Moving from Chicago - Piedmont, Lafayette or neither (Oakland, Berkeley: to rent, crime)

[Ready555]

Hi all.

So glad to find this forum. Most of our Bay-area friends are either single or rich, so they can't relate to our dilemna

My husband and I lived in Rockridge in 2003 when we were childless. We moved to Chicago (my home) for jobs and are now ready to move back to the Bay Area. We have two kids now, toddler and infant.

I'm confused about the best place for us to buy a home. Our budget is $900,000 which may not allow for some neighborhoods, I'm sure.

Here's what I'm thinking: its better to buy a home in a school district with excellent high schools (I read that most communities have decent or great elementary schools and my research confirms that idea) and pay a higher mortgage. The alternative is to pay less for a house, $800,000 and save up for private high school for our 2 (maybe 3) kids.

Its been years since we lived out there and I remember Piedmont being a lovely place to live. Its perhaps a little conservative for us and we'd certainly be the "poorest" people in town. That won't effect my husband and I much, but will it be hard on our kids?

Is Lafayette a better alternative? We'd be a more "normal" family there in that we'd be able to afford a typical home there and be just-like our neighbors, financially. I don't think I'd really like living in such a car-focused area, but the excellent schools are more the priority.

Any other areas I'm not even thinking about???

Thanks!

[fizbin]

A buddy of mine bought an $850,000 house in Piedmont a couple of years back (probably still worth about the same with last year's correction), specifically for the schools. It is on the 'poor side' of town (west of Grand Ave). He and his wife make about $200,000/yr between them. Kids are in elementary school and are loving it, parents are so far ecstatic with the move.

Lafayette is quite nice too, a bit more rural if you like that kind of thing. Consider Orinda and Moraga too.

[Don Vito]

I dont like piedmont. Way too overrated. Lafayette is a much more nice suburban community.

[eastbaydad]

I have lived in Piedmont for almost 20 years. My kids are in the school system. Piedmont is really a very small town. There are sidewalks, and kids walk to school. Unlike a lot of suburban schools, we don't have armies of kids driving to school because they live miles away. My kids walk to school, walk to football games, etc etc.
There are a fair amount of wealthy people who live there, but I have never experienced any social stigma because I don't have millions. The advantage is folks contribute serious cash to fund education, including an endowment fund that started about 6 years ago and has 5-6mil in it already.
There is essentially only one high school, with about 200 kids a grade, which I think fosters a real sense of community. Most of the same kids who started with my oldest child in kindergarten, graduated with her from high school. People stay here for the long term.

Houses are not cheap, but there are also almost no new houses built, so the supply is fixed, which keeps demand high. In otherwords you will be able to sell someday and do quite well.

Its also great that the kids can walk to movies, or shopping on Piedmont Ave, and experiance some urban life... which is a good thing. I am very pleased we moved from SF to here.

[Ultrarunner]

The two areas are rather different...

One person who lived in both described it like this:

Piedmont is as close to and East Coast Upper Class neighborhood in the East Coast Tradition that you will find in the East Bay.

Lafayette is the typical upper middle class suburban California that one thinks about when thinking of California.

Both have their pluses... so it mostly comes down to preference...

[Ready555]

Thanks for your responses...

I've been shopping online for houses in Piedmont for the past 18 months. I'm relieved that the prices are dropping a bit, but perhaps Piedmont is still not affordable for us. I have yet to see a good 3 bedroom, 2 bath room house that isn't falling apart for less than $950,000.

Is that true from what you've noticed?

[Ready555]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

The two areas are rather different...

One person who lived in both described it like this:

Piedmont is as close to and East Coast Upper Class neighborhood in the East Coast Tradition that you will find in the East Bay.

Lafayette is the typical upper middle class suburban California that one thinks about when thinking of California.

Both have their pluses... so it mostly comes down to preference...

I've never heard it explained that way... very interesting. What is your sense about the weather differences? Seems that there are more pools in Lafayette -is that mostly because the lots are just that much larger or is it really much warmer on the other side of the tunnel?

