General Questions about Bay Area Neighborhoods
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Parent Q&A
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Neighborhood in the east bay with a community feeling
–May 11, 2024HI everyone, we are planning to move from South bay to east bay (preferably Berkeley) in the next few months. I'm wondering if there are locations in Berkeley, or even outside of Berkeley that people consider to be good with community? Like kids playing with other neighborhood kids etc. Just wondering if that's more a reality in East bay than it is sadly in south bay :( Appreciate your input!
May 11, 2024Moving back to the Bay Area - this time with children!
–Sep 7, 2021My husband and I relocated to Nashville in 2014 after over a decade in Berkeley. We now have two sons, ages 6 and 4, and are soon listing our house for sell with the intention of moving back to the Bay Area. But to where? I'm hoping you can help!
We are lucky to live in a wonderfully progressive community in East Nashville where we know our neighbors and all of our children know each other. We bike to school and trick or treat together, have playground meetups and porch cocktails while the children play in the yard. It's truly wonderful, except: there is really no outdoor activity here, the weather stinks, and we're very stuck on this tiny blue island with nowhere interesting to explore.
We want public schools that are both racially and socioeconomically diverse. Some walkability is preferred. Community vibe.
So far in consideration are North Berkeley or the hills, Forest Knolls / Lagunitas, other communities along Sir Francis Drake (Fairfax?)...
Any place we should be looking?
Thank you!
Sep 7, 2021Best Area to Raise Children
–Jun 28, 2021Hi,
We are a family of 4 with two young children (3.5 yrs and 6 yrs old). I’m a stay at home mom and I’m looking for the best neighborhood/ area in the east bay to raise children. I am looking for a safe neighborhood where neighbors know each other and kids play together in the neighborhood. Possibly an area with other stay at home moms but that’s not a must.
We are currently in Berkeley but thinking of moving to Lamorinda for the schools but are open to other areas as well. Any recommendations on best neighborhoods to raise your kids?
Jun 28, 2021Moving to the East Bay - Lamorinda? San Ramon? Berkeley?
–Apr 23, 2017We are moving to the East Bay this summer and are trying to figure out where to go! My husband went to Miramonte (20 years ago) and I went to college in the East Bay. Neither of us have been around the areas much, except for quick visits. In our heads, we want to live in Berkeley. But, with three kids, ages 2, 5 and 7, and for the long term, we are finally ready to settle down, well, mostly.
For the past 5 months, we've been going between the East Bay and Portland. Before that, we lived in a small town in The South (for 2 years); before that Denver (2 years) and NYC/Brooklyn for 8 years. Brooklyn is our favorite, but after spending this past winter schlepping kids around in the wet snow and ice, we don't think it's for us. After being home bound in Portland because of the rain, the East Bay is it. We are in a position where we are a few years into launching our own businesses. Commuting to and from an office will not be part of our day (for now, at least). Then comes the "starting business" part; I know we aren't going to save money by living in the East Bay. We want to rent for two years (I know, I know...probably more expensive than purchasing). Ultimately, we want to end up in Lamorinda. But rentals are scant and on par with NYC.
The question:
1. Is Lamorinda still as great as it used to be (I used to work at OCC during my summers and throughout the school year and the families were awesome)? A mix of personalities? Interests? Family and people-oriented?
2. In the five years I've lived there, I set foot in San Ramon two times and Pleasanton once. I hardly remember either but friends keep recommending them. Are they worth checking out? Our kids have been attending Waldorf schools (we know this may no longer be a reality) but we are very big supporters of public education.
Any direction or insight would be so helpful. We really thought Brooklyn was it, but I think the outdoors and education are our top priorities.
Apr 23, 2017Struggling to find community in the East Bay
–Oct 31, 2016My family of four has lived in the East Bay for 13 years, first in El Cerrito and now in Albany. (I'm from the East Coast and my husband is from LA.) While we love many things about it, and chose this part of the Bay Area very purposefully when we bought our home, we're feeling a bit disenchanted recently. I'm wondering if our complaints are unique to us, unique to the East Bay (or Bay Area) or simply a product of the changing social landscape we're all living with these days. We have some good friends here, people we like and socialize with somewhat regularly as a family or just as a couple. That said, we've still struggled to find a true sense of community, or a group of friends/couples/families who all know each other and with whom we truly connect-- the automatic casual Friday night dinner crowd. We frequently entertain and are surprised by the number of couples/families whom we've hosted numerous times and have never reciprocated. We're always the family that gives rides to sports practices/games, hosts play dates and snacks and dinners for our daughters' friends. In several instances these efforts are simply never returned. We're starting to feel like we're beating our heads against the wall, making no progress at establishing strong friendships as a result of our many efforts. In short, we feel like we are very much more invested in sustaining relationships and creating a sense of community than most of the people we know.
