Work in Newark, CA - places to live?

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by mayorhaggar

Menlo Park is one of the most expensive cities to live in in one of the most expensive parts of the US. I'm surprised you're finding places for less than $2000 there, and not surprised they're dumpy. Most apartments in the Bay Area are small and old and dumpy, and rarely have modern stuff like in-unit washer/dryers or dishwashers. Lots of middle class and even upper middle class people live in buildings where they have to use a coin-op washer/dryer in the basement. Newer buildings will be more likely to have that stuff, but it will drive up the price a lot.

That said, your money will definitely go further in the East Bay, and put newer buildings more in your reach. If a newer unit with a dishwasher and washer/dryer are priorities for you, definitely look at the East Bay. San Mateo County and Santa Clara County are both very expensive by comparison, there's a higher concentration of tech workers and tech companies in those counties which means higher rents.

Contrary to popular belief on here not all of the other side of 101 is East Palo Alto, west of Willow Rd is East Menlo Park (the Belle Haven neighborhood). E O'Keefe Street south of 101 is also Menlo Park but is considered part of the Over The Ramp area (East Palo Alto below 101).

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by AngusHsu

You may easily break your 1500 budget in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, or Mountain View. I doubt there are any bad areas in those suburbs. Palo Alto is still very white. Menlo Park and Mountain View are more diverse but still chock full of engineers.

You're not working in a very culturally interesting area (Newark/Fremont) with lots of fun things to do on weekends. And if you go too far for more vibrant locales, then your commute will be a nightmare.

There are indeed high-crime areas in Menlo Park and Mountain View, namely Belle Haven (East Menlo Park) and the Latham/Escuela Avenue area in Mountain View.