Commute from SJ to Hayward??? (San Jose, Oakland: condos, home, to live in)

[FutureBay Resident]

Hi everyone,

I know there's a bajillion threads similar but I can't find what I'm looking for (excuse my noob-ness). I got a job in Hayward and am looking to move up to the Bay and am considering the South Bay (Santa Clara/SJ area). I'm 23, single, looking for a city/town with people my age with a good nightlife but affordable! A place that is rich culturally, won't break my bank, and isn't stuck up. Ideally, I'd live in SF but...that is completely out of my price range. I don't want to live in Hayward (it seems a little rundown) and Fremont I hear isn't really fun. As for Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon the general consensus I get is that it is rich, stale suburbia. Oakland I hear can be fun but also extremely dangerous (not a fan!).

What about the peninsula? Don't know much about it.

How would the commute be from SJ to Hayward? I hear going south on the 880 can be terrible during peak times (8am/5pm) but I am not sure about the opposite way. I'd rather live somewhere close to fun than close to work.

[ccm123]

The commute from SJ to Hayward (NB I-880) during morning hours would be heavy, but not as heavy as in the opposite direction (Hayward to SJ). This is due to the commuter traffic that goes into Silicon Valley.

[sonarrat]

If you're going from Hayward to San Jose in the AM, it can be stop and go for the entire trip. San Jose to Hayward is only slow until you get through Milpitas, and then similar in the PM.

Now, the cultural thing you're asking about is another matter. What actual kind of culture are you looking for? This question always puzzles me since every place has a culture, it just might not be one you are comfortable with..

[ippi76]

Going from San Jose to Hayward isn't actually that bad. I do Fremont to Emeryville and it won't really back up until Union City for maybe the last 5 miles. Going home would probably be worse, depending on what time, anything after 4:30 and the flow really slows.
The issue with San Jose is that it's called "a city of 100,000 surrounded by a suburb of 800,000". Meaning outside of Downtown SJ, it's basically suburbia. The Peninsula is extremely expensive and also suburban.
I would honestly just do Fremont or Milpitas and drive downtown San Jose, but that's me. Barring that, there are new condos and Downtown SJ is trying to be more urban and happening with places like the 88 condos and another one called Axis I think. There's also some bars/clubs which are walkable and have young people. Just don't expect as exciting or varied as SF.