Which Bay Area cities are under a flight path?
The published landing, arrival and departure routes of San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC), drawn over the 50 cities and towns of the four counties around them. The routes come from the FAA's own procedure file and the shading from the federal aircraft noise map. The figures in the table are measured from those two.
- 15 of 50cities have a published landing path overhead, below 3,000 ft
- 24 of 50have a coded arrival route overhead, where the FAA allows aircraft at 10,000 ft or lower
- 17 of 50have a coded departure route overhead, within 19 miles of the runway
- 26 of 50have at least 1% of their area on the federal aircraft noise map, from any airfield
- Final approach, from 3,000 ft down to the runway
- Coded arrival route, from where 10,000 ft or lower is allowed
- Coded departure route, first 19 miles
- Airport
- Aircraft noise, 2022: quieter to louder
City by city
Ordered by how much of each city the federal noise map shades. That map is the better guide to what is actually flown, but it covers every airfield the Bureau models, not only these three, so each row names the airfield its shading belongs to. Heights are of landing aircraft on the published glide path, above the runway, to the nearest 100 ft. Arrival altitudes are the ones the FAA publishes at a waypoint inside the city, above sea level.
Under each city is its Sky Score, the one the Sky Score API publishes, with balanced weighting. It is on US scales: crime, road noise and flood risk are scored against California's own figures, and prices among these 50 cities alone, so it is not comparable with a UK score, nor with New York's. Price growth is not scored here, because the only price trend held is county-wide. Its aircraft part is an estimate from these routes, fitted to the noise monitors of San Francisco and San Jose airports, not a measurement. A score marked * rests on fewer inputs, because one is withheld rather than estimated; the map shows every input of every city, and why any is withheld.
| City, county | Share of city on the noise map | Drawn routes overhead |
|---|---|---|
| ColmaSan MateoSky Score 5.8 / 10 | 100%SFO | None overhead. Nearest: 0.2 mi (SFO STLER4 arrival) |
| BrisbaneSan MateoSky Score 5.5 / 10 | Over 99%SFO | DepartureDeparture: OAK CNDEL6 |
| South San FranciscoSan MateoSky Score 3.5 / 10 | 96%SFO | Landing · DepartureLanding: SFO 10L, SFO 10R. Lowest under 500 ft above the runway, beside the airportDeparture: OAK CNDEL6; SFO GAPP7, GNNRR3, MOLEN9, SEGUL1, SNTNA2, SSTIK5, WESLA5 |
| San BrunoSan MateoSky Score 3.7 / 10 | 94%SFO | Landing · Arrival · DepartureLanding: SFO 10L, SFO 10R. Lowest under 500 ft above the runway, beside the airportArrival: SFO WWAVS2Departure: SFO GAPP7, GNNRR3, MOLEN9, SEGUL1, SNTNA2, SSTIK5, WESLA5 |
| MillbraeSan MateoSky Score 1.3 / 10 (an input withheld) | 74%SFO | DepartureDeparture: SFO SSTIK5 |
| MilpitasSanta ClaraSky Score 5.4 / 10 (an input withheld) | 72%SJC | Arrival · DepartureArrival: SFO YOSEM3Departure: SJC SUNOL1 |
| Daly CitySan MateoSky Score 5.6 / 10 | 63%SFO | Landing · Arrival · DepartureLanding: SFO 10L, SFO 10R. Lowest about 1,000 ft above the runwayArrival: SFO STLER4, WWAVS2Departure: SFO GAPP7, GNNRR3, MOLEN9, SEGUL1, SNTNA2, WESLA5 |
