To each their own. In my view, life is too short to pay San Francisco prices to live in the suburbs. Being able to have dinner at Delfina on a random Tuesday night is definitely worth the 45 minute commute.

I've flown into/out of SFO several times, but I've never used SJC. How does it compare with SFO? I've seen the list of nonstops, so am more concerned with the whole airport experience rather than the number of flights/destinations.


I might change my mind after living in the suburbs for the summer. I've always been a city person

What airline? If it's anything other than AA or WN, get ready to take a trip back in time. The AA and WN terminal is fine if not a bit crowded at times. The rest of the airlines, however, fly from a terminal that hasn't been considered modern since 1948. I actually don't mind the old terminal too much - lines are usually short and taxi time is non-existent. However, most airlines use air stairs rather than jet bridges and at least one secured area has no restroom facilities.

Especially when that time is on a train. You bring reading material & coffee, and do what you otherwise would have done in your kitchen or living room.

Bingo! We have a winner.

I live in South of Market and commute 37 miles south on Caltrain 4 days a week (work from home one day). It takes less than an hour door to door, and I sit on the train, relaxing or sleeping or reading the paper. On Friday afternoons, we have the "party car" where everyone brings food and beer. It's the best possible Friday afternoon commute in the bay area I can imagine. Even for those living in the burbs.

There is NOTHING like living in the City. Don't listen to all the suburb apologists trying to convince you that there is, indeed, some sort of nightlife in the South Bay, and that no, it's not really that bad living on the peninsula, even though you're paying SF prices. It's nothing compared to SF.

Yes, San Jose is the biggest city population-wise, when you count all the burbs. But as my grandfather (who lived there) used to say, San Jose will always be a one horse town. And yes, I have lived out there in the burbs, on the peninsula, and in the Sunset. It has nothing on downtown.

Go for SF. Avoid the Sunset and Richmond. South Beach, SOMA, Mission Bay, Potrero/Bernal Heights would be your best bet for accessibility to your work. You can work your way into Noe/Cole Valley/Tenderknob/the Marina depending on your tastes and commuting options. If you have a car make SURE that you also have a guaranteed indoor parking space.

Good luck on your move!

I have to agree with the others - I lived in Palo Alto and a few other places along the Peninsula and nothing compares to living in San Francisco. Palo Alto was pretty fun, Burlingame is cute... if you are already hooked up or married, but nothing beats living in SF proper.

I live in Ashbury Heights, which is right next to Cole Valley (Google shuttle stop) and right next to Upper Haight and the Castro. It's pretty centrally located, I think a three-bedroom would be more to the tune of $4k-$5k a month, but there are lots and lots of shared opportunities in the Haight and quite a few in Cole Valley. Ever neighborhood has some great little bars and the like.

Having said all that, I'd strongly recommend the Mission or Noe Valley, which is right next to the Mission. I find myself more and more there because of fantastic food, great bars, every price range, lots of great people from diverse backgrounds, and you can walk everywhere. It's easy to meet people too. I find SOMA to be more for club-kids that like hanging out in techno bars, and in most parts of SOMA on the weekend it is a ghost town, even some restaurants aren't open.

The other good thing about the Mission is that it is in the southern part of the city (not that the city is that big anyway) and would be quick to/from the peninsula or the airport. If I were 20-something (instead of 30-something), I'd definitely live there, so put it on your "take-a-look" list. Parking sucks there, unless you find a place with it, but it is often a $200+ premium to your monthly rent.

I'd also rule out Richmond and especially the Sunset. I'm sure some will argue with me, the Richmond does have a few cool spots, but to me the majority of it looks tired and not too urban. The Sunset - I heard it was a great place to grow up, but nowadays... umm... how do I put this nicely? You would feel like you are living a long way from anything fun you would like to do, lots of the rental properties look pretty run down, and tends to be more popular with people that drive those lowered Honda civics with the big exhaust pipes. Just go to Stonestown Mall if you want a sampling. I've never heard of anyone moving there because they "always wanted to live in the Sunset." Usually it is accompanied with "...it was the only place we could afford."

