New job in Fremont & Dublin, thinking of living in Pleasanton or Danville. Bad idea? (Sacramento: 2015)

[Mamabear1NYT]

(sorry, did not realize this posted under Sacramento. Please ignore. Just re-posted under SF-Oakland. Could not find the delete option)

Hello!

We are moving to the Bay Area for my husband's new job and would like to ask for your advice! He will be working approximately half the week in Fremont and the other half in Dublin and we are getting mixed recommendations on where to live. We are considering Pleasanton or maybe as far as Danville (for better housing values, better schools, crime rates, etc than Fremont area) but we hear that the 680 commute to Fremont is terrible! We do own an electric car so my husband can use the HOV lanes but do the HOV lanes make a big difference or are they just as backed up as any other lane during peak hours? It would be great to hear from someone who actually lives in Pleasanton/Dublin area and works in or around Fremont or knows someone who does. What is your daily commute like? Is it consistently under or over an hour each way?

We will most likely rent first, then buy a home in the future. We're also currently open to finding housing in Milpitas or anywhere in the South Bay/Peninsula if the Pleasanton commute is really that bad but our housing options will not be that great on that side of the bay due to higher cost

(I am aware that someone has already asked about the Pleasanton-to-Fremont commute in 2015, but things can drastically change over 4 yrs and I'd really like to know your updated opinions/experiences. Plus, that thread focused more on the Pleasanton-to-South Bay drive more than Fremont

We would appreciate your honest opinion and any suggestions that you think might be helpful for our growing family (expecting our first-born any day now!).

Thank you very much!!!

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Welcome to Bay Area dilemmas. There is no magic answer. You have to look at the school data and the commute data and the housing data and decide what you are willing to compromise on. Unless you are hugely wealthy, there will be a compromise. It's up to you where the compromise will be.