US News: SF-Oakland Metro Area ranks 7th Best Place to Live (San Francisco: houses, tech jobs)

[JJonesIII]

Originally Posted by settled00

seeing what has happened to SF, I'll take Fayettevill, AR over that. Never been to AR there but I bet people are kinder and I bet the value system is a little different from the filth one finds in SF. I've spent half my life in SF. No more SF, no thanks.

Gotta admit. Nmnita peeked my curiosity also. Sounds like a hell of a place. And I'll bet it doesn't have homeless people all over the tourist area of its downtown.

[duke944]

Originally Posted by CorporateCowboy

Suicide and mental health issues have nothing to do with SF ranking 7th overall in Best Places to Live (or 1st in desirability).

I think poor economic conditions is the root cause of most suicides. They can call it depression or mental health issues, but in most cases suicidal depression is brought on by the stress and lack of medical care due to money problems.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

Half a million people and only three companies? That's strange!

Ease up on your defense posture! ...You are in the California forum, we're not in your forum!

3 companies that are huge have headquarters here. Many mid sized companies also and many companies headquartered in other cities have large offices here.
I have every right to defend and no it is not strange at all. I was born and raised, as I have said in Ca.I have lived everywhere from San Diego to Eureka. I know a little bit about the state, maybe more than you do.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

I was in NWA several years ago and was pleasantly surprised. It was a pretty area with the Ozarks, had a fairly strong job market for its size and Fayetteville is a nice college town. Definitely not the backwards area that I had expected with my previously uninformed stereotype of Arkansas.

Now, it is not SF. It isn't a world class city, nor does it pretend to be. But, on the other hand, it seemed like a comfortable place to live with a low cost of living and generally high quality of life. I can see the appeal if you have a professional job, want amenities without the hassle and don't care about being in the top world-class city.

You are completely right and I am glad someone understands what I am trying to get across. The study, whether right on or now, wasn't based just on world class cities it was based on places that were good to live in. Yet, some people seemed to think any small city on the list should not be compared to places like the bay area. That is my major reason for addressing the issue.

[veritased]

Originally Posted by CorporateCowboy

Actually it IS about desirability as well as value, job market, and quality of life. SF ranked 4th in desirability, but I’m guessing the category it did poorly in was ‘value’. Still, I’ll take 7th overall!

Also interesting to note - Phoenix didn’t rank in the top 25 (to those who like to dump on SF

Also interesting to note - SF got beat by Des Moines. LOL.

[TashaPosh]

Originally Posted by duke944

I think poor economic conditions is the root cause of most suicides. They can call it depression or mental health issues, but in most cases suicidal depression is brought on by the stress and lack of medical care due to money problems.

Situational depression does not cause suicide....which is depression from job loss, a death in the family, money problems. So not being able to afford SF is not going to be a reason by itself for someone to kill themselves. Major depression & chemical imbalances cause suicide, it's such a debilitating feeling the person has a hard time functioning & really sees no other way out. It's the way the mind is functioning....not an "outward problem" that causes it. It's a c o m m o n misconception.

California is near the bottom of states with the most suicide..all the way down to #45. Montana, Alaska & Wyoming are at the top.....

[TashaPosh]

Originally Posted by veritased

Also interesting to note - SF got beat by Des Moines. LOL.

I'm happy to be moving to the Bay Area & not to Des Moines, tho....even if it's a number behind.

[18Montclair]

Most of the chatter here is about the city itself but just a reminder: This is a ranking of Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

And so here is a map of the San Francisco Metro Area:


