(I haven't been to SF in a decade and have no plans to go back any time soon)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5843966&forum_id=2pk5w1#49732407)

Particularly interested in your ranking of Burlingame, San Mateo, San Carlos, Berkeley, Oakland, Orinda, San Leandro

Assume working in SF

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5843966&forum_id=2pk5w1#49732838)

Firstly, Oakland is least credited and just throw that in the bin unless you're broke AND don't have kids - Piedmont is the exception to this.

Orinda has great value for $ but you're limited to working in the SF then. Same with San Leandro which is also a sleeper but I think the value in Orinda is better.

Burlingame, SM, SC are all credited depending on what you like. If you have a bit more $, go for Burlingame. San Carlos in the hills is neat and definitely has that unique Bay vibe iykyk.

I would pick Burlingame or San Carlos in the hills if I have more $. Otherwise Orinda if I want to do East Bay but then coming to the peninsuela can be a pain...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5843966&forum_id=2pk5w1#49733089)

Being able to commute to both SF and SV is key, which means the area between Palo Alto and SF. Much further south (MV/SV/LA) and commute to SF gets real old real quick, even a couple of days/week. It will sour life quickly. 3 hours in the car is horrible. For this reason, places like Orinda (which is otherwise nice although Asian wife may not like it) should also be knocked down a tier or two unless you are *certain* that you will be working in FiDi/SoMa forever (and you really can’t - the center of the Bay Area shifts over time).

Oakland is TTT once you have kids and just ok even if you don’t. There are nice old houses that are Bay Area bargains but enjoy paying $50k/kid/year for Head-Royce and having your Amazon packages stolen and not-infrequent home invasions in your neighborhood. Fuck that.

San Leandro is off the radar. Too working class / middle class. Kind of like Alameda. Eh.

Agree with pumo above that Burlingame, SC, and SM are all good options. I would also lean SC in the hills (or SM in the flats if walkability is important vs. view).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5843966&forum_id=2pk5w1#49733103)