Originally founded as a Spanish colony in 1776, San Francisco quietly became a part of the United States in 1846.
Life was pretty quiet in San Francisco until a bonafide gold rush in 1849 turned the tranquil city into a booming metropolis seemingly overnight.
Today, San Francisco is known for its eclectic culture, Castro Street, the Golden Gate Bridge, and cable cars, and is one of the most notoriously expensive places to live in the United States.
According to the publication U.S. News and World Report, it is the sixth most expensive city to call home, right behind Santa Barbara, CA, and Miami, FL.
There are several reasons why San Francisco is popular and pricey – The amazing food, views, and wonderful neighborhoods to raise a family, network with other young professionals, or downsize after retirement.
Here is a guide to the best neighborhoods in the Bay Area, and why if you want to work with expert kitchen remodelers in Hillsborough or need comprehensive home remodeling in San Jose, you don’t need to look any further than Clever Design & Remodeling!
From Walnut Creek to Sausalito and Silicon Valley to San Jose: Consider These Four Factors When Shopping For a San Francisco Bay Area Neighborhood
Hundreds of distinct neighborhoods are already throughout the Bay Area, and like any other central metropolitan area in the country, some communities are better than other areas.
At the end of the day, everyone is different, and you might prefer a neighborhood close to the city’s hustle and bustle, while others require close proximity to the BART, or Bay Area Rapid Transit, system.
Whatever the case, here are four common factors to consider when choosing a Bay Area neighborhood, whether you are moving to San Jose, Easy Bay, or Downtown Oakland:
A Safe, Quiet Neighborhood to Raise Kids and Enjoy Your California Retirement
Safety and security are paramount, whether you have kids, are newly graduated, or are downsizing after retirement.
Statistically, San Francisco is a moderately safe city, especially in comparison to other major metro areas, with a crime rate of 601.81 per 100,000 residents.
Some communities are safer than others, and if this is at the top of your list, do your homework, focusing specifically on the rates of violent and property crimes in each and every neighborhood.
Proximity to Great Restaurants, Shopping, Coffee Shops, Yoga Studios, Beaches, and Parks
A neighborhood that is centrally located is paramount for many people, especially if you cannot get through the day without your morning cup of Starbucks, are on a fitness journey and need to live close to the gym, or want easy access to restaurants, shopping, and local attractions, from Fisherman’s Wharf to Lake Merritt.
Consider the neighborhood’s placement and its closeness to your must-have amenities.
School Districts and Community Involvement
San Francisco’s schools are ranked 105th out of the 1,167 school districts in the state of California based on math and reading scores.
Research is essential, as with every other aspect of finding the perfect neighborhood.
Check out the community organizations and volunteer opportunities if being a force of good and active members of local society is important to you.
You’ve found your perfect place to call home, but it is tragically outdated.
Contact the San Jose bathroom experts and trusted home addition contractors in San Jose at Clever Design & Remodeling!
Iconic Neighborhoods In the Bay Area To Raise a Family
San Francisco has a fantastic history and beautiful scenery and is a thriving tech hub. There are also several beautiful communities for young families to purchase a home and start building a life, including:
Bernal Heights
Ideally situated miles from the Golden Gate Bridge, Bernal Heights Park, downtown, and many family-centric attractions, Bernal Heights is arguably the best neighborhood for young families.
The neighborhood is close to several outdoor amenities, including Tompkins Stairway Garden and Alemany Flea Market, restaurants, and shopping.
The median home selling price is high, even for San Francisco Bay Area prices, and you can expect to pay an average of $2,103/month for rent.
Nearby Sunnyvale is another excellent place to raise kids, and we can help you earn a passive income; check out Designing an ADU in Sunnyvale: A Step-by-Step Guide!
Noe Valle
Suppose you work in the city and want to raise your kids in a suburban environment. In that case, Cole Valley is situated on the peninsula, making it ideal for your commute and access to entertainment, parks, and other forms of recreation.
Cole Valley is known as one of the safest Bay Area neighborhoods and has a beautiful view of the Bay Bridges. The neighborhood has several excellent schools, including Noe Valley Nursery School and James Lick Middle School.
The streets are lined with classic Victorian houses, but you will pay a premium for that luxury, as the median home price in the community is $1,576,820.
