East Bay or San Jose? (San Francisco, Oakland: neighborhoods, construction, living) - San Francisco - Oakland - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

abradhurst · 02-26-2014, 10:24 AM

Hi- I am moving to the Bay Area and have to decided on a territory for a position- One is East Bay (Berkeley/Oakland, etc) the other is South (San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara). I am a single women, 30's, career oriented and hopeful to find a location with like-minded people. More of a city vibe than a suburb, etc. Anyone lived in both areas and have thoughts on what is best? Also, which area may have more traffic? I know the Bay always has traffic but I will drive my area a lot and wondered if either is easier to navigate/ more access to freeways or other routes, etc?

jade408 · 02-26-2014, 11:58 AM

South is far more suburban. Not many urban neighborhoods there at all. Traffic? It depends on where you are starting and where you are going. I find traffic is worse in the South Bay. But separately, there are not alternatives to driving. You can get to basically any office in Berkeley via transit, and most in Oakland via transit pretty easily.

sonarrat · 02-27-2014, 08:48 AM

The traffic in the East Bay is defined by commuters coming in from even further east, and from the north.. as well as a very large volume of freight traffic. In the South Bay it's driven by San Jose being a city of a million people itself, plus serving as the crossroads for people coming from Santa Cruz, Gilroy, Los Banos, etc and going through to work in the northwestern parts of the Silicon Valley.

Both are pretty miserable during peak hours, which have been creeping slowly but surely towards 11 am.

metalforever · 02-28-2014, 02:49 AM

No, Don't pick San Jose - coming from a single, career oriented woman that moved there in her 20's. I feel you will be much happier as a resident in berkeley. San Jose felt kind of like a trap, because it was too far away to really be able to participate in city activities.

krudmonk · 02-28-2014, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metalforever

San Jose felt kind of like a trap, because it was too far away to really be able to participate in city activities.

Oh no, you must have felt so left-out and uncool.

zitsky · 02-28-2014, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krudmonk

Oh no, you must have felt so left-out and uncool.

Yeah. I understand why people like Berkeley. Just like SF, it's really over hyped though, IMHO. If I had to suggest a location for OP, I'd say pick Berkeley. You'll be closer to SF.

zombocom · 02-28-2014, 05:11 PM

What do you mean by city? San Jose is certainly more suburban in parts - but it is a larger city than San Francisco, and it does have a downtown with many new living options, and several under construction. It isn't as city as S.F, but it is still nice.

Just visit the two places, they are different, and it really comes down to what'll be a better personal fit for you.

davdaven · 03-03-2014, 11:38 PM

Pick the East Bay. San Jose won't have what you're after.

I lived on the east side of downtown San Jose, in a beautiful neighborhood called Naglee Park, for 2 years. Despite being 3/4-mile from the heart of downtown, it was quiet. Sleepy. Dull. I was bored out of my skull as a non-tech worker in his 20's. I gave it a year and a half before I got fed up and started looking for another job. Got one in Marin, which allowed me to live in SF and then finally Berkeley. It's so much better here in the East Bay. There is always something to do nearby, but I get to live in a nice, cute neighborhood just like I did in San Jose.

tl;dr San Jose has nothing to offer that can't be outdone by almost any part of the East Bay--Berkeley, Oakland, or Alameda. Also, the traffic in SJ is as bad as it is in the East Bay, but the public transit leaves a lot to be desired. The East Bay has great BART access and a good bus system too.

sonarrat · 03-04-2014, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davdaven

Pick the East Bay. San Jose won't have what you're after.

I lived on the east side of downtown San Jose, in a beautiful neighborhood called Naglee Park, for 2 years. Despite being 3/4-mile from the heart of downtown, it was quiet. Sleepy. Dull. I was bored out of my skull as a non-tech worker in his 20's. I gave it a year and a half before I got fed up and started looking for another job. Got one in Marin, which allowed me to live in SF and then finally Berkeley. It's so much better here in the East Bay. There is always something to do nearby, but I get to live in a nice, cute neighborhood just like I did in San Jose.

tl;dr San Jose has nothing to offer that can't be outdone by almost any part of the East Bay--Berkeley, Oakland, or Alameda. Also, the traffic in SJ is as bad as it is in the East Bay, but the public transit leaves a lot to be desired. The East Bay has great BART access and a good bus system too.

Boring is exactly what I like.. private, quiet, safe.. because it means I can live life on my own terms instead of having to adjust to the whims and patterns of others. I would give up a lot to live in Naglee Park.

metalforever · 03-04-2014, 08:33 AM

The public transport is a nightmare- at least until they finish the BART line to San Jose Diridon. There is nothing to do. If you like quiet, try a more suburban part of berkeley. You will be much happier .