San Francisco's Best And Worst Neighborhoods

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With 89 neighborhoods in San Francisco to choose from, how do you determine which one's the best for you? I'm going to tell you where I would live and where I wouldn't.
Watch next:
Neighborhood Vlogs
• Where to Live in San F...
SoMa
• Where to live in San F...
Outer Richmond
• The COOLEST San Franci...
Bernal Heights
• Where to live in San F...
Glen Park
• Where to live in San F...
Inner Sunset
• Where to live in San F...
Inner Richmond
• The COOLEST San Franci...
Pacific Heights
• Where to live in San F...
Sea Cliff
• Where to live in San F...
St. Francis Wood
• Where to live in San F...
Noe Valley
• Where to live in San F...
Cole Valley
• Where to live in San F...
00:00 Best and Worst Neighborhoods In San Francisco
00:17 Considerations
01:06 Worst Neighborhoods
01:29 Inner Mission and SoMA
03:10 Clarendon Heights
03:46 Outer Richmond
04:38 Bernal Heights
06:06 Glen Park, Inner Sunset and Inner Richmond
09:23 Pacific Heights
10:50 Seacliff
12:27 St. Francis Wood
13:32 Noe Valley
14:55 Cole Valley
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We are The Krishnan Team and we love getting calls and emails from people looking to move to San Francisco. It's never too early to consult with a real estate agent. Call☎ or send us an email 📨 so we can help you make a smooth move to San Francisco, California.
Ruth Krishnan San Francisco Real Estate Agent 01862279

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

👉Subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter: bit.ly/san-francisco-real-estate 🗓 Get started: ruthkrishnan.com/getting-started 📱Call or text: 415-735-5867 📨Email: [e-mail]

[@EconomyisFine-oe1se]

I'm thinking of moving to San Francisco I hear the government subsidies are excellent😅

[@nivedhmudaliar5683]

Very surprised you didn't mention Cow Hollow, Marina, Nob Hill, or Russian Hill in ANY of the tiers. These are all super popular neighborhoods.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Yes, indeed they are super popular and amazing neighborhoods. I tried to add some diversity to the mix be just talking about the north side of the city.

[@brockman562]

I noticed that too

[@hppavilionf50]

If I remember correctly, Jack Dorsey (former CEO of Twitter) used to walk from his home in Sea Cliff to Twitter HQ on Market. So, Sea Cliff is "walkable" if someone gets up early and walks 2 hours to work!

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Lol! I never heard that story! Go Jack!

[@chewie94116]

Great review. I agree with you, having lived in San Francisco for 20+ years.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Thank you for watching! If you could live in any neighborhood, which would you choose?

[@laurenneuschel5801]

Really helpful to have this breakdown!

[@sven888]

You will definitely have a breakdown if you live in the city for a while.

[@ReidRankinRealEstate]

Ruth, This is a great video overview of San Francisco. Congrats! Very informative. Wishing you and your great team continued great success! Reid

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Thank you so much, Reid!

[@mannytran5759]

This is sooo helpful!!!

[@VanillaShoe]

Yes! You know where to buy drugs and where to sell it!

[@k-em4jp]

😂​@@VanillaShoe

[@ziggzaggzip8241]

Thank you for your honesty.

[@groovy-kb8km]

great video. thank you

[@antster7]

probably stay away from hunter's point and tenderloin.

[@VanillaShoe]

Stay away from the State!

[@chowfun1976]

@@VanillaShoeyes, you should definitely stay away from California, especially San Francisco. No one wants you here.

[@christhompson6010]

@@VanillaShoe you can stay away but the rest can come 😂

[@FlipGuy243]

@@VanillaShoe You don't have to come here and stay in your own bubble.

[@shingaling3315]

And Sunnydale

[@jasonleetaiwan]

Wow, you're channel rocks. You really know the city. You deserve more subscribers.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Ahh thanks so much! You made my day! Send your friends:)

[@valdelvalle_]

Love this! Seacliff and St Francis wood would be my top two!

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Those are both such beautiful neighborhoods!

[@MadelineGibson-jy1bt]

So many neighborhoods to choose from, really something out there for everyone in SF.

[@sven888]

You have been to Tenderloin? Or Downtown?

[@RennyChan]

Thanks for this... I'm so glad I moved away, I forgot how outrageous the prices of homes are in SF.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Yep! SF is expensive, for sure!

[@BreannaGingras-yo4yy]

Noe Valley is my top choice for sure! Love liberty hill

[@tomneila8496]

I like Sea Cliff and find it to be quiet and non-congested compared to the rest of the areas. But I have a preference for Marin County.

