Can a family of four live in San Jose on a $65K income? (Hayward: how much, townhomes)

[80skeys]

It wouldn't surprise me if more than half the households in the Bay Area were < $65k and they are obviously surviving.

[Senno]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

It wouldn't surprise me if more than half the households in the Bay Area were < $65k and they are obviously surviving.

True. But we are considering a Phd here with a young family. Is a trailer park in Santa Cruz the best he can do?

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

It wouldn't surprise me if more than half the households in the Bay Area were < $65k and they are obviously surviving.

Maybe true, but why would we wish that kind of servitude on anyone? Besides, some of those lower earning people (the recent immigrants, in particular) have family and extended family to help them out with raising the kids, living with family or extended family cheaply or for free, etc.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Maybe true, but why would we wish that kind of servitude on anyone?

Besides, some of those lower earning people (the recent immigrants, in particular) have family and extended family to help them out with raising the kids, living with family or extended family cheaply or for free, etc.

i really doubt 1/2 the people in the Bay Area consider themselves indentured.

There's more to the Bay Area than just Silicon Valley. $65k won't buy the kind of lifestyle that most people work in the Valley to have, but that's not the only lifestyle available and there's lot of other places to choose from.

[Radical347]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

It wouldn't surprise me if more than half the households in the Bay Area were < $65k and they are obviously surviving.

No, that isn't true. While 61k is the average household in California, the average household in Santa Clara County is 89k. (2.89 people per household). The adjacent Bay Area counties, San Mateo and Alameda, have median incomes of 87k & 70k (2.73 people per household.) San Benito and Santa Cruz counties are closer, at 66k, but I can't recommend commuting from either.

Santa Clara County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

The median household income is above 65k in all Bay Area counties except for Sonoma, which is 64k. The others: Napa 68k, Contra Costa 79k, Solano 69k, Marin 89k, San Francisco 73k, most of which have an average household size in the upper 2's except SF which is in the lower 2's.

I suspect many of the families who are surviving on less got property before the housing and rental markets went completely insane.

[easybay]

I suspect many of the families who are surviving on less got property before the housing and rental markets went completely insane.

AND alot are prepared to live in areas which many of us don't like driving through.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by Radical347

No, that isn't true. While 61k is the average household in California, the average household in Santa Clara County is 89k.

When I say Bay Area, I'm talking the whole Bay Area, including Redwood City and the East Bay, not just the insulated Silicon Valley as I mentioned before.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by easybay

AND alot are prepared to live in areas which many of us don't like driving through.

There are many decent areas in the East Bay. The idea that the entire East Bay is some kind of dangerous place is wrong.

[Radical347]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

When I say Bay Area, I'm talking the whole Bay Area, including Redwood City and the East Bay, not just the insulated Silicon Valley as I mentioned before.

I'm aware, which is why I listed the median household income for every Bay Area county. The lowest is 64k, and that's Sonoma. Redwood City's county (San Mateo) is 87k, and the East Bay (Alameda) is 70k. Both for under 3 people. While RWC and the East Bay are cheaper than San Jose, I don't believe that a family of four who's moving in in this current real estate market can have a close to decent lifestyle for 65k in either of these places.

We're talking a family of 4 with a dog here, not a single person...or even a couple.

The closest place where they could have a chance at making ends meet is Tracy. And that's not taking into consideration the hellish commute.

[le roi]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

It wouldn't surprise me if more than half the households in the Bay Area were < $65k and they are obviously surviving.

They must've bought their homes before the big debt bubble of 1980-2010