| AlamedaAlamedaSky Score 2.5 / 10 | 61%OAK | Landing · DepartureLanding: OAK 10L, OAK 10R, SFO 19L. Lowest under 500 ft above the runway, beside the airportDeparture: OAK CNDEL6 |
| BurlingameSan MateoSky Score 2.6 / 10 | 58%SFO | None overhead. Nearest: 0.6 mi (SFO NIITE4 departure) |
| Santa ClaraSanta ClaraSky Score 4.6 / 10 | 54%SJC | Landing · DepartureLanding: SJC 12L, SJC 12R. Lowest under 500 ft above the runway, beside the airportDeparture: SJC LOUPE1, SPTNS1 |
| Foster CitySan MateoSky Score 4.1 / 10 | 51%SFO | LandingLanding: SFO 28L, SFO 28R. Lowest about 1,500 ft above the runway |
| San LeandroAlamedaSky Score 3.9 / 10 | 50%OAK | Landing · DepartureLanding: OAK 28L, OAK 28R. Lowest under 500 ft above the runway, beside the airportDeparture: OAK KATFH4 |
| HaywardAlamedaSky Score 5.5 / 10 | 37%Hayward Executive | Landing · Arrival · DepartureLanding: OAK 28L, OAK 28R, OAK 30. Lowest about 1,100 ft above the runwayArrival: OAK EMZOH4, OAKES3. Published altitude at MITOE, inside the city: 2,000 ft or aboveDeparture: OAK KATFH4 |
| LivermoreAlamedaSky Score 7.2 / 10 | 36%Livermore Municipal | None overhead. Nearest: 0.2 mi (OAK OAKES3 arrival) |
| San JoseSanta ClaraSky Score 5.5 / 10 (an input withheld) | 27%SJC | Landing · Arrival · DepartureLanding: SJC 12L, SJC 12R, SJC 30L, SJC 30R. The airport is inside the cityArrival: SFO DYAMD5, YOSEM3; SJC RAZRR5, SILCN6. Published altitude at WOXAR, inside the city: 1,600 ft or aboveDeparture: SJC ALMDN4, LOUPE1, SPTNS1, SUNOL1, TECKY4 |
| SunnyvaleSanta ClaraSky Score 4.2 / 10 | 24%Moffett Federal Airfield | LandingLanding: SJC 12R. Lowest about 1,100 ft above the runway |
| DublinAlamedaSky Score 6.8 / 10 | 23%Livermore Municipal | None overhead. Nearest: 1.2 mi (OAK WNDSR2 arrival) |
| PacificaSan MateoSky Score 4.9 / 10 | 15%SFO | Landing · Arrival · DepartureLanding: SFO 10L, SFO 10R. Lowest about 1,400 ft above the runwayArrival: SFO STLER4, WWAVS2. Published altitude at WESLA, inside the city: 6,000 ftDeparture: SFO GAPP7, GNNRR3, MOLEN9, SEGUL1, SNTNA2, WESLA5 |
| OaklandAlamedaSky Score 5.6 / 10 | 13%OAK | Landing · Arrival · DepartureLanding: OAK 10L, OAK 10R, OAK 12, OAK 28L, OAK 28R, OAK 30. The airport is inside the cityArrival: OAK WNDSR2. Published altitude at HOPTA, inside the city: 5,000 ftDeparture: OAK CNDEL6, HUSSH3, KATFH4; SFO TRUKN2 |
| PleasantonAlamedaSky Score 6.0 / 10 | 13%Livermore Municipal | ArrivalArrival: OAK OAKES3 |
| San MateoSan MateoSky Score 4.0 / 10 | 12%SFO | None overhead. Nearest: 0.1 mi (SFO 28L approach) |
| San FranciscoSan FranciscoSky Score 5.3 / 10 | 10%SFO | Landing · Arrival · DepartureLanding: OAK 10L, OAK 10R. Lowest about 2,500 ft above the runwayArrival: SFO STLER4, WWAVS2. Published altitude at MVRKK, inside the city: 6,000 ftDeparture: OAK CNDEL6, HUSSH3; SFO NIITE4 |
| Redwood CitySan MateoSky Score 4.1 / 10 | 7%SFO | None overhead. Nearest: 0.1 mi (SFO SERFR4 arrival) |
| Union CityAlamedaSky Score 5.1 / 10 | 5%Hayward Executive | Landing · Arrival · DepartureLanding: OAK 30. Lowest about 2,700 ft above the runwayArrival: OAK EMZOH4, OAKES3. Published altitude at ZOLUM, inside the city: 3,500 ft or aboveDeparture: OAK KATFH4 |
| FremontAlamedaSky Score 5.6 / 10 | 3%SJC | Landing · Arrival · DepartureLanding: SJC 12L, SJC 12R. Lowest about 2,300 ft above the runwayArrival: OAK EMZOH4; SFO DYAMD5, YOSEM3. Published altitude at DUMBA, inside the city: 4,000 ft or aboveDeparture: OAK KATFH4; SFO GAPP7 |
