Good areas/bad areas in San Mateo?? (Hayward, Foster City: to rent, crime)

[scottzen]

My husband, small son and I are moving to San Mateo shortly. We already own a home so we are planning to rent.

I am most interested in knowing the "good areas"--good neighbors, good schools, safe, etc--to live. Also, what are the main areas to avoid?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Amy

[sonarrat]

San Mateo Park is best for a family. Beresford Park is very nice too. In general, west of El Camino Real is better, but east can be good as well. Hayward Park is the most notable eastern neighborhood. You could also consider Belmont, which is hilly and woodsy, and Burlingame, which is a bit more, shall we say, female-oriented.

[jaypee]

You might want to mention your budget and what type of schools you're looking for.

[scottzen]

budget= 3500
schools= pre-school and elementary

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[fromthebay]

San Mateo Village is Nice, West San Mateo by hillsdale is nice.... The oonly kind of iffy areas are downtown, Los Prados, and shoreview, and maybe along delaware

[jman650]

Originally Posted by fromthebay

San Mateo Village is Nice, West San Mateo by hillsdale is nice.... The oonly kind of iffy areas are downtown, Los Prados, and shoreview, and maybe along delaware

You're kind of leaving out the shadiest areas of all. North Shoreview (separate from Shoreview, north of 3rd) and North Central are the neighborhoods to avoid. North Central is basically everything between 5th Ave, Peninsula Ave, 101 and San Mateo Drive (I'm including Downtown within these boundaries). Delaware is included in there, but Delaware south of 5th is actually pretty decent. Also, within North Central some places closer to Peninsula Ave are cool like Woodlake and most of what lies between San Mateo Drive and El Camino Real.

Depending on your budget, some other nicer parts are Laurie Meadows, Hayward Park, Sunnybrae, Fiesta Gardens, Bridgepointe/Mariners Island, and as already stated West San Mateo, but I'd extend that to include everything west of El Camino. Those neighborhoods might include Sugarloaf, San Mateo Park, Baywood, Beresford, South San Mateo, and the area between CSM and Hillsborough (near the Crystal Springs Village shopping center).

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by jman650

You're kind of leaving out the shadiest areas of all. North Shoreview (separate from Shoreview, north of 3rd) and North Central are the neighborhoods to avoid. North Central is basically everything between 5th Ave, Peninsula Ave, 101 and San Mateo Drive (I'm including Downtown within these boundaries). Delaware is included in there, but Delaware south of 5th is actually pretty decent. Also, within North Central some places closer to Peninsula Ave are cool like Woodlake and most of what lies between San Mateo Drive and El Camino Real.

Depending on your budget, some other nicer parts are Laurie Meadows, Hayward Park, Sunnybrae, Fiesta Gardens, Bridgepointe/Mariners Island, and as already stated West San Mateo, but I'd extend that to include everything west of El Camino. Those neighborhoods might include Sugarloaf, San Mateo Park, Baywood, Beresford, South San Mateo, and the area between CSM and Hillsborough (near the Crystal Springs Village shopping center).

Perfect analysis.

Personal anecdote - my lone "violent" crime issue was a 1 x 1 confrontation with a Shoreview Crip when I lived in the main south of 3rd Shoreview hood, when I was single and not very wealthy. It turned out OK, in that no gunfire was exchanged (although before running away the punk put a rock through my bedroom window). The "issue" was, I caught the scum trying to steal my bike. He did not expect to have an AK wielding tenant. I do have to say, it took b__ls to throw that rock. He probably figured I would not shoot someone in the back. He was right.

[jman650]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Perfect analysis.

Personal anecdote - my lone "violent" crime issue was a 1 x 1 confrontation with a Shoreview Crip when I lived in the main south of 3rd Shoreview hood, when I was single and not very wealthy. It turned out OK, in that no gunfire was exchanged (although before running away the punk put a rock through my bedroom window). The "issue" was, I caught the scum trying to steal my bike. He did not expect to have an AK wielding tenant. I do have to say, it took b__ls to throw that rock. He probably figured I would not shoot someone in the back. He was right.

Lol nice! That right there is a perfect example of why I am in favor of law abiding citizens having the right to own guns. Glad you handled that situation!

But yeah, overall Shoreview isn't a bad neighborhood. Its livable, its just that its one of the less desirable neighborhoods in San Mateo. Especially now I believe the SVC's are much less active than they used to be. Before (90's) they didn't seem to play with guns too much but they did love to fight a lot.

[newonsf]

With Los Prados do you mean "Los prados St"??
I just moved from spain to San Mateo and I live near Los Prados st.

Well..that´s not the perfect neighbourhood for a family ( I´m a student ) but I don´t think that´s bad neighbourhood.

Personally, I really love Foster City... It´s like the place where I would like to live when I have my own family.



pd. My first post!!!