Closer to Hayes Valley/Van Ness corridor is better. Your public transit/driving commute is exponentially simpler the closer you are to Market St/Octavia on ramp/BART access. I'm moving to 55 Page in December and can't imagine a more ideal location. (I've been in the East Bay for six years, and rented in the city for 13 years before that.) The Mission and Noe Valley are both fine. Mission is more interesting, better weather, but higher crime than Noe Valley. Noe Valley, while charming, really has gotten insufferable in so many ways. Agree with you on South of Market. Glen Park really is a hidden gem too, but is slightly out of the way in relation to the other areas you are looking at. Do post where you end up and we can give you the scoop on the local gems. Good luck.