Foster City, CA: Marketing for Dental & Medical Practices
Public data on Foster City, and what we would do first for a practice there because of it.
Foster City at a glance
Furthest from the US: share of residents who speak Spanish at home (4.6% against 13.6%), then median household income ($199,143 against $80,734).
- Residents, July 2025 estimate32,411Down 4.1% from the April 2020 base of 33,807
- Median household income$199,143Well above both California ($99,122) and the US ($80,734)
- Median age39.5Above California (37.9), close to the US (38.9)
- Residents 65 and older17.6%Above California (15.7%), close to the US (17.2%)
- Bachelor's degree or higher (residents 25+)73.8%Well above both California (37.1%) and the US (35.7%)
- Speak Spanish at home (residents 5+)4.6%Well below both California (28.3%) and the US (13.6%)
The share who speak Spanish at home is where Foster City and San Mateo (3 miles apart) differ most: 4.6% against 20.5%, then the median household income ($199,143 against $153,504).
Who practices in Foster City
People, not offices: each row counts NPI-registered providers whose practice address is in Foster City, by primary specialty. Per resident, Foster City is furthest above the US among dentists (1.9 times the US rate) and lowest among plastic surgeons (none registered).
| Specialty | In Foster City | Residents per provider | US | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists | 47 | 1 per 690 | 1 per 1,340 | Well above |
| Chiropractors | 10 | 1 per 3,241 | 1 per 3,311 | Close |
| Dermatologists | 1 | 1 per 32,411 | 1 per 17,857 | Well below |
| Physical therapists | 24 | 1 per 1,350 | 1 per 1,181 | Below |
| Optometrists | 5 | 1 per 6,482 | 1 per 5,291 | Below |
| Podiatrists | 2 | 1 per 16,205 | 1 per 14,706 | Below |
| Plastic surgeons | 0 | – | 1 per 58,824 | Well below |
Local healthcare landscape in Foster City
Foster City's website describes it as a planned community. Its General Plan refers to the city's location at the center of San Mateo County, says the Town Center (Metro Center) was to be focused on an interior lake, and says two Project Areas were added in 1999 to facilitate the redevelopment of the Marlin Cove. The plan also names the Lincoln Centre Area in North Foster City, and the city's Community page says the innovation was to create neighborhoods and their various shopping centers to serve those who lived in them. Sutter Mills Peninsula Medical Center, Burlingame Campus, is at 1501 Trousdale Drive in Burlingame, and San Mateo Medical Center describes itself as a public hospital and clinic system that serves all San Mateo County residents.
Neighborhoods and areas
- Metro Center
- Marlin Cove
- Lincoln Centre
Sources for this section
- City of Foster City, History of Foster City (fostercity.org)
- City of Foster City, General Plan Land Use and Circulation Element (fostercity.org)
- City of Foster City, Community (fostercity.org)
- Sutter Health, Sutter Mills Peninsula Medical Center, Burlingame Campus (sutterhealth.org)
- San Mateo County Health, San Mateo Medical Center (smchealth.org)
Private-sector health care employers in San Mateo County, 2024
2024 annual averages for the whole county. 28.3% of these establishments are offices of dentists, well above the US share of 18.5%.
- Ambulatory health care establishments1,744Average employment 20,991
- Offices of physicians532
- Offices of dentists493
- Offices of other health practitioners428
What we'd prioritize for a Foster City practice
Chosen by fixed rules from the figures above.
An opening for plastic surgeons
None of the NPI-registered plastic surgeons list a practice address in Foster City; nationally there is one for every 58,824 residents. That leaves fewer local competitors for a plastic surgeon in search; see our marketing for plastic surgeons.
Hold on to existing patients
Between April 2020 and July 2025, Foster City lost 1,396 residents (−4.1%). With fewer newcomers, patient texting comes first, so existing patients keep coming back.
Put elective and cash-pay services first
The median household income in Foster City is $199,143, against $80,734 for the US. We would give elective work its own pages and budget, backed by Google and Facebook ads.
Start with reviews and the Google Business Profile
Foster City has one NPI-registered dentist for every 690 residents, against one per 1,340 nationally. We would start with the Google Business Profile and review management.
California advertising rules to know
The California page quotes the 5 state rules we check before anything goes live.
Planning Marketing for a Foster City Practice? Talk to Us
- No Long-Term Contracts
- HIPAA-Compliant
- 4–6 Week Delivery
Sources
- Census Bureau population estimates, July 1, 2025 estimates; April 1, 2020 estimates base
- Census Gazetteer files, 2025
- American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024 5-year
- CMS NPI Registry, live registry as of 2026-11-01
- Census ZIP code relationship files, 2020
- 2020 Census block populations, April 1, 2020
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (private sector), 2024 annual averages
Provider counts use each NPI record’s practice ZIP code, split between places by where the ZIP’s 2020 census residents live.
Medi-Edge Marketing, a medical marketing agency based in Vista, California, works remotely with practices across the United States. Browse all location pages or see our services.