need a good location between san jose and hayward (San Diego: apartment, credit)

[movintoeastbay]

I'm going to be attending school in Hayward starting this summer, and a good friend of mine will be attending another school in san jose. we would like to be roommates, but need to find an area between the 2 colleges to live in that would make sense for both of us. I don't mind a commute of 30 minutes or less (to hayward), but am unfamiliar with the south/east bay.
We are both in our mid-20s, going to grad school and living on student loans. would prefer an area that is somewhat safe and quiet, yet not too far from some kind of social scene (bars/restaurants/music venues, etc), dont mind how old the apartment would be, more concerned with price. for those of you familiar with san diego or LA, we would be looking for neighborhoods similar to North Park or Normal Heights in San Diego, or Silverlake in LA. any help at all would be greatly appreciated!

[jbunniii]

I don't know San Diego, but I'm familiar with Silver Lake and as far as I know there's nothing remotely like that between Hayward and San Jose: it's mostly boring suburbia dotted with a few struggling mini-downtowns such as Fremont. If you want a neighborhood similar to Silver Lake in the Bay Area your choices are limited to parts of Oakland, Berkeley, or San Francisco; you're not going to find it in San Jose, either.

[sonarrat]

That part of the East Bay is an industrial wasteland for the most part. Just live in San Jose. It's much more vibrant than anywhere else along 880 until you get to downtown Oakland, and it would be reverse commute direction to get to CSUEB.

[movintoeastbay]

thats good to know. looks like i'll be looking for places throughout SJ, so thank you both for your help!

[pappy97]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

That part of the East Bay is an industrial wasteland for the most part. Just live in San Jose.

Totally untrue, sounds like this person is either a South Bay or Peninsula snob.

You want to split the difference between Hayward and San Jose and price is most important?

I'd recommend Union City or Newark (Fremont might have some affordable places, but I think the other two will have more of the price range you are looking for). Anywhere in between Hayward and SJ, you won't get those kinds of neighborhoods you want. But you are a mere 20 miles (or less) from vibrant social scenes.

For example, if you live in Newark and want a nice social scene you simply hit up the Dumbarton Bridge and head on into Palo Alto. University Ave near Stanford will fit what you are looking for, and it's not even 15 miles away from Newark. Alot of people, especially those East Bay Haters, forget how close Newark is to Palo Alto.

And Palo Alto social scene >>>>> San Jose social scene, and this comes from someone with no bias either way.

Seriously you should look in Union City and Newark (And if nothing there, Fremont). You'll find agreeable prices, plenty of safe and quiet neighborhoods (Especially Newark/Fremont), and close to a real social scene.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by pappy97

Totally untrue, sounds like this person is either a South Bay or Peninsula snob.

You want to split the difference between Hayward and San Jose and price is most important?

I'd recommend Union City or Newark (Fremont might have some affordable places, but I think the other two will have more of the price range you are looking for). Anywhere in between Hayward and SJ, you won't get those kinds of neighborhoods you want. But you are a mere 20 miles (or less) from vibrant social scenes.

For example, if you live in Newark and want a nice social scene you simply hit up the Dumbarton Bridge and head on into Palo Alto. University Ave near Stanford will fit what you are looking for, and it's not even 15 miles away from Newark. Alot of people, especially those East Bay Haters, forget how close Newark is to Palo Alto.

And Palo Alto social scene >>>>> San Jose social scene, and this comes from someone with no bias either way.

Seriously you should look in Union City and Newark (And if nothing there, Fremont). You'll find agreeable prices, plenty of safe and quiet neighborhoods (Especially Newark/Fremont), and close to a real social scene.

Funny that you should call me a peninsula snob and then act like precisely that. Anyway, if the OP wanted to go to Mountain View or Palo Alto, it's easier to get there from San Jose as there are better public transit options and no bridge traffic/toll to deal with.

[pappy97]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Funny that you should call me a peninsula snob and then act like precisely that. Anyway, if the OP wanted to go to Mountain View or Palo Alto, it's easier to get there from San Jose as there are better public transit options and no bridge traffic/toll to deal with.

I like San Jose, but for what this guy is looking for in terms of social scene, Palo Alto > San Jose.

And for going out on weeknights, Newark to Palo Alto via Dumbarton is reverse commute so no traffic, and it's totally clear on weekends. OP said nothing about being dependent on public transportation.

Maybe I should not have said South Bay/Peninsula snob. Maybe "unreasonable irrational Fremont/Newark/Union City hater" might have been more appropriate. I mean, after all, the guy says he wants to live somewhere in between Hayward and SJ and doesn't know the South/East Bay at all and nobody gives the tri-city area a fair shake (like your comment about "industrial wasteland"). Come on now. He said price is important. Think about it. And you know full well the tri-city area is not an industrial wasteland, or maybe you don't if you refuse to acknowledge its existence, let alone give it any credit.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by pappy97

I like San Jose, but for what this guy is looking for in terms of social scene, Palo Alto > San Jose.

And for going out on weeknights, Newark to Palo Alto via Dumbarton is reverse commute so no traffic, and it's totally clear on weekends. OP said nothing about being dependent on public transportation.

Maybe I should not have said South Bay/Peninsula snob. Maybe "unreasonable irrational Fremont/Newark/Union City hater" might have been more appropriate. I mean, after all, the guy says he wants to live somewhere in between Hayward and SJ and doesn't know the South/East Bay at all and nobody gives the tri-city area a fair shake (like your comment about "industrial wasteland"). Come on now. He said price is important. Think about it. And you know full well the tri-city area is not an industrial wasteland, or maybe you don't if you refuse to acknowledge its existence, let alone give it any credit.

There are some lovely parts of southern Alameda County, and it's a safe place to live. Were I in the market for a home right this moment, the only thing that would keep me out of Fremont is the fact that it's just as expensive as anywhere in San Jose. The Hayward Hills close to CSUEB campus have some real natural beauty as well. But I think there's a lot to be said for not having to cross a bridge to get to where the human life is.

[texasdreamin]

Fremont may be a city to consider.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by pappy97

I like San Jose, but for what this guy is looking for in terms of social scene, Palo Alto > San Jose.

Ahhh, if one's going to school in Hayward and the other in San Jose, why would they want to hang around a gaggle of Stanford kids? Or more likely, the other way around?