Oakland, California

Although San Francisco gets all of the attention, Oakland is known for its better weather, affordability (only compared to SF), better character, and down-to-earth vibe when compared to its next door neighbor. It’s also serious about being Green. Oakland’s empty lots have been transformed into urban vegetable patches, and buying locally grown food is simple. Oakland is indeed Hella Cool. And they know it.

Here's a strong take on the advantages of Oakland from a local:
That Oakland has the best weather in the Bay Area — certainly in the true (central) Bay Area — is inarguable. And the location is ideal. If someone dropped into the Bay Area from outer space they would require an historical explanation for why San Francisco, and not Oakland, is the leading city. One can head out of Oakland toward the Sierra with an hour’s lead on the San Franciscan, with similar advantages toward the wine country.

The culture of Oakland is honest. The culture of San Francisco is fake. I say this as someone who spent a great deal of my student and working life in San Francisco and who loves and respects that great international city deeply. But if you are here to live, not on vacation, Oakland offers an unaffected — even self-deprecating — tone that works on a daily basis.

For more reviews of Oakland from locals check out: The Buzz

As disgruntled young San Franciscans go in search of friendlier climes, and the pandemic and property prices displace residents and put rental properties in the hands of corporate developers, gentrification threatens the nature of what makes Oakland great. See Brooklyn for comparable history.

Here's a local on the pros/cons of Oakland:
Oakland is a much bigger and more diverse town than people think. It can be a very nice town to live in but the news doesn't cover quiet prosperous neighborhoods. Also when I say diverse I don't mean that there are people with a lot of different racial backgrounds, though there are, I mean that there a lot of different kinds of people with varying backgrounds, traditions, and expectations. People who have not lived in an diverse environment sometimes have a hard time making accurate value judgement about Oakland. Oakland is large enough and diverse enough that it really isn't one thing. Large stretches of the city are very well off and beautiful while others are very poor and grim.

While making a short trip across the bay to SF is a popular (and always available) social option, Oakland is filled with its own entertainment and cultural scene. There’s an incredible history of social movement -- minorities of all kinds have a cultural voice in Oakland. Oakland has serious coffee, craft brews, food, and street art scenes. I mean c’mon, where are you going to get a city, an ocean bay and redwood parks that overlook stunning views all in one place? And there’s even a gorgeous lake (Lake Merritt) right in the middle of downtown.