"Affordable" Bay Area neighborhoods?
November 4, 2011 2:50 PM Subscribe
Looking for an "affordable" neighborhood in the Bay Area to rent in. Criteria inside.
We've just moved from Jersey City, NJ (prior to that we were in Park Slope, Brooklyn) to California. Currently, we're staying with family in Yuba City, and desperately want to be out settled in our own place by December 1st. We're a family of 4 - a work from home (mostly) Dad, a stay at home mom, a 3 year old boy and a 2 month old girl. I'll occasionally need to commute to job sites scattered between Sacramento and San Jose 2 to 3 times a month, so we're looking for somewhere in the general Bay Area. Nearby public transportation is not a requirement. Our criteria are:
We've just moved from Jersey City, NJ (prior to that we were in Park Slope, Brooklyn) to California. Currently, we're staying with family in Yuba City, and desperately want to be out settled in our own place by December 1st. We're a family of 4 - a work from home (mostly) Dad, a stay at home mom, a 3 year old boy and a 2 month old girl. I'll occasionally need to commute to job sites scattered between Sacramento and San Jose 2 to 3 times a month, so we're looking for somewhere in the general Bay Area. Nearby public transportation is not a requirement. Our criteria are:
- Somewhat walkable neighborhood - restaurants, shops, stores, etc, nearby
- Family friendly - nearby park is a huge plus, as is an active parents group
- High likelihood of other stay at home moms living nearby
- Good schools
- 4 bedrooms, or 3 plus office space
- Priced under $2400 a month
You're not going to find a four bedroom home at that price in the Bay Area. You may be able to get something that large at that price in Sacramento, but it will be in a suburb (Natomas or Elk Grove) that doesn't have much to walk to.
My recommendation is to take a look at the area right around McKinley Park in Sacramento. You'll give up something in the size of the house, but the neighborhood meets your other criteria. Rents are really cheap for what you get, especially compared to the Bay Area. (Sacramento rents are about half what they are in most parts of the Bay Area.) The neighborhoods around the park are older and established with beautiful (smaller) homes and a mature tree canopy. McKinley Park is pretty heavily used compared to most parks, and there will be stay at home moms out and about on your average weekday. The East side of I-80 is a little more family oriented, with more owner-occupied single family houses. The West side of I-80 skews a little younger and more hip and has more rentals. It's a great walking and biking neighborhood, with Midtown Sacramento and its shops and restaurants a 10-20 minute walk.
Also look at Land Park and Curtis Park in Sacramento. The neighborhoods are similar to McKinley Park, but they're not quite as easy walking distance from the Midtown shops and restaurants.
Take a look here at the listings that say "East Sacramento" or "McKinley" to get an idea of what you can rent. Note that this site tends to skew high on rental prices.
posted by cnc at 3:39 PM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
My recommendation is to take a look at the area right around McKinley Park in Sacramento. You'll give up something in the size of the house, but the neighborhood meets your other criteria. Rents are really cheap for what you get, especially compared to the Bay Area. (Sacramento rents are about half what they are in most parts of the Bay Area.) The neighborhoods around the park are older and established with beautiful (smaller) homes and a mature tree canopy. McKinley Park is pretty heavily used compared to most parks, and there will be stay at home moms out and about on your average weekday. The East side of I-80 is a little more family oriented, with more owner-occupied single family houses. The West side of I-80 skews a little younger and more hip and has more rentals. It's a great walking and biking neighborhood, with Midtown Sacramento and its shops and restaurants a 10-20 minute walk.
Also look at Land Park and Curtis Park in Sacramento. The neighborhoods are similar to McKinley Park, but they're not quite as easy walking distance from the Midtown shops and restaurants.
Take a look here at the listings that say "East Sacramento" or "McKinley" to get an idea of what you can rent. Note that this site tends to skew high on rental prices.
posted by cnc at 3:39 PM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Maybe Livermore, if you need to get to Sacramento and San Jose.
posted by phliar at 3:40 PM on November 4, 2011
posted by phliar at 3:40 PM on November 4, 2011
I can't address the costs, it's been too long since I lived in the bay area, but you might have a hard time anywhere at that cost level. That said, I'd look into areas near the train stations for the Capitol Corridor and ACE trains, for your occasional trips either Sacto or San Jo - and Davis probably has all the family-friendly features you're looking for (biking, walking, parks, etc).
posted by zomg at 3:42 PM on November 4, 2011
posted by zomg at 3:42 PM on November 4, 2011
Don't live in Natomas, its a giant flood plain. Davis sounds perfect for you but I have no idea what rent is like there nowadays. There is quite a lot of co-op housing around the Bay Area, that might be an option?