2017 Population of Every City, Town and Unincorporated Area in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metro Area:
San Francisco, CA 884,363
Oakland, CA 425,204
Fremont, CA 234,954
Hayward, CA 160,485
Concord, CA 129,778
Berkeley, CA 122,334
Antioch, CA 111,683
Richmond, CA 110,037
Daly City, CA 107,091
San Mateo, CA 104,733
San Leandro, CA 90,555
Livermore, CA 90,290
Redwood City, CA 86,683
Pleasanton, CA 83,007
Alameda, CA 79,188
San Ramon, CA 75,922
Union City, CA 75,344
Pittsburg, CA 72,157
Walnut Creek, CA 69,792
South San Francisco, CA 67,430
Castro Valley, CA 63,625
San Rafael, CA 59,180
Brentwood, CA 58,828
Dublin, CA 57,022
Novato, CA 55,378
Newark, CA 45,554
Danville, CA 44,205
San Bruno, CA 43,105
Oakley, CA 39,950
Pacifica, CA 39,141
Martinez, CA 37,902
Pleasant Hill, CA 34,662
Menlo Park, CA 33,661
Foster City, CA 33,529
San Pablo, CA 30,720
Burlingame, CA 30,401
San Carlos, CA 29,954
East Palo Alto, CA 29,646
Belmont, CA 27,110
Lafayette, CA 25,792
Hercules, CA 25,260
San Lorenzo, CA 25,101
El Cerrito, CA 24,982
Ashland, CA 24,477
Bay Point, CA 23,708
Millbrae, CA 22,738
Albany, CA 19,682
Orinda, CA 19,248
Pinole, CA 19,191
Moraga, CA 17,231
Cherryland, CA 15,999
Discovery Bay, CA 15,525
Alamo, CA 15,521
North Fair Oaks, CA 15,454
Mill Valley, CA 14,392
El Sobrante, CA 13,358
San Anselmo, CA 12,619
Half Moon Bay, CA 12,565
Larkspur, CA 12,367
Clayton, CA 11,838
Emeryville, CA 11,524
Hillsborough, CA 11,436
Piedmont, CA 11,296
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA 10,853
Fairview, CA 10,222
Rodeo, CA 10,174
Blackhawk, CA 9,912
Corte Madera, CA 9,811
Tiburon, CA 9,205
Fairfax, CA 7,616
Atherton, CA 7,182
Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA 7,054
Sausalito, CA 7,147
Kentfield, CA 6,927
Contra Costa Centre, CA 6,440
El Granada, CA 6,286
Saranap, CA 6,235
Kensington, CA 5,573
Strawberry, CA 5,558
Woodside, CA 5,550
Tara Hills, CA 5,160
Broadmoor, CA 5,112
Santa Venetia, CA 4,924
Emerald Lake Hills, CA 4,648
Brisbane, CA 4,642
Portola Valley, CA 4,589
Pacheco, CA 4,334
Highlands-Baywood Park, CA 4,245
Vine Hill, CA 4,108
Moss Beach, CA 3,915
Reliez Valley, CA 3,769
West Menlo Park, CA 3,744
North Richmond, CA 3,738
Camino Tassajara, CA 3,717
East Richmond Heights, CA 3,658
Rollingwood, CA 3,477
Crockett, CA 3,142
San Miguel, CA 3,137
Marin City, CA 3,016
Montara, CA 2,909
Montalvin Manor, CA 2,800
Mountain View, CA 2,398
Bethel Island, CA 2,379
Ross, CA 2,311
Sleepy Hollow, CA 2,239
Belvedere, CA 2,156
Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, CA 1,790
Knightsen, CA 1,576
Woodacre, CA 1,574
Ladera, CA 1,553
Black Point-Green Point, CA 1,544
Byron, CA 1,480
Colma, CA 1,410
Shell Ridge, CA 1,328
Castle Hill, CA 1,232
Bolinas, CA 1,219
Inverness, CA 1,160

*I didnt include places with less than 1,000 population

So there is such a huge diversity of areas just within SF and Oakland by themselves, then you factor in the surrounding cities and towns, it get's very interesting.

[duke944]

Originally Posted by TashaPosh

Situational depression does not cause suicide....which is depression from job loss, a death in the family, money problems. So not being able to afford SF is not going to be a reason by itself for someone to kill themselves. Major depression & chemical imbalances cause suicide, it's such a debilitating feeling the person has a hard time functioning & really sees no other way out. It's the way the mind is functioning....not an "outward problem" that causes it. It's a c o m m o n misconception.

California is near the bottom of states with the most suicide..all the way down to #45. Montana, Alaska & Wyoming are at the top.....

In a way, the homeless have commited suicide in that they have given up trying to have a real life and are just wandering around waiting to die. Basically they are zombies, not people with lives anymore - and San Fran is loaded with them. But I do think that depression and chemical imbalances wouldn't become such extreme problems for many if money problems weren't the core issue. Money or a good job with benefits can cover treatment for chemical imbalances, and innability to pay bills can and does cause suicides - you are just being silly to ignore how stressful that is. Can't pay bills long enough, homelessness or death are your options.
Bottom line is unless you are independently weathy or make 6 figures, living in San Fran would be the pits - this is why it doesn't belong on the list. Not that it's not a fabulous place to live, it is for sure - if you can afford it.

[18Montclair]

Another thing about housing cost. Yes it's expensive as hell to live here, but if you work your butt off and buy a home here, the last 30 years has shown that home ownership in the Bay Area gives you excellent returns.