[@TaiChiGhost]

I lived in the Outer Parkside (45th and Taraval, we just called it Parkside) for 17 years. Yes, the houses were smaller than the ones on the other side of 19th Avenue, but there was a LOT less traffic. This was during the 90's and early 2000's. No crime to speak of, the streets were clean, and most importantly, we looked out for each other! It was a real neighborhood. A lot of retired Scandinavian and Irish folks who liked the beautiful, cool fog. Big Chinese families moving in who were quite congenial, and the SF Zoo as well as Lowell High School nearby. Lowell is hanging on to their Merit-Based admissions policy.

[@martinbalagat]

To me, Glen Park is the best neighborhood. It's close to 280, a BART station, and, of course, Glen Canyon Park.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Glen Park is a fantastic neighborhood! Very underrated in my opinion.

[@chowfun1976]

My friend makes $275k+ a year but chooses to live on Turk and Hyde for whatever insane reasons.

[@karnubawax]

Good God, why???

[@DavidHilley]

At 1:32 you highlight SoMA on the map. Then when you talk about it you end up talking a lot about the high rises in South Beach, which isn't in the SoMA area highlighted on the map.

[@2040wagon]

Cole Valley is similar to Bérnal Heights regarding no parking and danger when people are looking to be parking. Walk- ability is interrupted by cars in in driveways (my two as well). Cole is to close to Hell street...

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Are you referring to Height st as "Hell st"? Just curious.

[@karnubawax]

I left SF - for good - 10 years ago. I was very lucky over 25 years to live in several ratty but cheap homes in some great areas - 9th/Irving, Cole/Haight, Parnassus, Oak/Diviz. My dream was to live in North Beach, which I notice you didn't mention at all. What gives? North Beach is awesome! Depending on the weather you'd swear you were in Greenwich Village or even London. Yeah, there's no transit to speak of, and you'd hardly call it walkable, and it does have a gritty but not threatening vibe. I'm truly grateful that I had a chance to live in the City when it was really at its peak, which for my money was the 90s. The only regret I had about leaving the City was that I didn't do it about 5 years sooner. Great video, and I had more than a few belly laughs when you were listing off the prices! I do understand the appeal of the CIty and maybe I'm just old but I wouldn't live there now if you paid me. It's a great place to be when you're 30. 60... not so much.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Thanks for sharing your story! North Beach is awesome! I think it's the neighborhood that feels the most European and International. It has great restaurants, nightlife, and weather, and it is close to downtown if you work there. I'm curious, where did you move to when you left?

[@karnubawax]

@@livinginsanfranciscoca Haha... I grew up in Marin County, and I moved back to the family compound. So not very far at all, but it feels like light years away.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Gotcha! Marin is beautiful! Love it there!

[@BeniamPOsterloh]

I am graduating in june from college and am trying to find a studio with my 2k budget but its so hard! Any advice for looking?

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Hi! We don't do rentals but my understanding is the average cost of a 1 bedroom is probably between 3-4K. When i moved here right out of college I got room mates and shared a flat with three other people who 20 years later, i'm still friends with today. It was a way to make it affordable and it was really fun! Good luck!

[@JaymieGaskins]

I am a 3rd generation native as another person commented they were 4th. I agree, never heard of Pacific Heights referred to as Pac Heights. The new ppl must call it that. Like those that say San Fran or frisco, 22 Yrs yrs doesn’t make u a San Franciscan, not hardly, u have no idea. I grew up in the Sea Cliff, no longer live in The City (that’s what natives call it, hardly ever call it SF) or Bay Area, but will miss it till my dying day, before it was flooded with ppl from all over, always had a diverse n unique mix of ppl even in the 60’s,? I’m 68…I truly did leave my heart in SF(which was favored to be SFs theme song by many natives) instead the powers that b chose SF open your 16:37 golden gate you’ll let no stranger wait outside your door…I don’t know the name of song but was not fitting for such a beautiful place

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Thank you for the very thoughtful critique; so helpful!

[@karnubawax]

Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco. He still left.

[@josephmgaldamez8514]

Not option, I meant she said money wasn’t an issue for her. Meaning she can afford anything.

[@kleelee2670]

we just want to know your skincare routine. Lol

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

That’s very sweet of you! That might be a video for another day! ;)

[@ponyguy99]

I’m a 4th generation SFer. I’ve never heard Pacific Heights called, "PAC Heights”. Is that what real estate people call it?

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Interesting. I guess so. It’s used all the time in my world. I never thought of it as a real estate term but maybe it is. I’ve been in real estate for 80% of my 20 plus years here.

