Great point. However, this is not a big issue in most of the freeway adjacent neighborhoods (with the big exeption of the area near SFSU).

:) :)

I definitely do plan on flying out this spring for an extended weekend to check things out and get a feel for the place. Then probably a trip or two this summer to actually find a place. Based on this list I should be hunting in:

Potrero Hill
SOMA
Noe Valley
Lower Haight
Sunset
Richmond

Any additions? (Its also a definite possibility that I'll be willing to shell out more for a really great place...but I'll burn that bridge when it comes time to). Thanks so much for the help so far! Keep it coming! Any neighborhoods in San Francisco that you guys just absolutely love?

I would avoid the Sunset and the Richmond based on your criteria. Both feel more suburban with the exception of a few small pockets (like Clement street in the Richmond) and public transit is pretty bad out there. I have a friend who lives in the Outer Sunset and it takes her longer to get downtown on Muni than it does for me to get to Palo Alto. Potrero Hill is a great neighborhood but keep in mind that parts of it can be very dangerous. It's one of those odd places where a block or two can make the difference between living in one of the trendiest urban neighborhoods in the city and living in the middle of some of the most sketchy housing projects on the West Coast. SOMA can also be pretty bad in places (pretty much anywhere North of Folsom between 5th and 8th).

Also, the Mission is missing from your list. It has some of the best food in the city and rents can be a great deal. It's also one of those neighborhoods that varies wildly block by block, so be sure you know what you are getting into before you rent.

The Mission will probably offer you the most options. Two areas that I love that might meet your requirements. They are generally more expensive, but I like that they are quieter, but a very quick walk (think 3 minutes) to trendier (and grittier) areas..

I absolutely love Cole Valley. Near the park, walking distance to the Haight, yet still a quiet oasis with great public transport links. It does tend to be pricier, but you never know what might be available. If I hadn't found my place here in Noe Valley, I'd be canvassing Cole Valley every weekend.

The other area that might be a budget stretch is the area around Mission Dolores Park / Liberty Hill. Beautiful views, beautiful victorians, yet you can get to the Lower Haight, Castro, and Valencia Corridor / Mission by walking.

This is probably my favorite part of the city, and I live in Cole Valley! I like the fact that it straddles a few different neighborhoods. Restaurants, nightlife - a lot is in walking distance. And easy transportation links are nearby - esp. if you are able to find a place a bit closer to Market where the MUNI lines are easily accessible. And the weather is really good in that part of town.

You should take a look a some MUNI maps to get a better feel.

As you get towards downtown, Market St. serves as the main artery. A lot of the major transportation lines will merge onto Market and head down towards the Ferry Building and the Embarcadero.

Once on Market and east of Civic Center, transportation aboveground can be incredibly slow with all the cars, buses, and the historic F streetcar. The MUNI lines (J, K, L, M, and N) are more efficient at that point as they run underground - though the MUNI lines themselves are often prone to delays and sometimes, total meltdowns. And once aboveground, MUNI can be just as slow as buses, sometimes slower. Then there is BART - again, efficient, but stops and coverage are limited in SF. Otherwise, the only public transportation to many parts of the city (such as the Richmond) and cross town are buses.

But without more details as to how you plan to get to work (driving? shuttle? if shuttle, from where?), it's hard to recommend specific neighborhoods. If I were hard pressed, I would recommend Hayes Valley or Duboce Triangle as providing good transportation links.

How bad does the bad get in San Francisco? I'm originally from Chicago...where some areas I would be terrified to step foot in day or night. But comparably in Boston, I don't find any neighborhood to be entirely terrifying/awful.

-W

I know very little about Chicago, but from what I've heard, I'm sure San Francisco's bad parts are nothing like Chicago's bad parts. There are no neighborhoods that I would say are entirely off-limits here, at least not any of the neighborhoods that you have on your list. It's really more of a block-by-block issue, often influenced by the presence of large 60's era housing projects. Just be sure that you spend some time walking around the immediate two blocks surrounding any apartment you intend to rent so you can avoid any unfortunate surprises.

Check out Noe Valley. A lot of folks comuting to the south live her (and yes, the Google bus comes here). Easy I-280 access. We live her on Dolores St. and walked by a FOR RENT sign on Sunday for a 3 bdrm, 1 bath place in a lovely location for $2550 (no parking). Noe Valley and the Mission are both relatively easy access and ground zero for most of what is happening for anyone under 40. We are not under 40 but love living here.

I grew up in Chicago, next to Austin on the West Side (and also down in Hyde Park). Now I live in West Oakland, and I've walked all over in SF, except for some parts of Bayview Hunters Point. Maybe it's a lack of the sense of a place you get from having grown up in that place, but I've never gotten the feelings here I've had walking down certain Chicago streets (especially Cabrini, back before it was demolished, and, perhaps ironically, Bridgeport). In general, there's not quite the same level of segregation (class/race) that you'd see in Chicago--maybe that's a contributor. SF seems to share the Boston characteristic of having smaller neighborhoods--walk a few blocks and you're in a different one--that might contribute, too.

The bad in San Francisco and Oakland is probably the Bayview and parts of East and West Oakland--not too many neighborhoods to avoid, if you're looking to avoid places. As a number of posters have noted, quite a few neighborhoods have a few bad parts, block by block, and the best way to see how things are is simply to go to where you're looking to rent.

-Hayden

P.S. What do people think about Hayes Valley, with the new Octavia Street on-ramp to 101?

I use that ramp every day from Lower Haight. It's much, much faster than the old Duboce Street onramp to the Central Freeway. The only issue is coming home in the evenings because the Bay Bridge traffic often backs up to well before the 101/80 interchange. But calling 511 (and getting a car with traffic reporting navigation) keeps me from ever getting caught up in that backup.

Aside from a few neighborhoods, not very bad. The ones that I would consider dangerous, where the housing projects are located, take some effort to get to and most San Fransiscans never find themselves there. Other areas, such as the Tenderloin, are not the best but still can be walked at night without too much risk, IMHO.

I also would eliminate the Richmond and Sunset. For the most part, they're suburban enclaves within the city limits.

The other four areas seem to be good choices for you. The SOMA area near the Giants ballpark should be considered - good transport to other areas of SF and to the peninsula; growing, vibrant, and diverse. Getting to $1K/month/person will be a challenge. Set your limit a bit higher and you'll have many more choices.

Looking forward to having another FTer in town!

"Moving to SFO"

I suggest that you not move to SFO. While the air connections would be very convenient, I suggest that an airport is no place to call your home (although many FTers seem to do just that). I suggest S.F. instead.

Congratulations on your upcoming move! :)

I came here eight months ago. I asked friends for neighborhood recommendations, plumbed the depths of Craigslist and studied maps. I hadn't considered the Richmond, but when I arrived I stayed with friends who lived there and found I liked it so much that I got a place two blocks from theirs near 5th and Geary.

I like the Inner Richmond because it's relatively close to the action and has pockets of activity, such as Clement Street, but feels safe and is fairly quiet. Bus access to downtown is usually pretty good and there are several options, though it can suck to be at the mercy of the 38-Geary; still, cabs are usually plentiful and not too pricey. Parking can be frustrating --I rented a space for a few months before deciding to sell my car.

But what's right for me may not work for you. My advice? Take a few days and ride the buses around. Hop off in any neighborhood that looks interesting and walk around. Keep an eye on Craigslist to get a feel for prices so you'll know what to expect. Talk to people.

Good luck with the move!