Glen Park
Near Noe Valley, Glen Park is slightly less expensive than its neighborhood community, with a median home selling price of $1,370,151.
A relatively small neighborhood when compared to the bustling larger communities in the same area, families will love the close-knit feeling without having to sacrifice big city amenities, including shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.
If you find the perfect house in Glen Park near Billy Goat Hill or the 29th & Diamond Open Space, the team at Clever Design can help you renovate your starter home because we provide the best kitchen remodeling services in Mountain View and full home remodeling solutions in Hillsborough.
Sunnyside
Sunnyside is an up-and-coming neighborhood known for its strong sense of community and core, working-class values near the BART system and close to several parks, restaurants, and other amenities.
Sunnyside is one of the more comparatively affordable communities, with a median home price of just over $1,000,000.
The eclectic mix of modern architecture and older-style Victorian properties makes it a great place to live if you want to enjoy the best of both worlds!
Hot Up-and-Coming Areas: The Best Neighborhoods For Young Professionals
The recent tech boom, combined with the ample opportunities to start small businesses and convenient locations near other major cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego, and even Seattle, is no wonder young recent college grads are flocking to the Bay Area in search of their first job.
Young professionals are also buying houses and looking to the professionals for Palo Alto’s kitchen remodeling solutions!
If you fit into the category and want to be in the center of the action, here are some of the best places in the San Francisco area for young professionals to start their business and personal lives:
Marina District
If you want a neighborhood offering the perfect mixture of outdoor activities, proximity to downtown, and green spaces, look no further than the Marina District.
The crime rate in the district is 34% lower than in the surrounding areas, and when you combine this with the many clothing boutiques, restaurants, bars, and cultural sites, including Fort Mason on the East Bay, Ghirardelli Square, the Maritime Museum, and Palace of the Fine Arts Theatre.
Mingle with fellow Millennials at Fort Mason Center Farmer’s Market before enjoying a drink at Tipsy Pig’s. The architecture is predominantly Spanish style, and the median home price is $1,494,491.
Mission District
A hub of vibrant Latin culture, the Mission District, or the “Mission,” as the locals call it, is steep in history and home to the oldest standing building in the city.
The quality of living in the Mission District is high, especially for artists looking to break into the eclectic scene the area is known for.
Young professionals flock to the many stores, bars, restaurants, and outdoor activities and sites, including the Clarion Alley Mural Project or the Roxie Theatre.
If you are newly graduated and want a more affordable home, at least by San Francisco’s standards, the median cost of rent in this area is $1,561/month.
If you are purchasing a fixer-upper in the Mission, check out our comprehensive kitchen remodeling guide!
Union Square
San Francisco is unique for many reasons, including its many neighborhoods, making this massive city feel like a collective of small towns.
Young people want to be where there is action, which you will experience if you move to Union Square.
A hub of shopping, nightlife, restaurants, and bars, this area is also one of the most favored tourist destinations in the San Francisco Bay Area, meaning you will constantly be introduced to new people and experiences.
Be prepared to pay a premium for all this excitement – The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in this area is $3,287/month!
If you are buying a home in Union Square and want to earn some income or build a safe place for your aging parents to live, read our guide, Maximize ADU Investment: Comprehensive ROI Guide.
South Beach
A densely urban area known for its slower crime rate and proximity to San Francisco’s financial district, look to South Beach if you want to work in downtown San Francisco but want to live a few miles away from the city and traffic.
The area has a population of almost 5,000 residents. It is known for its restaurants, food truck culture, and sites, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the beautiful Japanese Tea Garden.
House and rental prices are comparable to nearby areas, with the median home price of $1,308,108.
If you are moving to South Beach or any other area around San Francisco, look to Clever Design & Remodeling, the best bathroom remodel services in Mountain View and Palo Alto’s choice for home remodeling!
Neighborhood Spotlight on The City By the Bay: San Francisco’s Ideal Neighborhoods For Seniors and Retirees
Forget Florida; people in the known are flocking to the incomparable San Francisco Bay Area to enjoy the sunshine, peace, and sites.
