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If you’re looking for a nice part of California to live in, consider the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco is a vibrant, eye-catching city that offers activities for all ages, from young kids to college students, parents, and grandparents. (Great schools, beaches, and shopping are just a few of the many things you can find in the city.)
Now, it’s clear why you should move to San Francisco, but where exactly should you move? That’s a great question, and we’re here to help. Follow along for a list of the best neighborhoods for families in San Francisco.
We hope it helps you find the perfect place for your family!
The 5 best neighborhoods for families in San Francisco
Below are the best neighborhoods for families in San Francisco:
Bernal Heights
One of the all-around best places to live in the San Francisco Bay area for families
Drive south of the Mission, and that’s where you’ll find Bernal Heights (also called Bernal). The neighborhood’s most notable feature is Bernal Heights Park, a 26-acre park right on top of Bernal Hills. From it, you can check out the Golden Gate Bridge, Downtown, and many other attractions throughout San Francisco.
All in all, Bernal Heights is a quaint, quiet neighborhood (the kind of neighborhood you go to in order to get away from the city while still being close enough to access the city’s amenities when you want). Cortland Avenue is the most popular street in town, offering you tons of places to eat, shop, and explore with your little ones.
Here are some more pieces of information to know about Bernal Heights:
Cost of Housing: $1,114,568 (median home value) or $2,103 (median rent)
Schools: Little Tree Preschool, Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School, Paul Revere Elementary School, Junipero Serra Elementary School, Saint Anthony Immaculate Conception Catholic School, and Donum Dei Classical Academy
Parks Nearby: Bernal Heights Park, Precita Park, Esmeralda Corridor, Mullen Peralta Park, and Holly Park
Family-Friendly Activities: Bernal Heights Recreation Center, Fiesta on the Hill, Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, Tompkins Stairway Garden, and Alemany Flea Market
Best Restaurants: Vega, Cellarmaker House of Pizza, 3rd Cousin, Blue Plate, Moonlight Cafe, Mitchell’s Ice Cream, Bernal Star, Nute’s, and Seafood Station
Inner Sunset
One of the best neighborhoods for living in San Francisco with a family who likes to stay busy
Inner Sunset, which is found in the middle of Golden Gate Park and Vicente Street (mere miles from the ocean), offers a small-town atmosphere with great amenities for growing families. If you like to spend time outdoors and enjoy the ocean, you’ll love it here.
When asked about life in Inner Sunset, one resident says, “It’s a wonderful place to live and grow up. There’s tons to do without being directly in the hub of downtown.”
In fact, if you decide to move to this highly walkable neighborhood, you’ll quickly see that there is no shortage of activities. You’ll have nearly a dozen nightlife choices, multiple gyms, and about one hundred boutiques and stores to choose from.
Below is some more information about Inner Sunset:
Cost of Housing: $1,414,891 (median home value) or $2,245 (median rent)
Schools: Hop A Long Pre-School, Learning Bridge Preschool, Woodside International School, Jefferson Elementary School, Jefferson School-Age, St. Anne School, Abraham Lincoln High School, Lowell High School, George Washington High School, and San Francisco High School of the Arts
Parks Nearby: Grandview Park, 15th Avenue Steps Park, Golden Gate Heights Park, Kezar Park, Golden Gate Park, and Sunset Reservoir Park
Family-Friendly Activities: Green Apple Books On The Park, 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, Hidden Garden Stairs, and AcroSports
Best Restaurants: Fiorella Sunset, Pacific Catch, Underdogs Tres, Art’s Cafe, The Yellow Submarine, Lavash, Perilla, Lale, and Marnee Thai Restaurant
Noe Valley
One of the safest neighborhoods in San Francisco
Noe Valley is located near the middle of the peninsula. This central location makes it relatively simple to travel around San Francisco or California in general, which is especially convenient for parents who work in another part of the city.
In Noe Valley, you’ll find a variety of beautiful homes, including the Victorian-style homes that you probably think of when San Francisco comes to mind. You’ll also enjoy the ability to walk around the neighborhood with your kids and dogs. According to one local, “[It’s a] quiet and safe neighborhood, family friendly, dog friendly, lots of good restaurants, cute shops, local small markets and corner stores, Whole Foods, close to the Mission and Castro.”
