Moving to Pleasanton (San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland: home, transfer, living in) - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

njtocali · 10-23-2009, 05:43 PM

Hey everyone,

I'm transferring my job to Pleasanton, CA, and I wanted to know if anyone can help me with what I'm looking for. I am 23 and I don't want to live in the suburbs. I'm moving from a town close to Manhattan, and I have to live in a city to stay sane. So, what I'm looking for is a decent city to live in, and not spend forever trying to commute to work. I was thinking San Jose, but it seems like there is no fast public transportation, and driving on the 680 isn't ideal, or am I going the other direction? Also, I make around 45k, so I don't think I can afford the most expensive city around. Can anyone recommend something? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

blofeld9999 · 10-23-2009, 06:52 PM

Living in Pleasanton isn't so bad, that's where my girlfriend lives. It's close to Dublin, San Ramon, and Livermore, and there are some decent restaurants and bars in the area. Livermore is known for its wineries if you're into that. It's a half hour drive to San Francisco, and even closer to Oakland.

The problem with living in San Jose (where I live), is that it's not exactly a central location. Easy access to the rest of San Jose obviously, and downtown Palo Alto isn't too far. But Oakland and especially San Francisco are tedious drives.

Pleasanton is a more central location, I'd recommend you consider living there or in Dublin.

clongirl · 10-23-2009, 07:30 PM

I really don't think you'd like Pleasanton..it's a suburb all the way. Not only a suburb, but think Stepford wives with money kind of suburb... I lived there for one very long year (and I am a stay at home mom) and couldn't stand it (being a San Franciscan). There is a nice downtown..and a few good restaurants, but that's it..even the bar closes at 10! I guess if you choose this town, choose to live in the downtown area.

I think Walnut Creek would be good choice (also a suburb) but more exciting "scene" in the downtown area. More diverse, and good shopping, restaurants, bars..

A major plus to this city is that you'd be able to get into San Francisco/Berkeley for your city fix on the weekends via short BART ride (the public transportation). The commute into Pleasanton wouldn't be too traumatic (I haven't experienced rush hour traffic, but no traffic would be 20 minutes).

BayAreaHillbilly · 10-23-2009, 07:57 PM

Look at a map. Pleasanton is due east of Oakland and SF, and connected to them by BART.

If you live along a BART line, or near it, you have many choices of "urban" living and you would have an alternative to commuting by car.

(NOTE to forumites and admins - this thread serves as a classic example of why there should not be a separate SJ forum. This forum should be merged with the SF one. There is one Bay Area, it's a single megacity, the political boundaries mean little any more.).

njtocali · 10-24-2009, 12:00 AM

Well, it takes the BART about an hour to get to SF and much longer to get to SJ, I was hoping to not have to travel so long on weekends lol. What do you guys think about Freemont? or surrounding areas?

PS. You are all very helpful. Thank you.

sonarrat · 10-24-2009, 01:01 AM

The problem is that Pleasanton is physically pretty far away from the big cities.. think of Levittown and you pretty much have Pleasanton, think of LIRR and that's pretty similar to BART.

sonarrat · 10-24-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonarrat

The problem is that Pleasanton is physically pretty far away from the big cities.. think of Levittown and you pretty much have Pleasanton, think of LIRR and that's pretty similar to BART.

(Well.. you can't go nearly as far out on BART as you can on LIRR. You can blame costs based on their shortsighted design decisions for that.)

njtocali · 10-24-2009, 03:46 PM

Another problem I see with the BART is that it stops running between Midnight and 8:00am on Saturday nights. Can't really live in Pleasanton and go to SF by public transportation on weekends.

humboldtrat · 10-24-2009, 03:57 PM

Your only urban possibilities are downtown San Jose or San Francisco. A lousy commute to both places any way you cut it. And BART between SF and Pleasanton can get get expensive.

humboldtrat · 10-25-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

Your only urban possibilities are downtown San Jose or San Francisco. A lousy commute to both places any way you cut it. And BART between SF and Pleasanton can get get expensive.

I should have mentioned Oakland also.