Where's the best place to live in the SF Bay Area?

The San Francisco Bay Area is a big place with millions of people and very distinct areas, this will give you an overview. Learn about the SF Bay Area and also how the area rank by cost of living.
I actually live here and will show you that other than learning where all of the bridges are, the lay of the land is really pretty simple to figure out! At the end of this video you’ll hear how these areas rank from most to least expensive to live-- based on home prices, which is a pretty good indicator.
The San Francisco Bay Area, which most of us just call “the Bay Area” is a big region in northern California with well over 7 million people and anchored by the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. There are 9 counties considered the Bay Area. We’ll start with San Francisco, the most famous part, and work our way around the whole bay.
Ranking counties by median home prices will give you a very general idea of which parts of the Bay Area are the most and least expensive to live in. The rankings change a bit depending on the year but starting with the most expensive:
San Mateo
San Francisco
Marin
Santa Clara
Alameda
Napa
Contra Costa (this is where I live and work)
Sonoma
Solano
Video about what it's really like to live in the Bay Area:
• Pros and Cons: The Bay...
Text/ email me if you're thinking of selling your home, or moving here some day, I'd love to hear from you!
📞 [phone].
📧 [e-mail]
📉 What's your home worth?
jennifercogen.dudum.com/sell.php
💻 Search for a home (and I'll never sell your info!!!)
jennifercogen.dudum.com/index...
Jen Cogen, DRE #02001964. Dudum Real Estate Group, Walnut Creek, CA
(serving Central Contra Costa County, including Lafayette, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, and Concord, CA) DRE #01882902.

[@Sunshine-ku4ze]

I miss my home state of California, I’m from San Mateo. I really miss it there , I moved to Nevada, I heard a lot has changed 😢

[@dennisheaton4008]

I was born in San Francisco back in the 1950's (St Francis Hospital), and we lived there for a couple of years (Richmond). I would love to live in San Francisco again... but I would need about 9 roommates in order to afford it. I have vacationed in the City a few times...the last time being 2007 when I went out to Oregon to visit my best friend. I need to go back one more time. Peace.

[@ccchhhrrriiisss100]

What a fantastic video! I live in Palo Alto and your video is so accurately descriptive and informative. Well done!

[@jenisecolladobreaker3407]

Love what you are doing Jen! Keep up the great work!

[@JenCogenHomes]

Thanks so much!

[@kayvannajafzadeh]

Thank you for the video, would love to see more on different neighborhoods of cities such as Oakland and SF as they both have a wide range in their real estate.

[@JenCogenHomes]

Thanks for watching! Definitely, there is such a range! I'll be working on more East Bay neighborhoods (in Contra Costa) first, since that's where I live. Oakland/Alameda County would come after that...

[@chrisbrimhall6323]

Best place to live.....anywhere but San Francisco or Oakland

[@Luna_AlmondSF]

Have you ever been to Palo Alto or Sunnyvale? It's very calm over there

[@erikasatya5394]

Richmond, Vallejo, and Fairfield is where it's at. Fairly inexpensive, a lot of great (though cookie cutter) homes, wonderful community vibe, and away from the bustle of SF, Oakland, and San Jose, but still close.

[@Midori_Hoshi]

Thank you!

[@freakouttent7600]

i live in a tent in golden gate park. i am happy. are you happy?

[@ccchhhrrriiisss100]

Traffic in the Bay Area: If you plan to commute, PREPARE for a lot of traffic but PRAY that there will be less. I drove from Palo Alto to Berkeley to pick up a friend from college who flew in for a conference at the university. I left about two-and-a-half hours early. I planned to be there in case the conference let out early. On a weekend or a good weekday without traffic, I can usually make this drive in less than an hour. Yet, traffic was so bad that I arrived 15 minutes late. That's Bay Area traffic for you! It's also why many people use public transit -- because you can rely on the Caltrain or BART timetables.

[@JenCogenHomes]

Lol, traffic! You're so right to "prepare" for a lot but pray for less, especially on a Friday afternoon. Have a good weekend and thanks for watching!

[@keithmoten8918]

Only been out there once in 2011. Did travel from San Francisco to Oakland.

[@boho6458]

Love your videos! Pixar is in Emeryville, a small and amazing place to live. It has a different vibe than Oakland and Berkeley.

[@JenCogenHomes]

Great point! Pixar is such a gem... I've always wanted to go inside!

[@boho6458]

@@JenCogenHomes Emeryville is also a gem. A city where one can truly live a sustainable life. there's so much more than the big box stores on one end.

[@bearmerica6668]

I've lived in the Peninsula for 12 yrs. Low crime, don't have to pay to go into SF. Remember when SF wanted to block streets to make a toll like all the bridges until one of the city south said they'll put a toll for them to get out? LOL, that's how radical fees, fines and taxes the City is. I avoided the east bay, way too much crime.

[@nz6241]

Belvedere, Atherton, Danville, Tiburon, Lafayette.

[@RMokros]

Sausalito, Tiburon and Palo Alto / Saratoga areas are my top choice. Marin and San Mateo County seem to be the top Counties. Shout out to Clayton where I live.

[@deepblueacc]

Nice, from Polokwane, South Africa.

[@JenCogenHomes]

Hi and thanks for watching!

[@maxd3028]

This was very brief yet very informative ☝💯👏 My dream is to live I the bay area I am from Egypt once I got the visa sure I will call for your service ☺

[@JenCogenHomes]

Good luck, Egypt sounds pretty incredible too. Thanks for watching!