When I talk to my friends on the East Coast it feels to me like there is a marked difference in expectations and experiences with friendships, social engagements and traditions. My question to this group is whether you've experienced any of these same issues and dilemmas, what you have done about it, whether you've considered moving from the East Bay as a result or if you have found another solution. Is it us? Are our expectations out of line? Is it a sign of the times, where everyone is stretched thin and doesn't have the energy or time to foster deeper connections? Does the Bay Area (perhaps specifically the East Bay) self-select toward people who prefer spending time outdoors (camping, skiiing) or alone as a family to socializing? Are we somehow just unlucky in our specific neighborhood or school community? We truly feel like we've tried everything to connect, put down roots and build a life here, but keep feeling disappointed in how our efforts are received. We’re starting to wonder if we’d be happier in another area where people might put more of a premium on community. I'd appreciate hearing from those of you for whom my post rings true, and what if anything you were able to do about it. Thanks.
Oct 31, 2016
In a word.....Alameda.
This is definitely a reality but it's very specific at a micro-level (a particular block or a group of blocks) and based on factors outside your control (who moves in / who moves out / who lives in the neighborhood.)
We live in Grand Lake/Lakeshore area, and when we first moved in, there were 5 families with similar aged kids within 2 blocks. It was great. Kids just all went out and played. During the pandemic, everyone moved out, and younger, childness people moved in. Many of them had babies recently, so in 2 - 3 years, this will be a neighborhood with many kids out on the street again.
Albany, Piedmont, and Alameda are neighborhoods where kids walk to school and play on the street most consistently.
Welcome to the East Bay! This depends so much on the specific neighborhood and block, and on the age of your kids. I've raised 3 kids while living in both Berkeley and Oakland. The most kid-friendly play-in-the-street neighborhood I lived in was in North Oakland. But that was mainly because there happened to be four houses in the same block that had boys around the same ages as my boys, plus it was a dead end street. So there was a lot of street hockey and bike riding and hanging out.
My experience in Berkeley, where I've lived the longest, has been that some neighborhoods have plenty of kids, some don't. The more affluent the neighborhood, it seems, the fewer kids. Age matters too. A block that has a lot of babies and toddlers, isn't so great if you have a 3rd and a 5th grader. I've also seen young families leave Berkeley for the suburbs when kindergarten was approaching. Even if there are other kids close to your kids' ages, they often will go to different schools. Private schools are popular in Berkeley, especially as you go up in elevation, and BUSD doesn't have neighborhood schools - you are assigned to any one of several schools within your "zone" which stretches from the bay to the hills. So 3 families on your block with kids in public school might be going to 3 different schools. Plus, most kids have after-school activities and summer camps, leaving very little time for casual neighborhood socializing. If you don't ever see the other kids in your neighborhood, you don't get to know them. That did change in middle school, which in Berkeley is determined by your neighborhood. My kids would be at the same bus stop in the morning with lots of other kids from blocks around, and there were also kids at middle school they knew from camps and sports. And by high school, most Berkeley kids can navigate public transportation to socialize with kids beyond their own neighborhood. I think the more urban neighborhoods in Berkeley and Oakland have a lot going for them once kids become more independent, compared to the burbs. For younger kids, though, it's hit or miss.
If you have little ones you're more likely to find what you're looking for in a city that has neighborhood schools: Albany, Piedmont, El Cerrito, Oakland. I don't know as much about other East Bay cities, but you can look at the school district's website to find out how kids are assigned to schools. But also think ahead to your kids' adolescent years. My now-grown kids made lifelong friends in Berkeley middle and high schools. And for me as a parent, all the neighborhoods we've lived in have had some kind of community feeling and I was able to form bonds with neighbors, kids or no kids, and feel like I was part of a community.
We are in Kensington and it would fit the bill. Neighborhood school, kids walk and ride bikes, small town feel.
I would say certain neighborhoods have less kids than others but I feel like that is more of a byproduct of the difference in real estate prices than to the extent that there is community. Are you planning to rent or buy? We have neighbors across the street from us who have kids our kids age and it has been great. The house we rented before didn't have kids our age on the block but there was definitely a great community feel, we had a google group and would often plan activities together. I would say if you're walking or biking distance to a park or playground you'll develop community that way. Hope that helps, feel free to send me a DM if you want to talk offline.
