Best Areas for Renting w/Infants and Toddlers

[Anonymous]

We are moving to the Bay Area for DH’s job. His company has multiple offices in the area so we are flexible on the exact location. We have infants and toddlers and would like to rent in a nice community. Where should we look? I am also searching for a job there, so childcare is a concern.

[Anonymous]

Rockridge in the East Bay.

[Anonymous]

What kind of community do you want? Suburban (mostly driving)? Urban (lots of things within walking distance)? You can find clusters of families with infants and toddlers in both; different strokes for different folks.

Does your DH plan to drive to work? Where are the multiple offices--near BART or Caltrain? And what's your budget?

Those will all determine where you should live, and you can find family-friendly neighborhoods all around the Bay Area depending on where you need to commute to.

Rockridge in Oakland is one of my favorites, but it's expensive, housing/lots are on the smaller side vs. suburban areas, and it's squarely in the urban/walkable bucket, so may not be the right match for you depending on what you're looking for. Great for BART commutes into SF or Walnut Creek. Terrible for commutes to the South Bay or the Peninsula.

[Anonymous]

I’m on the peninsula with a kindergartener and a toddler. If commute (and expense) were not a factor I’d want to live in San Carlos. If we weren’t tied to the Peninsula I’d want to be in the East Bay - housing is more affordable; they get a little bit of “seasons”; and the Walnut Creek community my friends are part of is lovely.

[Anonymous]

I 100% agree with all the posters -- East Bay is MUCH nicer for families.