Here are some more tidbits about Noe Valley:
Cost of Housing: $1,576,820 (median home value) or $2,440 (median rent)
Schools: Noe Valley Nursery School, Alvarado Elementary School, Mission Education Center, St. Paul’s School, James Lick Middle School, Thomas Edison Charter Academy, Pixie Hall Studios, Mission High School, John O’Connell Technical High School, and Academy of Arts and Sciences
Parks Nearby: Noe Children’s Playground, Noe Valley Town Square, Douglass Park, Joby’s Dog Run Area, Walter Haas Playground, and Corona Heights Park
Family-Friendly Activities: Upper Noe Recreation Center, The Rabbit Hole Theater, Little Folkies, and Jaime’s Martial Arts
Best Restaurants: Bacco, NOVY Restaurant, Pancake Boy (Aha Fresh), Firefly Restaurant, Lupa Trattoria, Saru Sushi Bar, Uma Casa, Alice’s, and Regent Thai
Presidio Heights
One of the nicest neighborhoods for kids
If the budget allows it, Presidio Heights is a top neighborhood choice in San Francisco. Located in the middle of Pacific Heights and the Richmond district and Lake Street corridor, Presidio Heights offers a high quality of living with a sophisticated, quiet atmosphere.
Wherever you live in Presidio Heights, the chances are that you’ll be near the neighborhood’s many stores and restaurants. The hiking trails, parks, and outdoor activities here are second to none, as is the scenery. Move to Presidio Heights, and enjoy a breathtaking view of everything from your neighbors’ million-dollar mansions to the Bay.
While prices can get up there in Presidio Heights, the neighborhood’s beauty is unmatched, and if you’re on your grind all week and want something beautiful and relaxing to come home to, you can’t get much better than Presidio Heights.
Below are some more things to be aware of regarding Presidio Heights:
Cost of Housing: $1,861,038 (median home value) or $1,799 (median rent)
Schools: Presidio Early Education School, Hillwood Academic Day School, Town School for Boys, San Francisco Waldorf School, Claire Lilienthal Elementary School – Scott Campus, Little School, Presidio Knolls School, The Bay School of San Francisco, Presidio Hill School, and San Francisco University High School
Parks Nearby: Presidio Wall Playground, Presidio of San Francisco, Presidio Heights Playground, Presidio Amatury Park, Alta Plaza Park, Mountain Lake Park, Crissy Field, and Mountain Lake Park Dog Play Area
Family-Friendly Activities: Caring Creatives, Kickit4Kids Soccer, Tinkergarden, Presidio Heritage Gallery, Walk the Wood Line, Presidio Bowling Center, House of Air, The Walt Disney Family Museum, La Petite Baleen, and Golden Gate Bridge
Best Restaurants: Sessions at the Presidio, Smokin’ Warehouse Barbecue, Presidio Cafe, Sociale, Spruce, Picnix Bistro & Carry Out, As Quoted, Presidio Pizza Company, Chapeau, and Eats
Glen Park
One of the best neighborhoods in San Francisco for young families
If you or your partner have to travel a lot for work, Glen Park will make a great addition to your potential neighborhoods to move to in San Francisco. For one, Glen Park is close to the freeway and BART, which allows you to get on either and get to your work (or family vacation) faster.
On a map of San Francisco, you’ll find Glen Park right beneath Noe Valley. Even though the neighborhood is not huge, it still offers a great nightlife scene, allowing parents like you to really enjoy time off after a busy week. It also offers great hiking, which is a wonderful opportunity to get outside and get some fresh air with your kids.
Here are some more details about life in Glen Park:
Cost of Housing: $1,370,151 (median home value) or $1,897 (median rent)
Schools: Glen Park Montessori, Glenridge Cooperative Nursery, Kangaroos Preschool – Glen Park, Glen Park School, St. John Catholic School, Dolores Huerta Elementary School, Miraloma Elementary School, Lick Wilmerding High School, and June Jordan High School
Parks Nearby: Glen Canyon Park, Glen Park Greenway, Glen Park Playground, Dorothy W Erskine Park, 29th & Diamond Open Space, Walter Haas Playground, and George Christopher Playground
Family-Friendly Activities: Glen Park Canyon, Glen Park Festival, Billy Goat Hill, Fairmont Plaza, and Lucky Strike San Francisco
Best Restaurants: Glen Park Cafe, Pebbles Cafe, Manzoni, Tekka House, Win Garden, One Waan Thai, La Corneta Taqueria, and Viking’s Giant Submarines
Start moving to San Francisco today
As you can tell, there are many places that could be considered “the best neighborhoods for families in San Francisco.” After you select the neighborhood that’s right for you, feel free to reach out to Bellhop, your local movers and long-distance movers in San Francisco. We can help you load up your items, deliver them from point A to B, set you up with packing supplies, and much more. We also help coordinate moves for nearby cities like San Jose should you be interested! Book a move online today.
Need to move last minute? We can help too!
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