What the best place to live with family working in Emeryville? (Oakland: apartments, rent)

[YuryM]

Hello
Please advise the best places to live for me, my wife and 3 weeks old child? What is important:
- not far than 20-30 minutes drive from Emeryville
- rent up to 2K per month, I hope to pay no more than $1700. Condo or community apartments. Nice to have a pool
- need to have nice, safe places in the vicinity for my wife and child for everyday walking like parks, lakes

I'm thinking about Walnut Creek, Albany Hill Park area, and around Lake Merritt in Oakland.

Thank you in advance!

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Albany.

[Destiny2008]

I agree with BayAreaHillBilly. Before moving to Walnut Creek in 1991, we lived in Albany and I worked in Emeryville, a very short commute by car (and without getting on the freeway.) Twenty years ago, Albany was wonderful place with good schools and a strong sense of community. I always felt safe there. Every evening I walked the length of Solano Avenue in the dark and never felt threatened. Hopefully someone who currently lives in Albany can enlighten you. I imagine it is still a great little town.

Walnut Creek is also a great place for families...clean and very safe with a vibrant downtown, a new library, and good schools and parks. The summers are much hotter here than in Albany, and, of course, there is the commute to deal with.

We are very glad we moved to Walnut Creek and wish we had done it sooner, but Albany still holds a special place in our hearts.

[YuryM]

What do you think about Concord in my case?