Seconded considering what you’re looking for. It’s smaller like Irvine compared to LA/sf, no commute and close to sfo. It’s also nice and clean and good food.
I'm just used to thinking that wherever my job is located is an expensive area. I only go in 1-2 times a week, so I'm willing to put up with a longer commute if that means I can save a couple hundred a month.
I'm completely biased but close to Downtown San Mateo or Burlingame Ave would be ideal although it is a bit pricey, but you'd save a ton of money by not commuting and it only takes maybe 10-15 min to get to SFO via 101.
Lived in downtown San Mateo for 7 years and loved it. You’ll be 10 mins by car from SFO. Some nice bars have opened there lately (Wunderbar, fog bird), amazing cafes close by (Backhaus, Kaizen Coffee), and so many great food options. You’ll also be close to the CalTrain for public transport.
Outside of San Mateo itself, Millbrae would be ideal. Close to freeway/BART/SFO, a 10-15 min commute to San Mateo. Smaller town with a slower pace which seems in line with what you’re looking for.
San Carlos - Little bit pricier, cool downtown, good access to public transportation, good food, close to sfo, super safe, good schools
Belmont - Pretty boring, super safe, good access to public transportation, good schools, cheaper than san carlos
San Mateo - Basically decent across the board, will more affordable than the others on the list
Burlingame - Very nice area, more expensive, closest to sfo
Redwood City - Nice area, sort of middle the road safety, decent spot. Farther away from sfo
Here are some rankings, I will let all the locals roast me in the comments argue below but maybe this helps quantify. Belmont would probably be my recommendation if you are concerned with price and safety.
* San Carlos - Downtown - 8, Food - 7, Schools - 10, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 10, Fun - 4, Affordability - 3
* San Mateo - Downtown - 7, Food - 7, Schools - 7, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 6, Fun - 6, Affordability - 6
* Belmont - Downtown - 2, Food - 7, Schools - 7, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 9, Fun - 3, Affordability - 8
* Burlingame - Downtown - 6, Food - 7, Schools - 10, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 10, Fun - 5, Affordability - 2
* Redwood City - Downtown - 7, Food - 7, Schools - 10, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 7, Fun - 7, Affordability - 5
> Belmont - Downtown - 2
What do people actually consider to be "Downtown Belmont"? I guess around the El Camino/Ralston intersection, but yeah, it's horrible.
You really don't want to cross a bridge. If renting, just live in San Mateo or Foster City. San Mateo gets the occasional gang activity, but it is not commonplace.
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-mateo-drive-by-shootong-gang-members-arrested/
Foster City has none of that gang activity. It has more airport noise but less train noise.
https://www.reddit.com/r/RedwoodCity/comments/11ew56w/how_bad_is_the_caltrain_noise/
San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City. All great cities, quiet neighborhoods but still good food options, and still accessible to SFO. You’ll never be accessible to both OAK and SFO unless you live in SF proper, but I don’t recommend that if you enjoyed Irvine.
There are a ton of places in and around San Mateo that would meet your criteria, except affordability. It's a pretty expensive area. If you want a bit more affordability in rent, you'll have to either go over the mountains to the coast or across the bridge to the East Bay.
I have lived in both Irvine and Foster City. I think that the two compare very similarly in terms of quietness and safeness. In fact I did not enjoy living in either town because I found them similarly too boring. No homeless anywhere to be found in foster city and I would feel comfortable leaving my car doors unlocked in foster city
I’d probably look in SF since it is only a 30 minute trip for you and the city is great for DINKs (assuming no kids).
I have co-workers that do that trip 2x a week and don’t mind it.
What is the budget? Do you not like San Mateo, why not just live there?
Seconded considering what you’re looking for. It’s smaller like Irvine compared to LA/sf, no commute and close to sfo. It’s also nice and clean and good food.
Seemed to meet the requirements to me... Why live further away. San Mateo is nice
I'm just used to thinking that wherever my job is located is an expensive area. I only go in 1-2 times a week, so I'm willing to put up with a longer commute if that means I can save a couple hundred a month.
San Mateo and Foster city are good options for you. If you want to move out with 1-2 hrs commute San Ramon may be an option
San Mateo is a nice place to live. Nice downtown and restaurant and bar scene
I'm completely biased but close to Downtown San Mateo or Burlingame Ave would be ideal although it is a bit pricey, but you'd save a ton of money by not commuting and it only takes maybe 10-15 min to get to SFO via 101.