[@ponyguy99]

@@livinginsanfranciscoca thanks for the response. It’s like the pronunciation of certain neighborhoods. My great grandmother settled in the San Bruno Ave area of SF , which was the Portola District, pronounced Port’-ah-lah, District, as opposed to Por-Tow’-lah. (Like Portola Boulevard) This was back in the early 1900’s. Btw, I enjoyed your article. I would definitely agree that Pacific Heights, Sea Cliff and St. Francis Wood are prime neighborhoods in the city. If only St. Francis Wood wasn’t in the fog…….but that’s another story!

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

@@ponyguy99 Thanks for watching! I love learning from my audience! Portola is a great neighborhood. We are thinking about covering it in a video on where you can buy a house for the median price or under. I feel like it's a neighborhood that not many people know about. Solid houses, good views and relatively affordable prices!

[@comesatime123]

Great video, I would think many of your clients would have to be mostly cash buyers, the mortgage on $5m home is $30k per month!

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Over 5m it is largely cash, but not always. I thin many of them even when they buy in cash still refi into a mortage simpley because even at 5.5-6.5% interest- the stock market will give at least double those returns so it doesn't make sense to hold a mortage that large in cash unless you really and truely have nothing else to do with your money which isn't typically the case until you get into price points near 10m.

[@comesatime123]

@@livinginsanfranciscoca "Whenever a really bright person who has a lot of money goes broke, it's because of leverage.. it's almost impossible to go broke without borrowed money being in the equation." Warren Buffett

[@JennaRight]

I am a native San Franciscan and have lived here my entire life. In my opinion San Francisco is not the San Francisco of yesterday. People in the Marina even had to even hire security. I doubt San Francisco's crime and the homeless problem will ever improve as long as San Franciscans keep voting for the same liberal agenda..

[@Stratocumulus25]

Hmmm...yeah right...things are sooo bad 'cuz "liberal agenda" yet you're still living here.

[@Meyerc-yv2bi]

Dolores Heights should be on the list as one of the best.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

It's a great neighborhood for sure! Hard to cover all of them!

[@yeseniarogers9088]

Noe is my fav:)

[@2040wagon]

Seacliff... Your son will skateboarding down here in the Duboce death zone freeway or if you're lucky the Kezar Haight area. There is not very much open late on Geary and Clement for people. They do not care about the foghorns yet.

[@karnubawax]

For me, SOMA really ends at 3rd Street. Farther down, it's just Tenderloin South.

[@DrumsTillDeath]

Wouldn’t live in the city for anything. from Orinda CA

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

It's not for everyone! Orinda is beautiful!

[@glennabate1708]

Is there a single home in San Francisco that cost under a million dollars?

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Not many! In SF most of the lots alone are worth 1m and above....there are 1 bedroom condos for 1m though.

[@josephmgaldamez8514]

Why does she have to rub it in when she talked about billionaires row, stating that money wasn’t an option for her. For a San Francisco native that was born and raised here and can’t afford to ever buy a home even in the most dirt bag neighborhood that comment irks me.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

What I was trying to say was that if money wasn't a factor then i'd live in the most expensive area, billionaires row:). However, I don't live there and I never will.

[@bluegodofspeed]

What do your clients do? As a young 25y/o it's crazy to see people casually affording multi million dollar homes!

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Many work in tech, but we also have attorneys, finance people, some doctors, independent business owners ect.

[@sfrentals4769]

There are some great streets in the inner mission. Alabama, York, Florida, Shotwell, etc. Quiet, tree lined yet close to everything. The mission is much cleaner these days too. $2.5-3.5mil for nice homes. Very popular with techies too. Tier 3, not 4 IMO.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Agreed, those are all great streets! We are rooting for the mission! It has a lot going for it!

[@TheHkhassociates]

Why don’t she go video visitation valley and hunters point bay view. She clearly omits the lower district part of SF.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

We've done several videos on many affordable neighborhoods. Unfortunately, it's not possible to mention every neighborhood in each video and have the video make sense:)

[@JennaRight]

Which neighborhood has the least amount of poop on the sidewalk. How about the crime and homeless in the city? There is a lot of crime on the embarcadero.

[@Ilovemilone1]

this vid it's so American, I love: "some streets are not so walkable" and on the screen an uphill street. ahah, goooo USA. Very interesting to watch tho, thank you

[@jasonsmith1143]

bring lots of $$$$$$$$$$$ and you can live in any good neighborhood. but I will never move back to SF.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Yes, it's, unfortunately, very expensive! Just out of curiosity, when did you leave and where did you move to? Were you renting or did you own in SF?

