San Bruno and Santa Clara options (San Francisco, San Mateo: renting, living in, moving to)

[SEASJC]

Hi all

we are moving to the bay area soon. My job is in San Bruno and my husband works in Santa Clara CA.

We were thinking of renting in Mountain View, Cupertino or Redwood city. Can anyone recommend us which one of these options is better commute wise and livability? Any other recommended options? Is traffic on 280 better than 101?

Thanks!

[zitsky]

Living in Cupertino would make no sense. If you look at the map you'll see that it's at one point of a triangle with with other points being San Bruno and Santa Clara. I'd recommend looking at Mountain View, but it's almost definitely more expensive than San Bruno. I lived in Mountain View for more than 10 years and would highly recommend it, even considering your commute. I'd also look at Redwood City or San Carlos. Both seem to have interesting downtown areas.

I know from experience that traffic on 280 is better than 101 but it's still pretty crowded in the morning. A commute from Mountain View to San Bruno on 101 is not too bad. I know someone who did a commute from Mountain View to South San Francisco for several years. That's longer than a MV to San Bruno commute would be.

[80skeys]

Traffic on 280 is much better than on the 101.

If you live in Cupertino, the San Bruno commute will be a bit long. Places like Menlo Park, Palo Alto are exactly in between San Bruno and Santa Clara and would give a reasonable commute to both places.

Even Mountain View would be fine.

My opinion is that any commute "halfway" up the Peninsula is reasonable in a car.

[sonarrat]

Traffic is better on 280, but you're going to have to take 85 or Lawrence or San Tomas to get into Santa Clara, and they're all a monumental pain. Honestly, Mountain View along 101 is a great idea. Smooth sailing into Santa Clara and only a little heavy getting through San Mateo to the north.