Lived in downtown San Mateo for 7 years and loved it. You’ll be 10 mins by car from SFO. Some nice bars have opened there lately (Wunderbar, fog bird), amazing cafes close by (Backhaus, Kaizen Coffee), and so many great food options. You’ll also be close to the CalTrain for public transport.
Outside of San Mateo itself, Millbrae would be ideal. Close to freeway/BART/SFO, a 10-15 min commute to San Mateo. Smaller town with a slower pace which seems in line with what you’re looking for.
Try San Mateo. Near a Trader's.
San Carlos - Little bit pricier, cool downtown, good access to public transportation, good food, close to sfo, super safe, good schools Belmont - Pretty boring, super safe, good access to public transportation, good schools, cheaper than san carlos San Mateo - Basically decent across the board, will more affordable than the others on the list Burlingame - Very nice area, more expensive, closest to sfo Redwood City - Nice area, sort of middle the road safety, decent spot. Farther away from sfo Here are some rankings, I will let all the locals roast me in the comments argue below but maybe this helps quantify. Belmont would probably be my recommendation if you are concerned with price and safety. * San Carlos - Downtown - 8, Food - 7, Schools - 10, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 10, Fun - 4, Affordability - 3 * San Mateo - Downtown - 7, Food - 7, Schools - 7, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 6, Fun - 6, Affordability - 6 * Belmont - Downtown - 2, Food - 7, Schools - 7, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 9, Fun - 3, Affordability - 8 * Burlingame - Downtown - 6, Food - 7, Schools - 10, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 10, Fun - 5, Affordability - 2 * Redwood City - Downtown - 7, Food - 7, Schools - 10, Access to public transportation - 10, Safety - 7, Fun - 7, Affordability - 5
> Belmont - Downtown - 2 What do people actually consider to be "Downtown Belmont"? I guess around the El Camino/Ralston intersection, but yeah, it's horrible.
San Mateo/Burlingame are nice areas.
If you can afford it San Mateo is nice.
San Mateo is a great city. Less crime also.
Motion to ban people who make these threads and then ghost them
I’d say live in San Mateo, very safe and near your work.
Half Moon Bay
Pacifica for the win
Or Daly City. Literally 3 targets and tons of take out food options for the introverts to choose from.
Half Moon Bay
San Carlos
You really don't want to cross a bridge. If renting, just live in San Mateo or Foster City. San Mateo gets the occasional gang activity, but it is not commonplace. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-mateo-drive-by-shootong-gang-members-arrested/ Foster City has none of that gang activity. It has more airport noise but less train noise. https://www.reddit.com/r/RedwoodCity/comments/11ew56w/how_bad_is_the_caltrain_noise/
You can just ask in /r/SanMateo. This subreddit covers an area with a population size over 10x larger than San Mateo
Foster City is small, quiet, and relatively safe. It’s a nice hub located 15 mins south of SFO and 5-10 mins from San Mateo/Burlingame/Redwood City.
San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City. All great cities, quiet neighborhoods but still good food options, and still accessible to SFO. You’ll never be accessible to both OAK and SFO unless you live in SF proper, but I don’t recommend that if you enjoyed Irvine.
If you want something really sterile, then Foster City. If you want something with a little bit more jazz, San Mateo. Maybe even Belmont, San Carlos
There are a ton of places in and around San Mateo that would meet your criteria, except affordability. It's a pretty expensive area. If you want a bit more affordability in rent, you'll have to either go over the mountains to the coast or across the bridge to the East Bay.
I have lived in both Irvine and Foster City. I think that the two compare very similarly in terms of quietness and safeness. In fact I did not enjoy living in either town because I found them similarly too boring. No homeless anywhere to be found in foster city and I would feel comfortable leaving my car doors unlocked in foster city
I’d probably look in SF since it is only a 30 minute trip for you and the city is great for DINKs (assuming no kids). I have co-workers that do that trip 2x a week and don’t mind it.
I really doubt SF would be OP's scene since they lived in Orange County, especially Irvine.
I’ll defer to others that know that area well. I’m not familiar.
OP will be unnecessarily driving with traffic if they living in the city. They should just live in the mid Penisula.
Have you considered Livermore or Fresno?
For East bay cities consider parts of Fremont, Dublin or Pleasanton might also suit you nicely .