| Mountain ViewSanta ClaraSky Score 4.9 / 10 | 1%Moffett Federal Airfield | None overhead. Nearest: 0.6 mi (SFO SERFR4 arrival) |
| Menlo ParkSan MateoSky Score 4.7 / 10 | Under 1% | ArrivalArrival: SFO SERFR4 |
| HillsboroughSan MateoSky Score 5.1 / 10 | Under 1% | None overhead. Nearest: 1.6 mi (SFO SSTIK5 departure) |
| BerkeleyAlamedaSky Score 4.7 / 10 | None | ArrivalArrival: OAK WNDSR2 |
| CampbellSanta ClaraSky Score 5.7 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | ArrivalArrival: SJC RAZRR5, SILCN6 |
| CupertinoSanta ClaraSky Score 5.1 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | ArrivalArrival: SFO SERFR4; SJC RAZRR5, SILCN6. Published altitude at HITIR, inside the city: 4,000 ft |
| East Palo AltoSan MateoSky Score 6.2 / 10 | None | ArrivalArrival: SFO SERFR4 |
| GilroySanta ClaraSky Score 7.4 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | ArrivalArrival: SJC RAZRR5, SILCN6 |
| Half Moon BaySan MateoSky Score 6.0 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | Arrival · DepartureArrival: SJC FRLON2Departure: SFO SSTIK5 |
| Los AltosSanta ClaraSky Score 5.3 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | ArrivalArrival: SFO SERFR4. Published altitude at EDDYY, inside the city: 6,000 ft |
| Los Altos HillsSanta ClaraSky Score 5.6 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | ArrivalArrival: SFO SERFR4 |
| Los GatosSanta ClaraSky Score 5.2 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | ArrivalArrival: SJC RAZRR5, SILCN6. Published altitude at EDMND, inside the city: 5,600 ft or above |
| Morgan HillSanta ClaraSky Score 7.0 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | ArrivalArrival: SJC RAZRR5, SILCN6 |
| NewarkAlamedaSky Score 5.7 / 10 | None | ArrivalArrival: SFO DYAMD5. Published altitude at WIBNI, inside the city: 4,900 ft or above |
| Palo AltoSanta ClaraSky Score 4.4 / 10 | None | ArrivalArrival: SFO SERFR4. Published altitude at SIDBY, inside the city: 4,000 ft or above |
| SaratogaSanta ClaraSky Score 5.7 / 10 | None | None overhead. Nearest: 0.4 mi (SFO SERFR4 arrival) |
| WoodsideSan MateoSky Score 5.9 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | None overhead. Nearest: 0.6 mi (SFO PIRAT3 arrival) |
| AthertonSan MateoSky Score 5.9 / 10 | None | None overhead. Nearest: 0.8 mi (SFO SERFR4 arrival) |
| PiedmontAlamedaSky Score 4.6 / 10 | None | None overhead. Nearest: 1.1 mi (OAK WNDSR2 arrival) |
| AlbanyAlamedaSky Score 6.5 / 10 | None | None overhead. Nearest: 1.1 mi (OAK WNDSR2 arrival) |
| Monte SerenoSanta ClaraSky Score 6.1 / 10 | None | None overhead. Nearest: 1.1 mi (SJC RAZRR5 arrival) |
| Portola ValleySan MateoSky Score 5.6 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | None overhead. Nearest: 1.9 mi (SJC FRLON2 arrival) |
| BelmontSan MateoSky Score 4.6 / 10 | None | None overhead. Nearest: 2.3 mi (SFO 28L approach) |
| San CarlosSan MateoSky Score 5.8 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | None overhead. Nearest: 2.9 mi (SFO 28L approach) |
| EmeryvilleAlamedaSky Score 7.7 / 10 (an input withheld) | None | None overhead. Nearest: 3.2 mi (OAK WNDSR2 arrival) |
Not cities, but under a route: 8 unincorporated communities in these counties have a drawn route overhead: Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, El Granada, Fairview, Montara, San Lorenzo, Sunol. They are outlined with a dashed line on the map.