Are you wondering if you should call the southwest, East Bay, West Bay, or another area of San Francisco home? Here are the best neighborhoods for retirees and the elderly:
Nob Hill
Ask almost any retirees; they will tell you affordable housing, ample transportation options, and proximity to restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping is at the top of their “must-have” list.
Nob Hill has all of these amenities and many more, including Huntington Beach, the San Francisco Cable Car Museum, and, of course, Bob’s Donuts!
The median rental price is $1,387/month, making it an ideal area for budget-conscious seniors.
On top of this, the area’s crime rate is 50% lower than surrounding neighborhoods.
Building a home addition is a great way to add value to your Nob Hill home, and we can help you with this Bay Area Home Additions: A Complete Guide and enhancing property value through home remodeling.
Hayes Valley
The residents of San Francisco have been hiding a secret: Hayes Valley
Seniors and retirees will appreciate the area’s walkability because the Hayes Valley features a relatively flat terrain, unlike Russian Hill and Telegraphic Hill.
The neighborhood has small fashion boutiques, design studios, and excellent eateries.
Because Hayes Valley is considered an “up and coming” neighborhood, primarily because of the area’s competitive housing and rental prices, real estate is hard to come by.
Transforming Your New Home With the Help of Clever Design & Remodeling
Whether you choose to live in a small town or neighborhood, from El Camino to Mission Bay, Noe Valley, or Soma, or want to call one of the bigger suburbs or downtown home, there is one thing you can rely on: The pros at Clever Design & Remodeling can transform a humdrum fixer-upper into your dream home.
We can walk you through your professional kitchen remodel in San Jose or provide you with San Mateo bathroom remodeling insights.
No matter your location or needs, our talented team of designers, contractions, and craftspeople can handle everything – we are even expert ADU contractors in Hillsborough.
Building an Accessory Dwelling Unit In Your Mission District Home
One of our primary services is designing and constructing accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.
As a matter of fact, we are Palo Alto’s premier ADU construction team!
We can walk you through every step of the process, from the initial permits to planning, construction, and the final walkthrough of your new granny flat or rental property!
If you want to work with a trusted team and San Jose’s leading ADU builders, just get a hold of Clever Design & Remodeling!
Remodeling Your North Beach Kitchen and Bathroom
Ready to learn about the latest kitchen color trend in San Jose or insider’s access to the ultimate San Mateo kitchen remodeling handbook?
Our team has years of experience transforming outdated, drab, and downright dull San Francisco Bay Area kitchens and bathrooms! You can count on our crew’s professionalism, attention to detail, and creativity.
The Perfect Deck Addition For A Beautiful North Bay Property
You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that one home improvement with the most significant return on investments is a beautiful backyard deck.
In addition to providing Palo Alto home addition services, we are also professional deck builders in San Jose.
Our Customers Also Ask
Where is the best place to live in the Bay Area?
There are many beautiful places in the Bay Area to raise a family, start a new career, or enjoy your long-awaited retirement.
Whether you decide to call the Silicon Valley, San Jose, or San Francisco home, Clever Design can design an innovative bathroom remodel in Palo Alto or provide you with space-saving ideas for Bay Area ADUs.
Why do people want to live in the Bay Area?
Thousands flock to the San Francisco Bay Area for several excellent reasons, including:
- The predictably warm temperatures and abundant sunshine
- Marvelous scenery
- Fantastic job opportunities and high pay
- Opportunities in technology
- Declining home prices in many areas
- The sports!
How much does constructing an ADU near the Santa Cruz Mountains cost?
Look for ADU services in Mountain View or are wondering about unlocking potential with accessory dwelling units but want to ensure you can afford this investment?
The average Bay Area homeowner can expect to spend around $165,000 to construct an ADU. Of course, several factors influence the cost, including the square footage, materials, and labor.
Is Russian Hill a good place to live?
Yes. According to Niche, Russian Hill is an excellent place for young adults and new parents to purchase a home and enjoy this eclectic neighborhood.
The median cost of a rental is around $1,836/month, but purchasing a home can be tricky, as the real estate prices in the area are on the rise.
This is a prime area in the city to live, but if you would rather enjoy the suburbs or a smaller town, the team at Clever Design can help you remodel your home, including selecting materials for Hillsborough bathroom remodels!
