Cheapest safe areas in the SF Bay area? (San Jose, San Francisco: apartment, renting)

[AllTheWayToMemphis]

What are the cheapest, relatively-safe areas to live in the SF Bay area (San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Berkeley)? I've visited once and loved it, but I've always been under the impression that I wouldn't be able to afford living there. I'm coming from Richmond, VA, so I'm not a stranger to violent crime, so as long as we're not talking Sunnydale or something it should be ok...

[Puddy4LyF]

I've only been in the Bay area for 6 months, but safety and value have been on the top of the list -- both when I was searching for an apartment -- and now that I'm searching to buy property. In no particular order, I have found that the following places are topping my radar (my focus is generally north-east bay, so another poster might give a slightly different area):

Martinez, Benicia, Hercules, Pinole, El Sobrante, San Pablo, Walnut Creek, and I would add the Marina Bay Neighborhood of Richmond (outside of that, I wouldn't reccommend anything else there), and I would also add secluded areas of Vallejo and Fairfield, but just like Richmond, you need to find the safe, secluded neighborhoods that have little to do with these actual cities - not safe cities.

[socketz]

San Francisco is for the most part fine....Oakland,stay north of the 580 highway....Richmond, stay away.

If you work in Silicon valley, note that San Jose is one of the safest cities in the country for it's size.

In fact, despite the rising crime, San Jose is still ranked as the safest city in America with a population over 500,000 people...ex. San Jose's crime rate is 2.6. What does that mean? This means that for every 100,000 people that live in San Jose we have a 2.6 homicide rate. Compare this to the highest; Baltimore at 43.5, San Jose is nearly 90% below the national average of 8.

- 2007 Morgan Quitno and Khoa Le Award City Crime Rankings by Population Group

Additionally, if you stay along the 680 between Pleasanton and Walnut Creek, you will be ectremely pleased. Crime in this area is almost non-existent.

[sonarrat]

In Richmond, the "north and east" neighborhood is considered a decent working-class area.

[AllTheWayToMemphis]

Sorry, I should probably clarify (by the way, thanks for your info so far). I'm in my early 20s, only work temporary jobs, so I'm looking for affordable living first and safety second. I'll definitely be renting (I won't be buying a house for several years). The closer to SF the better since I'll want to live in a vibrant young community, but I understand that living costs severely limit this. Any suggestions with this reframing of the question?

[sonarrat]

With that reframing, I'd say be someone's roommate in San Francisco..

[E14]

west oakland is pretty cheap and an easy commute by bart to the city

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by E14

west oakland is pretty cheap and an easy commute by bart to the city

And there a lot of artist types there these days-anybody else notice that?

[Jonotastic]

1. What is your price range?

2. Do you mind having room mates?

3. What is most important? (location, safety, transportation etc)

4. Will you have a car?

[AllTheWayToMemphis]

1. I'd say for my part of rent, 800 would be the max I could pay. I'd like to keep it around 600 if possible.

2. No, I don't mind, but I'd prefer to have my own bedroom.

3. I don't mind areas that are considered slightly rough, but at the same time, I don't want to have to worry about having my house broken into or hear gunshots outside regularly.

4. Yes