Underrated and Overrated Bay Area cities? (San Jose, Oakland: fit in, high crime, home)

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by sav858

That's seriously worth $1K+ per square foot for an average post war tract home?

Silicon Valley is honestly the most overpriced place on earth. $1-1.5K per square foot for lame post war suburbia that isn't even scenic! You're basically paying SF, NYC/Manhattan, Paris, La Jolla, etc...prices to live in dull suburbia that's basically the techie version of Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek. At least Marin County prices make somewhat more sense, it's scenic and bucolic at least.

Well, some of us who were here for awhile didn't pay anywhere near those rates.

And to a lot of us - this place is home, warts and all.

[aslowdodge]

Originally Posted by Divis Page

Posts like these make no sense, calling thing overrated and over hyped are always based around some non sense. Usually because you can't afford it so you're mad. Oakland is NOT more affordable, in Fact Oakland is very expensive.

1. The whole subject of rating in your opinion is what the op is asking for.
2. Based on nonsense? I don't get it. People tend to bring in valid points and while opinions, still valid to them.
3. Can't afford it and are mad about it? That's one of the dumber things I see here. It's the catch all defense of people that get easily offended by people who bring up valid criticisms of the state that they have no answer for. Plenty of people can afford a Porsche, it doesn't mean they own them or like them

[aslowdodge]

Originally Posted by silverkris

Well, some of us who were here for awhile didn't pay anywhere near those rates.

And to a lot of us - this place is home, warts and all.

I had no idea you live in Palo Alto. I love that Area. For some reason I always thought you lived in east San Jose by the foothills.

[04kL4nD]

Just to point out how silly this thread is overall, I'm going to list Palo Alto as the most 'overrated' Bay Area city. So there!

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by sav858

That's seriously worth $1K+ per square foot for an average post war tract home?

Silicon Valley is honestly the most overpriced place on earth. $1-1.5K per square foot for lame post war suburbia that isn't even scenic! You're basically paying SF, NYC/Manhattan, Paris, La Jolla, etc...prices to live in dull suburbia that's basically the techie version of Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek. At least Marin County prices make somewhat more sense, it's scenic and bucolic at least.

Have to agree with this. Silicon Valley feels like older parts of north Orange County -- bad city planning, suburban/urban sprawl, strip malls, 60s tract homes. I can't imagine being very happy paying that much money to live in an area like that.

Marin County is possibly the most beautiful county in the state, and well worth the high price tag, if you can afford it.

As for underrated cities, I would definitely say Walnut Creek has traditionally been off the radar for most Bay Areans, but as of late, the millennials have suddenly discovered it, and it seems to no longer be underrated. I see a lot of articles or blogs about, 'Who knew Walnut Creek had so much stuff?' and of course the answer is, everyone who's lived there for the past 20 years!

[04kL4nD]

Walnut Creek is appropriately rated. I'm not in love with it, but it's got upscale shopping, a lively downtown area, and decent access to SF via BART. If anything, Pleasant Hill would be underrated since it's a big step up from Concord, and a small one down from WC. San Leandro imo is probably the most underrated Bay Area city I can think of in the East Bay though.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

Walnut Creek is appropriately rated. I'm not in love with it, but it's got upscale shopping, a lively downtown area, and decent access to SF via BART. If anything, Pleasant Hill would be underrated since it's a big step up from Concord, and a small one down from WC. San Leandro imo is probably the most underrated Bay Area city I can think of in the East Bay though.

Most of Concord is just as nice as Pleasant Hill. It probably has more areas like PLeasant Hill than PLeasant Hill does.

[bmw335xi]

The thing is those cities can be found in any state, usually multiple cities in each state at a fraction of the price, that's why they are over-rated in my opinion. San Francisco is a unique city, can't be found anywhere else, still over-priced, but it's unique, so I can see it costing a lot more than average. Pleasant Hill, Concord, Dublin, even Walnut Creek can be found in every state and at a much cheaper price.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

The thing is those cities can be found in any state, usually multiple cities in each state at a fraction of the price, that's why they are over-rated in my opinion. San Francisco is a unique city, can't be found anywhere else, still over-priced, but it's unique, so I can see it costing a lot more than average. Pleasant Hill, Concord, Dublin, even Walnut Creek can be found in every state and at a much cheaper price.

So can Palo Alto and especially Cupertino... Excluding weather and topography so can SF for that matter.

[BurnInTheMil]

Originally Posted by sav858

So can Palo Alto and especially Cupertino... Excluding weather and topography so can SF for that matter.

This ^^^^

There’s always going to be towns/cities that are similar (as similar as they can be, given location), that are much cheaper with great amenities.