We are in Upper Rockridge (oakland/zoned for Hillcrest K-8) and I will say we have this community. It has come mostly from the involvement in the school so if your kids are older and/or you don't plan on sending them, I would say this would be hard to find. I have heard the Crocker Highlands district also has this feeling and I have heard how happy parents are who live there.
Alameda, 100% It's such a hidden gem. Kids everywhere, tons of community, particularly when it comes to families with kids.
Agree with the other post-Alameda. Kids walk to school, kids play outside, amazing Parks and Rec camps for afterschool and summer, great libraries, great traditions, beaches--lovely neighborhoods and a great community.
We've had this in the Upper Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland with a couple caveats: It's not so much that the kids run around on their own outside (while that happens occasionally, the neighborhood is pretty hilly with limited sidewalks), but there's a major sense of community grounded by our neighborhood school, Hillcrest. As a tiny school that relies a lot on parent involvement, it fosters a real sense of togetherness. You will quickly get to know the other families at the school (and, in turn, around the neighborhood) and adults really look out for one another's kids. We rely on a network of parents for carpooling to/from sports practices/games, birthday parties, and more -- I can confidently say that in a pinch, there are literally dozens of parents I could call upon to pick up my kids (and with whom they'd feel comfortable, given the years we've all been together). The "neighborhood school" concept doesn't really exist in Berkeley (BUSD assigns schools by zone) or in all parts of Oakland (where despite neighborhood catchments, families opt for other schools) but is certainly the norm here.
We live in El Cerrito and this place definitely has a community feel (maybe not so much if you live in the hillier parts where walking around isn't as easy). Many of the neighborhood kids play with one another and walk home from school together.
Albany is amazing! You can live on any street in our 1 square mile and find young families, high school families, and elders. Scouts, community center, and when the kids are older they can be free-range, all schools are within walking or biking distance.
Rockridge in North Oakland. Most kids here attend the local public elementary school but beyond that there's a strong neighborhood feeling. All kinds of people living here--one neighbor has lived here her entire life in 3 different houses on the same street. At the same time, new families come in with children making for a nice generational feel. Lawton Ave between College and Broadway is a "Halloween street" particularly for little ones. I have 2 kids, 17 and 12, and both of them have friends within easy walking distance along with kids they know in between. Close to BART and bus lines and nice mix of restaurants and shops along College Avenue make it a great place to live.
I agree with the others, it is often just luck. I doubt that generally the East Bay is any better than the South Bay.
For example when we lived in Alameda, we happened to live on a block that had a lot of very old people and neighbors with kids who were older than ours. The one house with kids our kids' ages weren't particularly friendly.
Some of the things you can control are living on a street that:
Some random neighborhoods I've heard to have good community are:
Alameda: the area around Otis Elementary, the neighborhood North and East of Central Avenue across from Encinal High
Berkeley: the Thousand Oaks neighborhood
Piedmont: Lower Piedmont around Wildwood Elementary
Albany: the areas East of San Pablo
I don't recommend living in Oakland, even the "nice" areas i.e. above hwy 580. Many of your neighbors will either leave when their children become school age or send their children to private schools. Definitely do not live below hwy 580, there are more gun deaths there than the rest of the bay area combined.
Strong vote for Albany. Similar to Berkeley in lots of ways, but has a built-in small town feel. You're constantly running into people you know walking around the Albany end of Solano and the various playgrounds and parks; just three elementary schools and then one middle school and high school; and adorable local touches like "fall into haiku," when the city puts up signs everywhere with haikus submitted by residents (mostly kids).
Alameda.
You can find this all over Alameda. My older kids babysit in the neighborhood and bike to school and sports. My younger child walks to school and the park and plays with friends. We have block parties. The kids have lots of freedom, walk to the corner grocery store, schools are good. Kids have after school jobs. It’s worth a look.
Albany, the "urban village by the (East) bay"! Everything is extremely walkable (a little over 1.5 square miles) with tons of mostly independent restaurants, shops, etc. along Solano Ave. which ends in Berkeley to the east. Three public K-5 schools all funnel into one middle school, then on to one high school ... all very highly ranked. Kids and families walk, scoot and bike everywhere. Houses and property lots are on the small side, especially compared to South Bay real estate, but imho this "downside" really gives Albany that community feeling. Good luck w/ your move.