How urban do you need to be? There is a lot of open space between Sacto and San Jose. Rural/ small town rents are going to be cheaper and, personally, if I could work from home in that part of the world I wouldn't be living in a suburb.
posted by fshgrl at 3:50 PM on November 4, 2011
How urban do you need to be? There is a lot of open space between Sacto and San Jose. Rural/ small town rents are going to be cheaper and, personally, if I could work from home in that part of the world I wouldn't be living in a suburb.
posted by fshgrl at 3:50 PM on November 4, 2011
It's going to be very challenging to find a 4BR in a Park Slope-like neighborhood in the Bay Area at that price point. That said, you might luck into something. Here's a house in San Ramon that might fit. The Danville/San Ramon area might be a good place for you to look, generally. Though it's probably slightly more expensive than what you want, it is very family-friendly with good schools. You might also try San Leandro.
posted by judith at 4:47 PM on November 4, 2011
posted by judith at 4:47 PM on November 4, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the feedback, everyone. At our price range, we're not expecting to find anything similar to Park Slope, or even Jersey City. We wish we could afford to live in Noe Valley, but that's not going to happen.
posted by skwm at 4:53 PM on November 4, 2011
posted by skwm at 4:53 PM on November 4, 2011
I would try Petaluma. I have lived in Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, El Cerrito, Kensington, Richmond, Fairfax, Albany, and Mill Valley. I wound up in Petaluma. It is a GREAT and I mean GREAT place to raise a family. Pretty walkable, giant Moms club, some historic areas, good restaurants, good schools, including charter schools. Driveably to SF during commute hours, though I would NOT want to do it regularly. I believe you could get a pretty nice place here for that price, though you would have to work at it. I live in something similar for less. (You could certainly BUY a place like that for that monthly payment. )
If you want to email me I will be happy to meet you and show you/and your family around some time. As someone who has lived in the Bay Area for 50 years, there is certainly NO PLACE mentioned above that I think is as good a place to raise a family. That doesnt mean I am right, but you sure ought to consider it. Good luck.
posted by jcworth at 8:32 PM on November 4, 2011
If you want to email me I will be happy to meet you and show you/and your family around some time. As someone who has lived in the Bay Area for 50 years, there is certainly NO PLACE mentioned above that I think is as good a place to raise a family. That doesnt mean I am right, but you sure ought to consider it. Good luck.
posted by jcworth at 8:32 PM on November 4, 2011
It may be a bit of a drive to Sacramento across the Dumbarton or San Mateo bridge, but you may want to consider East Palo Alto, specifically the University Square neighborhood, next to Ikea, Home Depot, and other big box stores. It's a good community with an active email list and a huge public park. There's great restaurants and cute shops in Palo Alto, Mountain View, Redwood City.
Other alternatives would be Alamo and Pleasanton. They're a bit more suburban (iow, sleepier) than the cities in the Peninsula, but are very kid-friendly, less-expensive than San Ramon/Danville, and a shorter commute to Sacramento.
posted by hampanda at 11:46 PM on November 4, 2011
Other alternatives would be Alamo and Pleasanton. They're a bit more suburban (iow, sleepier) than the cities in the Peninsula, but are very kid-friendly, less-expensive than San Ramon/Danville, and a shorter commute to Sacramento.
posted by hampanda at 11:46 PM on November 4, 2011
You may want to look into Pacifica. It's kind of a weird little location in the bay area. Parts of it are very walkable, and it tends to attract more families than singles/students/hipsters/etc.
The downsides are:
You will need a car. Not every day, but if you're commuting to southbay/silicon valley a couple times a month you'll need to at least be able to drive to the trains.
I don't know how it is now, but when I was living there (2002), Internet was dial-up only, and the salt air off the ocean made the lines pretty crappy.
The upsides:
Close to SF. Easy to get to the city for family events.
Less expensive than many places in the bay area.
My car insurance rates dropped when I moved there from central SF.
Disclaimer:
It's been about 10 years since I lived there, so my information may be out of date. But it's worth looking in to.
posted by krisak at 5:58 AM on November 5, 2011
The downsides are:
You will need a car. Not every day, but if you're commuting to southbay/silicon valley a couple times a month you'll need to at least be able to drive to the trains.
I don't know how it is now, but when I was living there (2002), Internet was dial-up only, and the salt air off the ocean made the lines pretty crappy.
The upsides:
Close to SF. Easy to get to the city for family events.
Less expensive than many places in the bay area.
My car insurance rates dropped when I moved there from central SF.
Disclaimer:
It's been about 10 years since I lived there, so my information may be out of date. But it's worth looking in to.
posted by krisak at 5:58 AM on November 5, 2011
Seconding Petaluma, it's pretty awesome if you're up for a smaller town. Definitely would be on my list of places to check out.
posted by fshgrl at 12:41 PM on November 5, 2011
posted by fshgrl at 12:41 PM on November 5, 2011
Response by poster: Follow-up: we found a place in our price range near Lake Merritt in Oakland. It's a duplex with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 walk in closets, a massive storage space, a parking spot and a huge backyard. Thanks to everyone who made suggestions!
posted by skwm at 12:42 PM on November 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by skwm at 12:42 PM on November 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
These areas are pretty suburban, but that doesn't mean you wont find walkable areas in them. Those areas will probably be more expensive, though.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 3:29 PM on November 4, 2011