The Wealthy parts of San Francisco (Merced, Palo Alto: houses, neighborhoods, income)

[7757_ORD]

I travel to San Francisco a lot on business. Over that time have gotten to know the city a little bit. The thing I like about it is San Francisco is so down to earth not flashy like other big cities. It is a really cool artistry and kind of hippie kind of city. Every time I travel to SF I learn something new about the city. Even though SF is a down to earth hipster kind of place, I as wondering what part of SF is considered to be the “Beverly Hills” “South Beach” “Georgetown” “Palm Beach” “Gold Coast of Connecticut” of San Francisco? What part of the city would you find the rich, the attractive people? You know people that do care about the appearance and what they wear. What part of the city is considered the affluent preppy part of SF? The place where you will find all the fancy cars like Ferraris, BMWs, Bentleys, Roll Royce…etc. The people who probably do their shopping in place like Saks or Nieman Marcus or Barney New York. What parts of SF would this be?

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by 7757_ORD

I travel to San Francisco a lot on business. Over that time have gotten to know the city a little bit. The thing I like about it is San Francisco is so down to earth not flashy like other big cities. It is a really cool artistry and kind of hippie kind of city. Every time I travel to SF I learn something new about the city. Even though SF is a down to earth hipster kind of place, I as wondering what part of SF is considered to be the “Beverly Hills” “South Beach” “Georgetown” “Palm Beach” “Gold Coast of Connecticut” of San Francisco? What part of the city would you find the rich, the attractive people? You know people that do care about the appearance and what they wear. What part of the city is considered the affluent preppy part of SF? The place where you will find all the fancy cars like Ferraris, BMWs, Bentleys, Roll Royce…etc. The people who probably do their shopping in place like Saks or Nieman Marcus or Barney New York. What parts of SF would this be?

As far as where wealthy people live, Sea Cliff and Pacific Heights certainly fit the bill.

[Isebiel]

I don't know where those people live, and am in Pac Heights all the time. I think they may actually live inside the Macy's because I never see them anywhere else in the city. It was baffling when I first went into a department store. All of a sudden, gorgeous fashionable people! Where did they come from? How did they get here? There is no one like that outside! (Oh sure, I suppose they DRIVE.)

It's different here because an ordinary house in an ordinary neighborhood is going to be over a million dollars, and most people -- at any income level -- don't care about dressing up or impressing others with their wealth and fashion sense. The occasional obviously wealthy people I've seen have been friendly and cool. Like one rich guy playing along with a scruffy dude as said dude joked about borrowing that sweet Mercedes to impress a girl. It was awesome.

There are a lot of rich people in Marin County, too. That might be where more of the kind of person you're asking about lives? I don't know, actually. The people I know in Marin are pretty normal and dress like everyone else.

Maybe the Berkley hills. Or down in the Peninsula.

[jeffredo]

Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, Sea Cliff, St. Francis Wood are the old "rich" neighborhoods. There are upper income areas all over now thanks to gentrification. Russian Hill, Marina, Noe Valley are some examples of those.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Isebiel

It was baffling when I first went into a department store. All of a sudden, gorgeous fashionable people! Where did they come from? How did they get here? There is no one like that outside!

Most likely the workers of the department store.

LOL.


Anyway, SF has a huge number of socialites and high society types and they dress to the nines.

[N.Cal]

Many people with the real serious money don't dress or drive to impress. Example...one of the early investors in Apple and other high tech companies and his wife. If you saw them on the street, you'd never know they were worth what they are worth.

[SunDevil1212]

Pac Heights, Sea Cliff definitely fit the bill. Some of the houses there are unbelievable. There's got to be plenty of money in Nob Hill, Russian Hill and SOMA as well though. Someone's gotta be living in the penthouses of all those high rises.

But yeah, as much money as there is here, you still don't see a whole lot of Ferraris and people that dress real flashy. Nothing like you would in LA or NYC.

[tstieber]

There's more wealth in SF than many places. In fact, I think there are more billionaires than in LA, even though it's a much smaller city. But you don't see them out and about shopping that much. If you want to see fancy cars, then go to Belvedere in Marin County. I've never seen so many Ferraris in the span of one hour as there. And I think every house comes with a Range Rover. Seriously, they are an epidemic!

[peninsular]

Will probably repeat a lot of what's been already said.
For manifestations of in-your-face opulence you'll need to look outside the city. For beautiful people look no further than Marina/Cow Hollow. Walk down Chestnut or Union Friday night and you'll see the attractive masses. In addition to the well-off neighborhoods already mentioned I can add lesser known ones - Forest Hill, Laguna Honda (Forest Hill Extension) and Clarendon Heights.

[sonarrat]

First thing that came to mind is the Marina, and the north quadrant of the city in general. But the "preppy" thing is more Palo Alto and Menlo Park from what I've seen.