Best place to live in East Bay (San Jose, San Francisco: transplants, to rent)

[landlocked60]

I just got a new job in Walnut Creek and my husband works in San Mateo. We currently live in San Jose (recent transplants from the midwest) and want to move to the East Bay. Where in the East Bay would you suggest we live so that we both don't have crazy commutes? My husband has flexibility as to the time he can be in the office and can work from home a couple of days of week. I on the other hand don't. I want to live in an area where there are a lot of shops and restaurants (A Traders Joe's is at the top of my list! ). We have a dog, so we want to rent a 3 bed house and would like to keep rent under $4500. Schools aren't important, but crime is! Where would you suggest we move?

[aslowdodge]

I think your husband will have a long commute unless he can really move his times. If he can why not live in Walnut Creek?
I would look at Lafayette and down the valley to Danville. Pleasanton is nice but gives you a longer commute.

[davdaven]

A friend of mine works in San Mateo. He commuted from Piedmont when he started, but it was so awful that he moved to SM after 3 months. The bad news for you is that Oakland (Rockridge, Temescal, Piedmont Avenue, Broadway Terrace, Montclair, etc.) and Piedmont are about the best you can hope for. You would have a reverse commute every day, but your husband will suffer. Be sure his employer is okay with him not coming in before 10 AM.

I would resist the temptation to move to the Dublin/Pleasanton area, as your commute would be bad and his commute would be just as miserable as the Oakland option. At least with Oakland there might be some public transit options to consider. The only way your husband will end up with an easy commute is if you move to the Peninsula.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by davdaven

A friend of mine works in San Mateo. He commuted from Piedmont when he started, but it was so awful that he moved to SM after 3 months. The bad news for you is that Oakland (Rockridge, Temescal, Piedmont Avenue, Broadway Terrace, Montclair, etc.) and Piedmont are about the best you can hope for. You would have a reverse commute every day, but your husband will suffer. Be sure his employer is okay with him not coming in before 10 AM.

I would resist the temptation to move to the Dublin/Pleasanton area, as your commute would be bad and his commute would be just as miserable as the Oakland option. At least with Oakland there might be some public transit options to consider. The only way your husband will end up with an easy commute is if you move to the Peninsula.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 6:30 wouldn't be a bad schedule.

But your options depend on what you'd be willing to put up with, too, OP. For example, you could live in Fremont (it has a TJ's and while not a hotbed of restaurants, like some Oakland neighborhoods, it holds its own), which would be an easier commute for your husband, and you could take BART to Walnut Creek. Where is your job from the WC BART station? I agree with this poster, too, that the Danville/Dublin/Pleasanton area isn't a good idea.

[landlocked60]

My job is right on Treet Blvd. right across the street from the Bart Station. So, I am not opposed to taking Bart to work.

My husband does have a lot of flexibility with the time he gets into the office. Right now, his commute can take up to 2 hours if he leaves SJ at peak commute times so he will leave around 10:00 - 11:00 AM and then leave the office at about 7:00 pm. to avoid the crazy traffic. He is more than willing to do that again. I just want to make sure we take both commutes into consideration with this move. When we initially moved here we had no idea about how bad the traffic would be going to San Mateo (I work from home). So, we don't want to make that mistake again.

[steve_holt]

With such big difference between your respective work locations, it is going to be hard to find a place with a "good" commute.

I think Oakland hills areas is probably a reasonable option that allows both of you to drive. I am not familiar with the commute from Dublin/Pleasanton to Walnut Creek, but agree that that commute from those places to San Mateo would be pretty bad. Castro Valley might be another option, which would shorten your husbands commute a bit but allow for a BART commute for you (~1 hour each way).

Have you thought about living in San Francisco? It seems the most central. It would obviously have all the shops and restaurants, and if you lived in the right place both of you could have ~45 minute commutes via transit. A 3 bedroom with space for a dog wouldn't be available for 4500 though.

[Hemlock140]

I agree with Castro Valley, we lived there 15 years, and still know people there commuting to Silicone Valley. Stay up above the freeway, better yet in the hills. There is a Trader Joe's that you would pass on the way home every day on Redwood Rd. Not too bad to commute via Hayward and the San Mateo Bridge.

[aslowdodge]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 6:30 wouldn't be a bad schedule.

But your options depend on what you'd be willing to put up with, too, OP. For example, you could live in Fremont (it has a TJ's and while not a hotbed of restaurants, like some Oakland neighborhoods, it holds its own), which would be an easier commute for your husband, and you could take BART to Walnut Creek. Where is your job from the WC BART station? I agree with this poster, too, that the Danville/Dublin/Pleasanton area isn't a good idea.

I'd take the Danville/Dublin/Pleasanton over Fremont. Horrible for the wife and not that great for the husband , may as well be farther north.Be different if he was in Mtn view or Palo Alto.
Castro Valley does seem workable. Has TJ but limited shopping. Many just drive over the hill to Pleasanton for more shopping.

[likealady]

Agreed on San Francisco. You could take BART and your husband could take Caltrain. Not sure why you need a 3 bd house if it's just you two and a dog. Another option could be San Leandro/Hayward area and you'd take BART with a line transfer and your husband would drive. I feel like anything north of that would suck for your husband.

[landlocked60]

@likealady we need a 3 bedroom house because we have 2 sons in college and want a house big enough for them to come home to, and we want a home office as well. We want a back yard for the dog, since she is used to being able to go in and out as she pleases. :-)

You all have given me some great ideas! I know Oakland has good areas and bad areas. Where in Oakland would you recommend we look?