If we Love Cambridge, MA will we like Berkeley or SF?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by bostonfam

Hi, My family is potentially relocating to Berkeley or San Fran area...I had a few questions & I have always loved reading this website but have never posted....

We are a liberal, down to earth, very non-materialistic fun loving family. Relocating to the san fran area. We need:

Cultural opportunities nearby
great weather (coming form Boston it will be nice but can someone give me some more info about what the 'seasons' are like typically?) Im worried we're moving all the way to CA & it wont be hot? Also, I have been told that depending upon where in SF we move, some places are warmer than others

Really like urban environments that are kid-friendly (ie has parks, can walk w/ the stroller to the post office, grocery, post office etc.) livable....not a fan of suburban living. love old architecture & would rather live in a beautiful old house w/ a teeny yard but within 5 minutes of the hustle & bustle VS. a big house w/ big yard in the burbs....

My Dh really likes Berkeley and I am on the fence....Also-we need to have a temple nearby (will my child be the only jewish one in an entire class?) Lastly, Great public schools are necessary as well-but Im finding that is all 'relative' of course. We're coming from excellent public in Cambridge filled w/ Professors kids etc....

Also, should we look at San Fran proper (ie pacific heights or some of the other neighborhoods?) What other neighborhoods are worth investigating? Cost not really an issue-so assuming you could afford to live anywhere-what would be your ideal city/town & why? thanks so much!!!

Just for frame of reference-we LOVE nyc, like Santa Monica (a bit too la cheesy for me), obviously love Cambridge, love ann arbor, MI etc-love the college towns and/or real cities (Boston, NYC etc.)

I haven't read the responses so mine are strictly my own and not based on what others have said.

In San Francisco area it is going to be hard to find "family friendly" and urban. They just do not often go together. If college town, somewhat urban, plus decent weather is what you are looking for I think Berk would be your best option. If you get any closer to San Francisco and the coast you may get more fog and less warm summer weather than you would like. Remember, living in Boston or anywhere in New England is very different than living in CA regardless of where in Ca you will be living.

Now I have read the responses: I hadn't thought about Albany. But as I mentioned, I think you can see, from others comments, you are not going to find the bay area anything like Boston...
NIta

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Berkeley is a gritty and more diverse Cambridge.

Palo Alto does not really cut it, it's more sterile than Cambridge.

Bottom line, they broke the mold.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by etoile_filante

The Elmwood neighborhood of Berkeley is a beautiful, family-friendly neighborhood close to campus, and is the area I would focus on given your criteria. There is plenty of religious and cultural diversity in Berkeley, and you will not stand out by being Jewish.

That's my favorite Berkeley neighborhood! Although sometimes there are too many students. Good proximity to transit, freeway and amenities.

[NorCal Dude]

Berkeley is not what I would consider family friendly unless you are talking about the hills.

[mayorhaggar]

The SW corner of Berkeley is really the only crappy part. The rest will only seem sketchy if you're a sheltered suburbanite. Elmwood, N. Berkeley and the NW area out towards 4th are nice though 4th has some ghost town industrial zones. Downtown has some bums here and there but they're easily ignored.

[chirplet]

Originally Posted by NorCal Dude

Berkeley is not what I would consider family friendly unless you are talking about the hills.

Just for perspective, many families would disagree with that statement. Elmwood, for example, is not in the hills.

One helpful resource for families in Berkeley and nearby neighborhoods is Berkeley Parents Network website. Here is a link with some descriptions of family-friendly neighborhoods, for example:

http://parents.berkeley.edu/recommen.../berkeley.html

[NorCal Dude]

Originally Posted by chirplet

Just for perspective, many families would disagree with that statement. Elmwood, for example, is not in the hills.

One helpful resource for families in Berkeley and nearby neighborhoods is Berkeley Parents Network website. Here is a link with some descriptions of family-friendly neighborhoods, for example:

Berkeley Parents Network: Living in Berkeley, CA

Yea I am sure some would disagree and that is good and fine. Elmwood is at the base of the hill surrounded by a couple upscale neighborhoods in Oakland, it's a little different than most of Berkeley.

It's nothing personal, I love Berkeley for what it is, lived there for 6 and a half years, but I would not raise my children there. Look at the number of violent sex offenders that live there or look at the crime stats from the last two weeks. A sizable amount of robberies in Berkeley happen at or with in several blocks of the parks, never mind the homeless.

About the only thing I see similar between Cambridge and Berkeley is that they are both urbane, with a college. I would suggest PA over Berkeley as much as it pains me to .