How to read this
What each line, shade and height means
- The lines are published routes, not radar tracks. Aircraft fly either side of them, and a city with no line can still hear aircraft.
- This shows where the routes are, not how many aircraft use them. Which runways are in use depends on the wind, and the FAA's file does not say how often each is flown. The noise shading is the better guide to that.
- Landing lines are each runway's final approach, from 3,000 ft down to the runway, at the glide angle the FAA publishes. "SFO 28L" means runway 28 Left at San Francisco. 4 runway ends have no published glide angle and are not drawn: SFO 01L, SFO 01R, OAK 15, OAK 33.
- Departure lines are the coded departure procedures, drawn for their first 19 miles, or as far as their named waypoints go if that is less: where controllers take over and steer aircraft by radar, the line stops. Names such as GAPP7 are the FAA's own names for them.
- Heights are above the runway, not above the ground. A city on a hill is closer to the aircraft than its figure says. Read each figure as give or take 100 ft.
- Arrival lines are the FAA's coded arrival routes, joined to the coded approach transitions that lead from where they end to the start of a final approach. Each is drawn from the first waypoint at which the FAA allows aircraft to be at 10,000 ft or lower. Where a coded route ends and controllers take over, steering aircraft by radar over a wide area, the line stops, and cities under those streams show no line here. The altitudes are the ones the FAA publishes at a waypoint, above sea level, and most are a minimum: "4,000 ft or above" means aircraft may be, and often are, higher. Names such as SERFR4 are the FAA's own names for these routes.
- The noise shading is the aviation layer of the National Transportation Noise Map, 2022 edition, from the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It is a modelled 24-hour average, drawn over land only (which is why an approach over the bay has no shading until it reaches the shore), and it includes airfields this page draws no routes for, such as Livermore's and Hayward's own. The table names, for each city, the airfield inside its patch of shading; where water cuts a patch off from its airport, it is named for the airport whose approach runs through it, and where a patch holds two airfields, for the nearer. The Bureau publishes it to track trends and says it should not be used to evaluate noise at an individual location, so this page gives a share of a whole city and never a figure for an address.
- City outlines are approximate. They are the Census Bureau's generalised boundaries, good to a few hundred feet, so treat anything right on a city line as approximate.
- Cities only. The table lists incorporated cities and towns in San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties. San Francisco airport (SFO) is on unincorporated land, inside no city. Oakland airport (OAK) is inside the city of Oakland. San Jose airport (SJC) is inside the city of San Jose.
Sources
Flight procedures: FAA Coded Instrument Flight Procedures (CIFP), cycle 2611, effective 2026-10-29. The FAA supplies the CIFP "as is", without warranty of any kind, and neither the FAA nor its personnel is liable for its content or for any use made of it. This page is not for navigation.
Aircraft noise: US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Noise Map 2022.
City and county boundaries: US Census Bureau cartographic boundary files, 2023.
Scores: home values, US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates ($2M+ is its top code); crime, California DOJ OpenJustice over US Census Bureau population estimates; rail access, US Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transit Map (CC BY 3.0 US); road noise, USDOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Noise Map 2022; flood risk, FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer; residents, US Census Bureau 2020 Census blocks; the county price trend, Federal Housing Finance Agency, with no FHFA endorsement implied. The aircraft estimate is fitted to SFO's noise monitors (DataSF, PDDL 1.0) and San Jose airport's, with runway use counted by Sky Score from aircraft positions via adsb.lol (ODbL 1.0).
About Sky Score
Sky Score shows aircraft noise, air quality and flood risk for homes, from official public data. It covers city regions across England, New York and the Bay Area on the map, where these cities are drawn with their routes and every input of their scores. If your city is not here, or something on this page looks wrong, write to support@skyscore.co.uk.