What are your thoughts on my next living spot? (Redwood City: apartment, rental)

[gotpancit]

So we scoped out a few spots and have absolutely nothing narrowed down. Here are the details:

She'll be working in South SF, I'll be working near Moffett Field or Mountain View. We both aren't looking for mega commutes and keep hearing live closer to 280 than 101. Public schools will be important for the little ones, preschool and middle/high school. Also hoping to get a postage stamp size 3 bed 2 bth rental for ~$2500.

Belmont
san carlos
redwood city

How do those cities sound meeting the above criteria?

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by gotpancit

So we scoped out a few spots and have absolutely nothing narrowed down. Here are the details:

She'll be working in South SF, I'll be working near Moffett Field or Mountain View. We both aren't looking for mega commutes and keep hearing live closer to 280 than 101. Public schools will be important for the little ones, preschool and middle/high school. Also hoping to get a postage stamp size 3 bed 2 bth rental for ~$2500.

Belmont
san carlos
redwood city

How do those cities sound meeting the above criteria?

Good schools in all these towns. In Redwood City, stay west of El Camino Real (Hwy 82). But finding a 3/2 house for $2500 will be difficult. Also look at Redwood Shores, due east of Belmont (but part of Redwood City).

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by gotpancit

So we scoped out a few spots and have absolutely nothing narrowed down. Here are the details:

She'll be working in South SF, I'll be working near Moffett Field or Mountain View. We both aren't looking for mega commutes and keep hearing live closer to 280 than 101. Public schools will be important for the little ones, preschool and middle/high school. Also hoping to get a postage stamp size 3 bed 2 bth rental for ~$2500.

Belmont
san carlos
redwood city

How do those cities sound meeting the above criteria?

Of the three, I'd highly advocate for San Carlos. It has a great downtown area, is safe, upscale, etc. The schools are also very good.

Redwood City has been working a lot on its downtown and it has some nice areas, but there are just too many run down areas for me.

Belmont is sort of upscale, but it is boring and no real city center.

[sonarrat]

In Redwood City, look for the area north of Jefferson Ave and west of El Camino. Closer to 280 near Farm Hill Blvd. is even better. You might also find the odd affordable rental in Woodside off of Canada Road for a more country feel. It all depends on what you're after. Between RWC/San Carlos/Belmont, there isn't a huge variety.. the bigger difference is being closer to 101 (convenient, flat land and crappy houses) or closer to 280 (big lots, hills, nice houses, low crime, but cut off from public transit).

[Wintermomma]

Check out www.crimereports.com, too. Redwood City looks like a blanket of Sex Offenders to me whenever I've explored something available in the area, but the part closer to the 280 seems better. I've never heard anything negative from those I know who live there, though. And heard nothing but good about Belmont and San Carlos, though I have no knowledge about the schools.

[StandingRoomOnly]

I think you will need to up the budget to at least 3000 a month if you want to live in a safe location in these towns...or look into apartment / townhouse options.

[80skeys]

I'm partial to San Carlos. Nice town. Puts you about half way between SF and MV.

The 101 is definitely a lot more congested than 280, but it doesn't make sense to take the 280 from San Carlos/Redwood City to Mountain View because you have to go out of your way to get on it, and then back out of your way again to get off it. The extra time doing this would probably make for the same commute if you just take the 101.

There's also Caltrain between the two cities which is the fastest commute option.