Burlingame's housing stock skews toward the early 20th century, with a concentration of single-family homes built from the 1900s through the 1940s. The Burlingame Terrace neighborhood is among the city's oldest, while the Burlingables area is known for its tree-lined streets and a range of period styles, including California bungalows, Craftsman, and Spanish Revival designs. Many homes sit on modestly sized lots with mature landscaping, and several neighborhoods retain a cohesive, low-rise character that reflects the city's origins as an early railroad-era suburb. Newer construction and mid-century infill add variety without displacing the older fabric that gives Burlingame much of its identity.

Burlingame's neighborhoods are generally distinguished by era and proximity to downtown. Burlingame Terrace, one of the oldest sections, offers a convenient central location and a mix of architectural styles. Lyon-Hoag sits within walking distance of Burlingame Avenue, Washington Park, and Washington Elementary School. The Burlingables neighborhood is known for its dense tree canopy and architecturally varied early-1900s homes. Burlingame Gate and the Easton Addition add further residential pockets, the latter on the east side of El Camino Real toward the bay. Each area shares the city's overarching pattern of tree-lined streets and established, walkable residential blocks.

Daily life in Burlingame centers on its walkable downtown. Burlingame Avenue and its side streets host hundreds of independently owned stores and restaurants, ranging from casual cafes and bakeries to fine dining, alongside the city's central shopping spine on California Drive. The city's "Tree City USA" recognition and its bayside parks give residents a balance of commercial convenience and outdoor respite. Community life is oriented around the public schools, Washington Park, and local events, lending Burlingame a small-city rhythm despite its position in one of the nation's most expensive and densely populated metropolitan regions.

Burlingame is served by the Burlingame School District for elementary and middle grades and by the San Mateo Union High School District for grades nine through twelve. Burlingame High School, located in the city on Mangini Way, enrolls roughly 1,450 students and draws from across the open-enrollment high school district, which also serves San Mateo, Foster City, Hillsborough, San Bruno, and Millbrae. The presence of neighborhood elementary campuses such as Washington Elementary, together with the city's established residential character, makes schools a central part of Burlingame's appeal to families.

Burlingame is exceptionally well connected. U.S. Route 101 and El Camino Real run through or alongside the city, and San Francisco International Airport lies immediately to the north, just beyond Millbrae. Caltrain provides rail service from Burlingame's downtown station up the Peninsula toward San Francisco and south toward San Jose, while the Millbrae station offers a transfer to BART for direct airport and regional access. SamTrans buses, including routes along El Camino Real, supplement the rail network. This combination of a downtown Caltrain stop, a nearby BART hub, and an adjacent international airport makes Burlingame one of the Peninsula's most convenient cities for commuters and travelers.

The San Francisco Bay shoreline defines Burlingame's outdoor offerings. The San Francisco Bay Trail runs along the city's bayfront, providing a flat, paved route for walking, running, and cycling with views across the water. Coyote Point Recreation Area, a roughly 670-acre bayside park at the city's northeastern edge, offers beaches, picnic areas, trails, and a playground, along with the CuriOdyssey science and wildlife center. Inland, Washington Park and Bayside Fields provide neighborhood-level green space and sports facilities. Anza Lagoon and a series of bayside paths further connect Burlingame's neighborhoods to the open shoreline that distinguishes it from its inland Peninsula neighbors.