[Ready555]

Originally Posted by eastbaydad

I have lived in Piedmont for almost 20 years. My kids are in the school system. Piedmont is really a very small town. There are sidewalks, and kids walk to school. Unlike a lot of suburban schools, we don't have armies of kids driving to school because they live miles away. My kids walk to school, walk to football games, etc etc.
There are a fair amount of wealthy people who live there, but I have never experienced any social stigma because I don't have millions. The advantage is folks contribute serious cash to fund education, including an endowment fund that started about 6 years ago and has 5-6mil in it already.
There is essentially only one high school, with about 200 kids a grade, which I think fosters a real sense of community. Most of the same kids who started with my oldest child in kindergarten, graduated with her from high school. People stay here for the long term.

Houses are not cheap, but there are also almost no new houses built, so the supply is fixed, which keeps demand high. In otherwords you will be able to sell someday and do quite well.

Its also great that the kids can walk to movies, or shopping on Piedmont Ave, and experiance some urban life... which is a good thing. I am very pleased we moved from SF to here.

Thanks for commenting... We're about ready to sell our house in Chicago. We plan to rent in the Crocker Highlands area before seriously house shopping - wise move?

As a Dad of kids in the school system, do you find the high school to be competitive to the point where its too stressful to the kids? I've heard that the quality of education in Piedmont is OUTSTANDING of course, but that the pressure to perform is really tremendous for the kids... Since Piedmont schools have fewer kids in the district than Lafayette, I wonder how that effects all this... wondering out loud...

I grew up in a very small town where everyone knew each other, walked to community/school events. Not to be cheesy, but the "it takes a village" concept really applied. Every adult knew every kid. Is Piedmont small enough that you really do know or are aquaintances with most other families?

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by Ready555

I've never heard it explained that way... very interesting. What is your sense about the weather differences? Seems that there are more pools in Lafayette -is that mostly because the lots are just that much larger or is it really much warmer on the other side of the tunnel?

Weather... the more inland away from the Bay and Ocean the great the temps vary.

Oakland/Piedmont was rated by Parade Magazine years ago as having the best US Climate for 2 out of the 12 months each year. The study was based on the number of heating and the number of cooling days in major metro areas around the country.

Back to your question... It is typical to experience a 10 to 15 degree temperature difference from one side of the Caldecott Tunnel to the other.

Lafayette has several times as many winter frost warnings as Peidmont. Right now the night time temps in Lafayette can dip to the mid 30's and Peidmont will dip to the mid 40's

In summer, the coastal fog often stops at the tunnel... it can be completely overcast on the bay side and bright, warm and sunny in Lafayette.

Pools are much more common as well as central air on the Lafayette/Orinda side.

You will find Lafayette warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter.

[Pablo_e]

Hi there,

Wanted to jump in here....hmm, usu. Crocker Highlands is not considered part of Piedmont (it butts up against it, but is part of Oakland). Maybe people are being liberal with the name, but make sure you are in the Piedmont city limits esp. if you want your kids to go to school there.

I live in Piedmont and while it is smallish, it is not small enough that you will know everyone. Remember, it is basically surrounded by larger cities. You would likely know your neighbors well and if you are involved, you might be one of those folks who ends up knowing most everyone.

In terms of the feel, I agree with EastBayDad and Ultrarunner. I call it Urban surburbia...it is not suburban like Lafayette. If you want to be able to walk to dinner/movies/etc., live in a place with have a stronger sense of community, be closer to "action" (SF, Berkeley, etc.), don't mind a bit more crime (remember it is surrounded by Oakland), like ethnic diversity, etc, then Piedmont is a good choice. If you want more growing room, want hot weather, prefer the suburbs, like it quieter, don't mind driving a bit more, etc. then Lafayette is probably better. Also, where you work could tip the scales.

I am not sure what Don Vito is talking about....Piedmont is very different than Lafayette. I would not characterize Piedmont as suburbia. And saying Piedmont is overrated is odd...it all depends on what is important to you.

Coming from SF (years ago), I do not like the suburban nature of Lafayette....but that is a matter of opinion and I would be remiss to advocate one over the other w/o a bit more detail on what is important to you.

Schools are great in both areas and assuming you kids are motivated, they will likely be served well in either.

Have you visited these cities?