April 25, 2022
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Want to relocate to San Francisco? Between the beautiful views, strong economy, warm weather, world-class food, and great schools, we can see why! (Time Out even called San Francisco the world’s best city back in 2021!)

But as you can imagine, San Francisco is a huge city. There are multiple places to move to for both families and young professionals. So, to save you a few hours in searching for the best suburbs in San Francisco on our friend Google, we thought we’d put together a quick guide for you. 

We hope it helps!

The best suburbs in San Francisco

San Francisco is a city that everyone can appreciate, not only because of the many things to do but because of the cultural diversity. 

It’s a place where you can feel welcomed no matter your background, and whether you’re moving here with your family or as a young professional, there are many suburbs where you’ll feel right at home. 

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If you want a suburb that checks all your boxes (i.e., family-friendly, safe, amenity-rich, and more), read on! Bellhop has you covered with the best suburbs in San Francisco. 

Best suburbs of San Francisco for families

Whether you have kiddos or are thinking about starting a family, you want a safe city that has plenty of activities for kids, good neighborhoods, and basic amenities. San Francisco has all that and more!

So, if you’re wondering, “Is San Francisco a good place to raise a family?” 

We assure you that it is, indeed! And you have many suburbs to choose from in the Bay area. Below are a few of our top picks:

Mountain View

In the middle of the San Francisco Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains lies Mountain View, a highly rated suburb of San Francisco. The city gets its name for the breathtaking view of those infamous Santa Cruzes, making it not just one of the top places to live in the Bay area for families but one of the most beautiful. 

Some of the largest names in tech are situated in Mountain View (think: Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Samsung, and Symantec). So, if you want a suburb you could see yourself raising your kids in (psst… the safety ratings are great in Mountain View) and a good-paying job in tech, this suburb is right up your alley. 

You have a few options for schools, including Stevenson Elementary School, Landels Elementary School, Graham Middle School, Waldorf School of the Peninsula, Mountain View High School, and St. Francis High School. The school system is rated an A+ in this suburb, so you can trust that your kids will get a quality education.

Of course, the suburb isn’t just work and school. There are plenty of fun, kid-friendly activities to do there, too! That includes the Computer History Museum, the Mountain View Farmers Market, the Shoreline Amphitheater, Stevens Creek Trail, the Shoreline at Mountain View Park, and Shoreline Golf Links. Maybe after checking out these activities, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the city’s many restaurants, such as Udon Mugizo Mountain View, Caspian Restaurant, Roger Bar & Restaurant, or Cucina Venti Restaurant. 

Walnut Creek

On nearly all top-10 lists for San Francisco neighborhoods, you’ll see Walnut Creek. It’s in the East Bay region of San Francisco, just over 23 miles from the hustle and bustle of Downtown San Francisco. 

If you move to Walnut Creek, you can enroll your kids in the Walnut Creek School District, Buena Vista Elementary School, Walnut Creek Intermediate School, Pleasant Hill Middle School, Los Lomas High School, Northgate High School, and numerous other schools. 

One resident says, “Most of the schools are great, and earn a high amount of points on school-review websites. Also, there are a lot of events that go on within Walnut Creek, such as the Art and Wine Festival, the Walnut Festival (an annual tradition), and the running festival.”

Don’t feel like checking out a festival and want a nice place to eat out with your family instead? Walnut Creek has restaurants of all kinds, from small bistros to family-run Italian restaurants and more. (We recommend checking out Salvatore Ristorante, Ottavio, Sunrise Bistro, Bounty Hunter, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House if you have time.)

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Foster City

Drive about three miles to the east of San Mateo, and you’ll find yourself in Foster City. It’s considered one of the leading places to raise kids in the San Francisco Metropolitan area, and–fun fact–it’s in the top-20 “best suburbs” in California, according to Niche. 

