What are the good neighborhoods close to downtown (5th and market) (Marina: rent, safe area)

[newkidinsf]

Hey everyone,

I'm going to be moving into the city during mid June and need to find a place to live. I'll be working at 5th and Market.

My budget goal is between $1,500-$2,100/mo on rent but I can go up to $3,000 if need be.

So far looks like Lower Nob Hill might be my best bet but I understand that it's quite close to the Tenderloin somewhere I'd like to avoid..

I'm fresh out of college, so it would be great if the people in the neighborhood were young as well.

Thanks!

[mayorhaggar]

Basically anywhere near a BART station or major Muni bus or light rail line, but with Muni I wouldn't go too far out because the longer your daily Muni ride is, the less pleasant it will be and the more likely it will be that a major delay (very common on Muni, especially on the Metro light rail) will make you late.

Convenient for walking to 5th and Market:
- Lower Nob Hill or Nob Hill (though you'll be walking through the Tenderloin)
- North Beach

Convenient for a fairly short bus ride to 5th and Market:
- Nob Hill area
- Marina area
- Lower Pacific Heights

Convenient for a fairly short Muni Metro ride:
- Noe Valley--take the J for about a 20 minute commute. The J is super flaky though.
- the area around Church and Market and Duboce Park: can take any train from Church or Castro stations, or catch the J or N aboveground, for about a 20 minute commute.
- Hayes Valley--jump on any inbound train at Van Ness and you'll be at work in less than 10 minutes, barring delays.
- Cole Valley--use the N, probably about a 25-30 minute commute I think.

Areas around these BART stations are good and would mean a short and fast commute because BART is awesome:
- 16th and Mission
- 24th and Mission
- Glen Park

[newkidinsf]

Awesome! That really helps a ton, thank you.

How dangerous is it to walk through the tenderloin?

And where do the younger professionals tend to hang out?

[dalparadise]

You probably wont like walking through parts of the Tenderloin after dark or even early evening. The good news is, when you're walking along and your city sense sounds the alarm that you're wandering into an unsafe area in the Tenderloin (some blocks are much worse than others) you can usually turn east for a block or two and avoid the trouble.

The dangerous parts of the Tenderloin are pretty compact and easily avoided. So, avoid them.

Market can be a little sketchy, too, but I have been all up and down it at all hours and never worried for my safety. It's important to put your game face on and walk like you know where you're going, though. That's the same advice I'd give for any big city.

[dalparadise]

Young professionals like to hang out in the FiDi, Mission, Polk Gulch, North Beach and the Marina. All are quite close to the area you're talking about.

My favorite place to have fun is North Beach. So much is packed into this hood, you'll never see it all. Lots of great bars here cater to the crowd you're seeking. Happy hunting...