[@brockman562]

Civic center and market st are awful. some parts of SOMA are bad, but overall cool and nice. but Tenderloin? wow, avoid that area by all means. drugs, violence, and homeless are very prominent in that area, not to mention it's stinky with pp and doo doo and trash on the sidewalks and streets. everywhere else is cool, but does suck that it's very expensive AF.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Agree, I wish SF was more affordable!

[@seebarnes6588]

If visiting. Just avoid the needles, feces and car break ins?

[@Meyerc-yv2bi]

All located in your trailer park.

[@gordygowdy7989]

I think she likes to walk because there is no parking anywhere in the City anymore, move your car at your own risk, very different than when I grew up in the 60's...

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Parking is a challenge for sure! I like to walk because it's a great way to slow down and see what's around me and also keeps my head clear:)

[@951media]

Is it true that conservatives are not welcome in San Francisco? Thinking about moving there but need an honest opinion. Thanks

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

I do not think that's true. It is true that there are more liberals concentrated in the bay area then maybe anywhere in the world. In my option we could use some more diversity in political option. Please come!

[@TheMsBryson]

In other words, outpricing people out of where they've for generations. Single family homes and apartment buildings have been renovated into one home/condo. Im not surprised that some of the "undesirable" neighborhoods havent been mentioned, but given time due to the current gentrification going on, they will eventually be one if the most prized locations to buy a home from. As a San Francisco native, I saw from an early age what "urban development" does to many people in those "undesirable" areas. First goes thr closest grocery store, forcing residents to travel more than a mile to thr next "nearest" grocery store thats pricier. Next comes renaming of certain neighborhoods, streets, etc. After that, sending current homeowners suggesting to sell their homes. It doesnt happen at once but over years. If I had that kind of money to buy a home, it would not be in the city I grew up in. The lack of consideration for anyone who cant afford an affluent home and not make accommodations thats "affordable" to the middleclass (which is now deemed tlas being poverty level) is nothing but greed and selfishness.

[@tuber6382]

Is this a joke? You can get robbed even in the best SF neighborhood also the schools are lottery so there are no such thing as neighborhood schools in SF

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

22 years here and yet to be robbed or even know personally anyone who has been robbed. I guess we are all lucky!

[@tuber6382]

@@livinginsanfranciscoca 22 years? I lived in SF back in 1986... that would make it 38 years since. I even had high school friends robbed right outside school at 3:30pm

[@bh-hl9pn]

Ive been livig in the bay area all my life San francisco is not abeautiful city

[@michaeljohnson1057]

It's like judging which turd smells better...

[@jacobbaranowski]

Not adorable at all

[@zews1]

What a ridiculous video. She seems to think that buyers in the market for Pacific Heights or Sea Cliff will watch her videos while shopping for a San Francisco home. Terrible audio with a clock ticking in the background and a large mic in front of her face. Get a shotgun mic and place it outside of the frame. FWIW, I’m a 45 year resident of San Francisco, who has owned his Mid-Century home on Potrero Hill for 30 years. They sold me the view, and threw in the house for free.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

So kind of you to watch and provide such helpful feedback! All the best to you!

[@eddie-xi6ls]

Why are you so upbeat about San Francisco............it's a dying city. Why not cover how real estate has been decimated by tech and other companies moving out plus the out of control crime not to mention the dozens of store closures (Nordstrom. Safeway, the downtown mall, Whole Foods, several Walgreens to name a few.). An acquaintance recently purchased a home for a $1,700,000 .................the asking price was $2,500,000. Take off your Realtor hat!

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

If I was seeing that Real Estate was decimated, then I would certainly be covering that. We sell about two houses every week and more than 60% of what we’re writing offers on, have multiple offers and homes sell, in most cases, significantly over asking. If the prices were dropping as much as you indicated then there would be great opportunity for lots of buyers who have been waiting to get in. As for your friend, either they got lucky enough to get a really good deal or they bought a house that was very overpriced from the start. Both cases do exist. There are certainly deals out there and prices have come down on condos. On single-family homes, not so much, but there are deals to be had across all price points. I love San Francisco! I understand that lots of people want to see San Francisco fail and not everyone loves it and that’s ok. It cost a lot to live here so if you’re gonna pay those costs, then you better love it.

[@austinstitzel]

I'm going to guess that you are an Aries.

[@livinginsanfranciscoca]

Nope! Guess again! :)

[@austinstitzel]

@@livinginsanfranciscoca Cancer

[@karnubawax]

Nah... I dated an Aries. SHE seems nice!