If you relocate to Foster City, CA, you have a few schools nearby, including the San Mateo-Foster City School District, Foster City Elementary School, Audubon Elementary School, Bowditch Middle School, Bayside Academy, Compass High School, and San Mateo High School.

One of the best parts about Foster City is its parks. Can you picture 19+ parks in one city? No? Well, if you move to Foster City, that’s exactly what you’ll get, and believe it or not, those parks take up over 100 acres of land! It’s simply beautiful, and it gives your kids plenty to do in the city, from playing basketball or soccer with their friends to golfing. 

Now, if you’d like to take a break from the heat and get some grub, head on over to Armadillo Willy’s BBQ, Rickshaw Corner, Mumu Hot Pot, Cafe Savini, or Gobi Mongolian Grill. Also, being so close to San Mateo, there are plenty of places to check out there, too!

Best San Francisco suburbs for young professionals and singles

If you’re a young corporate professional thinking about living it up in San Francisco, you probably have a few questions. Maybe:

  • Where do young professionals live in the San Francisco Bay area?
  • Where can I find people with similar interests?
  • Where are the colleges?
  • Where can I work? 

If so, have no fear. We’ve got you covered! While the list below doesn’t cover each and every one of the best places to live in the Bay area for young professionals, it has two top suggestions that should help narrow down your search for a city.

Berkeley

If you check out a map of the suburbs of San Francisco for ideas on where to live as a young professional, you’re sure to find Berkeley there. This Northern California city is found in the eastern part of the Golden City. Berkeley is considered a foodie’s dream city, with tons of restaurants to choose from, and you can’t beat the city’s culture, music, and art scene. 

There’s a long list of things to do in Berkeley and places to meet people. First, you have the Berkeley Marina, which is right on the water and houses 100+ acres of park. (It also offers pretty spectacular scenery. You can see Angel Island, Alcatraz, and more. Plus, you can hike to your heart’s content and have your dog off the leash!)

In addition to the Marina, you have multiple tasty restaurants to check out. That includes FAVA, Chez Panisse, Bartavelle Cafe, Funky Elephant, and Lulu. 

Berkeley also has the University of California, Berkeley, giving you plenty of spots to meet other singles and rising professionals in your age group. And if you’re looking for a place to work in Berkeley, check out the University of California, Arris Composites, Dynavax Technologies, or Lygos. 

Emeryville

Emeryville is a desirable Alameda County city on the eastern side of San Francisco, close to Berkeley. If it sounds familiar, it’s probably because that’s where Pixar Animation Studios is–plus many big-time tech companies, such as MobiTV, Sendmail, and LeapFrog. So, if you’re into tech, this just might be the place for you!

According to one resident, “Emeryville is a small cute town with a lovely view of the entire Bay Area (when it is not too foggy). There is a free shuttle system that takes you to the BART system which makes the rest of the Bay Area very accessible. There are plenty of shops and groceries within walking distance and many dog-friendly places to live.”

Basically, if you like walking with your pup, chances are you’re going to love it in Emeryville!

Now, as we mentioned before, San Francisco is all about its food, and Emeryville is no exception. Los Moles, Townhouse, Honor Kitchen & Cocktails, Hidden Spot Emeryville, KoJa Kitchen, and Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe are a few of the best restaurants to try. 

Emeryville also has plenty of parks and activities to keep you busy and meet people. For instance, you can shop at Bay Street, check out the Emeryville Marina, catch a movie at AMC Bay Street 16, play an escape game at Trivium Games, or go on a fishing or boat tour with one of the area’s many charter companies.

Need a hand moving to the San Francisco Bay area?

Don’t feel like you’re alone in relocating to San Francisco. Bellhop’s friendly local movers are here for you. If you’re ready to make your local move or long-distance move to San Francisco, we can help with that! Book a move online today, and get our assistance with moving to one of the best suburbs in San Francisco. We also help coordinate moves for nearby cities like San Jose should you be interested!

Need to move last minute? We can help!

Harrison Stevens
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