Commute to Atherton: Best Choices (San Jose, Fremont: apartment, houses, safe neighborhood)

[kittyhox]

Hi!

My husband is in the final interview stage for a position in Atherton. However, we can't afford to live in Atherton.

I've been looking online for affordable housing (less than $750,000) for a small two or three bedroom one bath house w/small yard in a safe neighborhood in a nice (but not fancy) town. Since we can't afford a big yard, a town with a big park/recreational space/community pool would be important. Our son is an infant so public schools aren't important at this point.

Do the following communities fit that bill? And what would the community to Atherton be like? Obviously, we'd like to be as close as possible.

Santa Clara
Redwood City
Fremont
San Jose

Thank you for any insight you can provide!

[gizmo980]

Redwood City would definitely be the easiest commute, followed by Santa Clara, San Jose, and then Fremont... I wouldn't recommend Fremont, simply because you deal with some heavy traffic crossing the bridge (or even taking 237). My father actually lives in Atherton, and my mother used to live in the Redwood City hills - it was only 10 minutes between their houses, and you can avoid traffic by taking Alameda the whole way.

RC is a nice town, as long as you stay west of El Camino, and has plenty of nearby recreation for your family. I'd look there first, particularly around Jefferson Ave., Farm Hill Blvd. or Woodside Road, and then Santa Clara & San Jose if you don't find anything good... those will be slightly cheaper, but will double (or triple) the commute time. Good luck!

[gizmo980]

Oh, and were you also asking what Atherton is like? As I said, my father lives there, and it's a really great community... some people roll their eyes & assume the residents are snobs, but I ignore that stereotyping. The town is very quiet, safe, friendly, almost with a small town feeling - yet extremely close to major shopping and entertainment. It's mostly comprised of homes (rather than businesses or apartment buildings), and is one of the few places you'll see horses in the Bay Area. My dad and step-mother have lived there for about 5 years, and really really love it! They call it their "piece of country in the suburbs", LOL.

[kittyhox]

Thank you, Gizmo.

I was wondering about that commute across the bridge. Mapquest lists the commute as 23 minutes from a house in Newark to the address in Atherton. But I wasn't sure what it would be like with traffic.

Thank you for your help!

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by kittyhox

I was wondering about that commute across the bridge. Mapquest lists the commute as 23 minutes from a house in Newark to the address in Atherton. But I wasn't sure what it would be like with traffic.

I would guess twice that amount of time - maybe 45 minutes. Once you get off the bridge in San Mateo county, there is a lot of stop-and-go traffic along city streets. Traffic can be heavy in the morning with commuters coming from the East Bay going into Silicon Valley. And just the opposite in the afternoon.

[humboldtrat]

By the way, I agree with Gizmo about Redwood City being the best commute to Atherton. The commute would be between 3 and 5 miles. Most any place (with few exceptions) west of El Camino Real (Hwy 82) between Whipple Ave to the north and Woodside Rd (Hwy 84) to the south would be fine to live. There's plenty of shopping and parks in the area. And the schools, such as the Roy Cloud school, are suppose to be good.