[@hannahajose2581]

Good job jen I always love your videos because is very informative . I would like to ask for your opinion because I am an international nurse who is planning to relocate to live and work in bay area as a nurse and I find it difficult to pick a place between san Jose and San Francisco . The major things I'm considering are been a foreigner I don't have a car and I will need public transport ,secondly safety is my priority and job availability with good pay. Your reply will be highly appreciated . Thanks .

[@JenCogenHomes]

Hi Hannah, and yay for nurses!!! That is a big decision and you are looking at two very different cities. Both have public transportation but I believe San Francisco has more (although it's not perfect, you sometimes have to connect from BART, the subway, to another mode like a bus). How safe a city feels will vary by neighborhood. www.trulia.com has Neighborhood Reports that can give you good starting point. If you get job offers in either city, maybe you can look into living close to work, on a direct public transportation route. Also keep in mind the cost of living is high here, San Francisco being more expensive. www.vta.org/ has some info for San Jose, and www.sfmta.com/ for San Francisco.

[@hannahajose2581]

Thanks for the reply I really appreciate it . Thanks.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

As a lifelong, 61-year old Marinite, I was just curious what you would present to those unfamiliar with the area. Good job.

[@JenCogenHomes]

Glad to hear it, Kimberly, thanks for the feedback!

[@albertbell6576]

It takes me about 1hr per stop when doing simple errands because of the traffic and people.

[@MoochieLovesIt]

Good luck

[@pb25193]

Jessica James got into real estate

[@jasonlee-os1qi]

Is this ground-breaking research?

[@clairemarzo1585]

Would you recommend Discovery Bay? I've heard great things about the neighborhood and am planning on finding a home there because I recently got an offer that I may be able to relocate to a Pleasanton branch in my company with double my current salary. I looked into the area surrounding my work and even with the raise, I'm wayyy priced out. Sending love from North Dakota.

[@JenCogenHomes]

Hi Claire, I've heard wonderful things about Discovery Bay, although I've never been there. I just looked on the app Waze (do you know it?) and it said getting from DB to Pleasanton is about 45 minutes during rush hour. I know the cost of living is high here but hopefully you'll love it! I have some fabulous colleagues who cover DB. Email/text me if you would like me to put you in touch with one of them to help you. :) [e-mail]. Good luck with your move and all the decisions that come with it!!!

[@clairemarzo1585]

@@JenCogenHomes Commute time is actually ten minutes faster from DB to Pleasanton than Coleharbor to Bismarck here so I consider that a solid win. lol I'll definitely be considering it. And thank you!

[@musa6817]

Hi Jen, Where does Foster City fall under and which areas are nearby? Looking to move there and find an apartment to rent.

[@JenCogenHomes]

Hi, it's on the Peninsula and San Mateo is the biggest city nearby. You may want to also look north or south depending on your commute. My clients just moved from Foster City and loved being able to walk around at night!

[@musa6817]

@@JenCogenHomes thank you.

[@bluepearlgirl-emelie]

Is Solano County really considered north bay? I have lived here my whole life and i would maybe consider Solano county a part of the bay area but I would not think of it as North Bay. I equate Marin to Napa as North Bay. GG Bridge adjacent. I dont know what i would call like say Fairfield besides HOT! Maybe North East bay? The landscape is really different in Solano Co than it is in Napa and Marin. As well as the level of wealth and development. I just cant seem to put those counties into a "north bay" moniker. I mean if we are going to consider Solano Co. north bay then can we call Sacramento East bay? That is about the same stretch i would give it.

[@JenCogenHomes]

Lucy, I'll admit I know Solano the least of all the counties (for occasional wine tasting, lunch dates, or outlet shopping) but it seems like you're spot on! I just went with what the map called it, but you're right, it's very different from Marin! So maybe it's the North East Bay? Thanks for watching!

[@erikasatya5394]

I consider Solano part of East Bay and the Fairfield-Vacaville area as Sacramento since the commute to there is closer or equal to Oakland.

[@JenCogenHomes]

@@erikasatya5394 That would make sense!

[@JenCogenHomes]

For any direct real estate questions about the SF East Bay, you can reach me at 925-322-1194 or [e-mail]. Thanks for watching!

[@nimblemomonga2311]

Don't Come.....Don't Come.....

[@AshyElsayid]

Pixar is based in Emeryville.

[@JenCogenHomes]

Yes! Did I forget to mention Pixar? I’ve always wanted to snag a private tour there...

[@jasonsmith1143]

Funny!!!! tell that to people who make $17 per hour

[@glenjo0]

Where's the best place to live in the SF Bay Area? Texas

[@RERTV]

its a mess

[@n_x1891]

Nice video! Your lipstick is a bit distracting (needs to be a bit thinner). Keep up the good work!

[@JenCogenHomes]

Makeup and good lighting aren't my day job. :)

[@olian8660]

@@JenCogenHomes great response although you look gorgeous and the lipstick shade looks beautiful on you

[@JenCogenHomes]

@@olian8660 thank you!

[@brianlee3526]

Best place in Bay Area ? None. Find a remote job then move to other states.

[@truth4099]

Some people still hype up the bay area

[@notdisclosing2057]

Tell me you’re broke without telling me you’re broke ^

[@charlesbizzelle704]

There is no wear to live in SF that is worth a crap . That’s why people are leaving California in droves .

[@AlexCab_49]

Ahh the so called California mass exodus, fabricated by republicans to paint california as a failed state. Ppl are leaving but no where close to how the media portrays it. Most in the big coastal cities are heading to the cheaper central valley