Places like the Marina are expensive and filled with Range-Rover types (think Barrington Hills) and isn't going to have the city edge you probably seek.

I used to subscribe to the live-south and drive to the city mindset, but once I bit the bullet, I couldn't imagine living elsewhere.

Others on this thread have given great advice too. Craigslist is the absolute best source for rentals in SF.

I have lived in the City and I now live on the peninsula. I loved the city and there is nothing like it, but I will never go back.

It is true that I pay an SF price for my home here. What I give up in excitment and nightlife I gain in saftey, cleanliness, and city services. My home in Potrero Hill was broken into twice in three years (Let's just say that the SF police have bigger fish to fry than burglary). In Eight years down here I have not even had a problem with litter. No one sleeps in my doorway (except for me!) and when I am out at night I am the most dangerous person on the street. Last, and certainly not least, when it is 70 and sunny down here it is 55, windy, and moist in the city.

Everything positive said here about the city is true and more. I did not leave beacuse I was bored, it was all the other stuff - esp. the weather!

The city is great for fun and weekends. Palo Alto and further South actually gets quite hot in the summer these days, well at least for me. It's all good as long as you don't spend too much time on 101, and that's not THE 101 (incidentally my FT post #101 ). On the other hand, I still miss every drive on 280, the prettiest highway in the US!

So...I'm actually in San Francisco right now, and I've been checking out neighborhoods etc all weekend. So far my two favourites are: 1) Noe Valley--yes I know...baby carriages, loving families, and all that, but its close to downtown and far enough south to make it less painful to work. 2) Haight Ashbury...really fun and cool area, close to the park, and a pretty good connection to the rest of the city.

Definitely nots:
Anything Richmond or Sunset--too far.
Marina--too yuppie, I'm leaving the Northeast...don't want to find it in SF again.
SOMA is trying too hard to be New York...and San Francisco is not New York. Definitely not worse, but different.

Possibles:
Mission/Cole Valley/North Beach?

Thoughts? Comments? Corrections? Anything I've missed?

-W

I think that commute is rivaled by Fridays on the ferry, which provides wine, cheese and 360 views of SF Bay in the open air.

All three of your "possibilities" are great choices. However, the Mission is going to be by far the most convenient for commuting South. I wouldn't even consider North Beach as it requires a long trek through SF city streets to get to the freeway. Cole Valley is also pretty far from a freeway entrance. The Mission is close to both 101 and 280. It also has the city's best restaurants (IMHO) and some good nightlife. That would be my choice, but you should also keep in mind that the neighborhood varies extensively on a block by block basis, with some blocks having some significant crime problems. If it were me, I would want to live in the blocks between Guerrero, 17th, 22nd and Dolores, with the area around Dolores and Liberty being the most preferable.

I agree that North Beach is too far from the freeways. Cole Valley might be a good middle ground that is worth exploring given that it is close to Fell. I love that area as it is close to the park, yet removed from Haight.

I live in Noe so can relate to its pro's... though the strollers and lattes can be overwhelming at times (if so, I just walk 5 blocks to the Mission). I also agree with the other poster that the area around Liberty Heights is well worth exploring. Finally, if you like the Haight, Duboce Triangle and the Lower Haight might also meet your needs (and closer to the freeway).

Update: I just found out last week that I'll be working at a client near Fremont, with Fridays back at the office in Mountain View. I decided to pocket my housing allowance and instead went for what I consider to be a steal - 2 months worth of 5K PC points per night redemption for a 2BR suite at the Staybridge Suite San Jose. Money is more valuable than points right now

I may have already said this upthread, but I live in Lower Haight and commute to Palo Alto every day. I love the 'hood and getting on the freeway in the morning is a breeze (almost always less than 5 minutes from garage door to the freeway entrance at Octavia/Market). Of course, things can move pretty slowly once on the freeway if you don't go early (or late) enough.

I second that. Lower Haight is a great combination of location for the southerly commute and a very energetic, interesting neighborhood that is centrally located.