East San Carlos for family of three? (Redwood City, Belmont: townhouse, school district)

[leapfelt]

Does anyone know how east San Carlos is for a family? The houses are more affordable on that side, so it is tempting since you still have access to the schools (though I know some schools are overcrowded). I know the area is slightly industrial, and also has some noise from nearby busy streets. Is it still a safe and pleasant place to live? Is one stigmatized for living on the "wrong side of the tracks"?

Has anyone put their children through the schools, and had problems with being moved due to overcrowding? Do the schools live up to their reputation? Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

If the (typically) smaller square footage of homes there is not a problem for you and your family, I'd say go for it.

The only (minor) downside, depending on what floats your boat, is that the demographic around there is somewhat of a mix between "old San Carlos" (very, very bourgeois, high school and a few college educated, not the "yuppie" vibe of Laurel and hoods West of El Camino, etc) and new "yuppie" San Carlos (a few yuppie newbs). That may actually be a plus ... LOL!

[aklein]

Not sure what your budget is, but the latest API scores were just released and Belmont beat out a couple of San Carlos schools. Take a look at the list as there are quite a few other areas with great schools I would recommend, but if your "have to" live in San Carlos I guess it's ok.
County List of Schools

[leapfelt]

Originally Posted by aklein

Not sure what your budget is, but the latest API scores were just released and Belmont beat out a couple of San Carlos schools. Take a look at the list as there are quite a few other areas with great schools I would recommend, but if your "have to" live in San Carlos I guess it's ok.
County List of Schools

Thanks for your comments! Budget is around 600,000 at most, but preferably closer to 500,000. Belmont is fine - it is not that much cheaper than San Carlos, so we would be looking at the east side of that city as well (and lucky if we could find something on the east side). We also really prefer a house to a townhouse.

Still trying to figure out if the east side of San Carlos (or Belmont) is a good place to live with young children.

[sonarrat]

Belmont and San Carlos are very safe, and there aren't really any bad pockets to speak of. You might also consider Redwood City around the "letter" streets, which also belong to the San Carlos school district, but the one listing I see on the market right now is astoundingly overpriced.