Moving to SF from Philly - help!

[NextStage]

You'll probably want to scratch Castro Valley off your list. It's definitely safe and easy to travel to Pleasanton. Beyond that though it's more of a family oriented suburb with not a great deal to do socially. The only upside I could see to CV for you is that it would put you midway between Pleasanton and other locations you're considering.

[gone down south]

In your terms.... (more or less)

Oakland is North Philly - the bad parts, but also Fairmont/Art Museum in places.
Berkeley is U City/West Philly
Walnut Creek is Ardmore/Bryn Mawr
Castro Valley and Pleasanton are King of Prussia/Wayne/Montgomery County.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by gone down south

In your terms.... (more or less)

Oakland is North Philly - the bad parts, but also Fairmont/Art Museum in places.
Berkeley is U City/West Philly
Walnut Creek is Ardmore/Bryn Mawr
Castro Valley and Pleasanton are King of Prussia/Wayne/Montgomery County.

I don't think your descriptor of Oakland is accurate as Oakland has all types of neighborhoods from affluent to hippie to artsy to alternative to dangerous. So you have likely oversimplified things.

[linlins]

Originally Posted by gone down south

In your terms.... (more or less)

Oakland is North Philly - the bad parts, but also Fairmont/Art Museum in places.
Berkeley is U City/West Philly
Walnut Creek is Ardmore/Bryn Mawr
Castro Valley and Pleasanton are King of Prussia/Wayne/Montgomery County.

I found this super helpful! Thank you!

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

I don't think students really affect most areas. Only the areas right around the actual campuses are affected. And only towns with major universities are affected all over that town, like Berkeley and Palo Alto (Stanford).

Albany and El Cerrito also get student renters looking for a cheaper deal than in Berkeley/north Oakland. But the comment was in reference to the OP's original interest in living in Oakland. She's now pretty much given up on that idea.

[tonym9428]

Originally Posted by linlins

Thank you! That means a lot - can't wait to not freeze every winter.

What areas around Pleasanton would you say are safe yet "fun" for young professionals? Is there such an area that exists? Would you say Walnut Creek is that area?

I'm 30 and moved to Pleasanton last year from Pittsburgh, PA.
Pleasanton is a nice place and it has a nice/quaint downtown. However, most places close early and I think there is only one bar which stays open late. If that's what you're looking for, you may have to travel to SF or Oakland. There are lots of young pros working at Workday, Roche, Deloitte, various tech start ups, etc in Pleasanton. However, I think most live in the surrounding east bay cities like San Ramon, Hayward, Livermore, and Dublin. Average rent in pleasanton is around 2,500, so that is probably a big reason for that. I live in Livermore now, it's much quieter and more of a cowtown, which is what I prefer.

The drive from WC to Pleasanton is about 50-60 minutes during the morn/evening, so bear that in mind.

[JohnSoCal]

Originally Posted by linlins

Thank you! That means a lot - can't wait to not freeze every winter.

What areas around Pleasanton would you say are safe yet "fun" for young professionals? Is there such an area that exists? Would you say Walnut Creek is that area?

I lived and worked in the Pleasanton area. You won't find a safer city anywhere than Pleasanton. All the areas around it like Livermore, San Ramon, Dublin, etc. are all safe areas. Personally I would live right in Pleasanton. There is a BART station right there that will take you to San Francisco, Oakland etc. I used to take it all the time when I went to the SF Giants games.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by JohnSoCal

I lived and worked in the Pleasanton area. You won't find a safer city anywhere than Pleasanton. All the areas around it like Livermore, San Ramon, Dublin, etc. are all safe areas. Personally I would live right in Pleasanton. There is a BART station right there that will take you to San Francisco, Oakland etc. I used to take it all the time when I went to the SF Giants games.

Agreed - there's an old saying to live close to where you work, as much as possible. Pleasanton is appropriately named...and you can take BART to go out to SF/Oakland on your leisure time.

[aslowdodge]

Originally Posted by linlins

Does anyone have any thoughts about Castro Valley? (Safety, travel to Pleasanton, things to do/people to meet)

Castro valley is mostly pretty safe and one of your cheaper places to live. I have friends that drive to Walnut Creek and Danville for social activities that live there. Commute to Pleasanton won't be bad

[gone down south]

Originally Posted by jade408

I don't think your descriptor of Oakland is accurate as Oakland has all types of neighborhoods from affluent to hippie to artsy to alternative to dangerous. So you have likely oversimplified things.

North Philly has the same spectrum of neighborhoods