What Homes Sell For
Recent Sales
Median sale prices, last 12 months · Oct 2025 – Oct 2026
- Houses
- $1,850,000
- Condos & co-ops
- 3 sales
Sales in MLS neighborhood 4D (Forest Knolls) reported to the San Francisco MLS, including off-MLS sales; known below-market-rate (BMR) sales excluded. Medians need at least 5 sales. Updated monthly; deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Compare every neighborhood on the price map or ask us what a specific home is worth.
The Good
- The Mount Sutro forest is the neighborhood’s backyard, with trails open to the public.
- UCSF Parnassus is just over the hill: a short drive, a quick bus ride, or a walk through the Mount Sutro forest trails.
- Detached midcentury houses with their own lots, a rare format this close to the center.
- House prices come in under the city median, a real entry point to a detached home.
- Quiet streets with the Inner Sunset, Cole Valley and West Portal a short drive away.
The Tradeoffs
- No coffee shop or restaurant row inside the neighborhood.
- Fog and damp are part of life next to a forest.
- Steep, winding streets make a car the default.
Forest Knolls is the hidden one. Nearly half its area is Mount Sutro, the eucalyptus forest above UCSF, and the rest is winding streets of detached midcentury houses. It is a break from the Victorian and Edwardian template, and from the noise, with the Parnassus campus on the other side of the hill.
The Neighborhood Block by Block
Views Across the Middle of the City
From the upper streets the view runs across rooftops toward Midtown Terrace and the hills of the city’s center.
Looking Toward Midtown Terrace from Forest Knolls. photo: matt fuller
Gardens Under the Trees
Big trees and flowering gardens line the curving streets. It feels farther from the city than it is.
A Garden Street in Forest Knolls. photo: matt fuller
Detached Midcentury Houses
Most homes are detached, midcentury single-family houses on their own lots, stepping down the hillside among the trees.
Midcentury Homes in Forest Knolls. photo: matt fuller
The Longer Story
Mount Sutro
Nearly half of Forest Knolls is Mount Sutro, a forested hill named for Adolph Sutro, the engineer and former mayor. Part is managed by the city and part is a UCSF reserve, and both are open to the public. The Rotary Meadow has California native plants.
The Homes in Detail
Detached midcentury single-family homes on their own lots make up most of the neighborhood. It is an already-built neighborhood, so new construction is rare.
Living Next to UCSF Parnassus
For doctors, nurses, researchers and staff at UCSF Parnassus, Forest Knolls is about as close as a detached house gets. The campus sits on the north side of Mount Sutro, a few minutes by car, and the forest trails connect the two for anyone who would rather walk to work through the trees.
Shift workers like the quiet streets and the short commute. Buyers who work at Parnassus also get a house with a yard, which is hard to find this close to the campus.
Getting Around
A car is the usual answer. West Portal, the Inner Sunset and Cole Valley are a short drive for shopping and dining, and the Midtown Terrace Playground is nearby for families.
Questions We Hear
Are There Any Notable Historical Landmarks or Sites in the Forest Knolls?
Nearly half the area of Forest Knolls is taken up by Mount Sutro, a lushly forested site that now includes a section managed by the city and a reserve owned by UCSF, both open to the public. Named for Adolph Sutro, a German-American philanthropist and engineer who was also mayor of San Francisco, Mount Sutro also features California native plants in its Rotary Meadow, and is known for its eucalyptus trees.
What Is There to Do in Forest Knolls?
As a residential neighborhood without a commercial corridor, Forest Knolls offers a peaceful, off-the-beaten path location that’s still in central San Francisco. All the city’s diversions are within easy driving distance, including the charming shopping and dining scene of West Portal. Urban hikers and dog walkers will love the outdoor (and often foggy) recreation areas of Forest Knolls, and families can take advantage of the Midtown Terrace Playground and Picnic Area.
How Does the Community Vibe in the Forest Knolls Contribute to its Real Estate Appeal?
A neighborhood predominately made up of detached, midcentury, single-family homes with their own lots, Forest Knolls offers an exception to the Victorian and Edwardian template of many San Francisco neighborhoods. While it may not have a hip coffee shop or much in the way of fine dining, it’s a bit of a hidden gem for those looking for peace without losing the urban proximity.
Where Can I Find New Construction in Forest Knolls?
As an “already built” neighborhood, Forest Knolls is not a neighborhood where you should expect to find substantial new construction projects. Smaller developers may renovate/flip existing properties, or may take advantage of recent housing laws to add additional units to already existing housing. Transit corridors and major neighborhood streets are the most likely areas for new construction buildings in already built neighborhoods with existing housing stock.
What Are the Average Home Prices in Forest Knolls?
Prices in Forest Knolls move block by block and season by season, so a single average hides more than it tells. Our Market Notes track current values across the city. For a read on a specific home or street, ask us: we’ll pull the recent sales and tell you what they mean.