associations meets periodically to discuss community issues. Other neighborhoods may not be organized into official associations, but provide safe places for families and individuals to live with a strong community feel and cultivate a cooperative relationship with the city.
Redwood City also has a thriving economy. Its no. 1 employer is Oracle America Inc., a high-tech computer company that employs 29,000 people in total, and about 5,795 workers in its home city. Jobs in public education, government and healthcare also top the list of leading employers, but the number of other high-tech companies located here cannot be overlooked - Electronic Arts, PDI/Dreamworks and Silver Spring Networks all call Redwood City home.
The nearby colleges and universities of San Francisco Bay - including Stanford University - offer plenty in the way of higher educational opportunities and the Redwood City School District serves nearly 9,000 students.
Those looking for rentals in Redwood City don't have to pay a big price to be part of a rewarding community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median gross rent in 2010 was $1,303. The average household income in 2009 was nearly $70,000, about $10,000 more than that of the state of California on average.
Because of the close community feed of Redwood City, there are always events and festivals for residents to enjoy. Whether you prefer taking part in a city-wide Salsa dance festival or watching movies in downtown's Courthouse Square, there is something for everyone throughout the year. Perhaps the largest celebration is Redwood City's Independence Day Parade, sponsored by the Peninsula Celebration Association. The parade has been held since 1938.
Of course, outdoor enthusiasts need not travel far to see the massive redwood forests that the city was named after. The National Redwood Forest may have the tallest trees on Earth, but the national and state parks also protect prairies, oak woodlands, river ways and close to 40 miles of California coastline.
To find your next rental apartment or house in Redwood City, take a look at our listings on Rent.com®.