Recent college grad working in San Leandro. Where to live? (Oakland: apartments, neighborhoods)

[qw0p]

I'm moving to the Bay Area in a week for a job in San Leandro. I'm looking for a 1BR or a roomy studio for under $1500. I would like to live in a convenient location where there's a decent amount of other young people like me.



I'm interested in living in Oakland mostly because of its convenient location. I'm also interested Dublin... seems safer than Oakland but I'm afraid it might be too surburby.



My workplace will be very close to the BART station in San Leandro so I'm interested in commuting via BART. I've browsed through a lot of craigslist listings in the Lake Merritt area (north and east of the lake) in Oakland as well as Dublin/Pleasanton. I feel that prices in the Lake Merritt area are fairly reasonable especially for studios. I was somewhat surprised to see that 1BR apartments in Dublin/Pleasanton were actually slightly more expensive than those in the Lake Merritt area. I assumed that it would be a little cheaper in the suburbs.



I haven't closely looked at any other areas but I've heard Rockridge and Temescal are also good areas in Oakland. How do these neighborhoods compare to the Lake Merritt area? Are there any other areas you guys would recommend?

[ccm123]

Rockridge in Oakland would be a great choice. Walnut Creek has a vibrant Downtown area also.

[CousinMaynard]

if you move to oakland youll figure out soon enough why its cheaper there, lol.

castro valley is worth looking at location wise, you dont even have to get on the freeway to get to DT SL. and i didnt think it was as dead as other ppl say it was, but then again i grew up there so its a different perspective and experience.

its def'ly not hipster paradise tho so if thats what youre looking for you mite want to go to whatever part of sf or oakland theyre migrating to.

[mayorhaggar]

Lake Merritt is just cheaper than other similar areas of Oakland, I've never really understood why. It's true though that areas southwest and southeast of the lake get pretty crappy once you go a few blocks in from the lake. North of the lake is really nice but still pretty affordable, but it's also further from BART. Rockridge and the Temescal are great but probably more expensive.

[jade408]

Rockridge is a bit older than Lake Merritt. More family and couple-y. Temescal and Lake Merritt areas have more young people. Plenty of stuff to do and the commute to SL would be easy.

Dublin is very suburban. You'll get bored fast. I'd skip it unless you prefer living in the suburbs. The Bay Area is weird, suburbs are not necessarily cheap. Dublin is a bit more expensive because most of the apartment stock is very new with lots of amenities. Most other areas only have older apartment buildings.


I am on my phone, please forgive the typos.

[ssmaster]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

Lake Merritt is just cheaper than other similar areas of Oakland, I've never really understood why. It's true though that areas southwest and southeast of the lake get pretty crappy once you go a few blocks in from the lake. North of the lake is really nice but still pretty affordable, but it's also further from BART. Rockridge and the Temescal are great but probably more expensive.

i think it's cheaper because the nicer parts are farther from bart.