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.

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 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**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/oakland?page=buzz)

The Bay on a Budget (Kind of)

LookyLOO Review of Oakland

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.

Lifestyle

Not to be redundant here, but making the short trip over the bay to SF is a popular commuting option. Taking advantage of SF’s big tech and finance wages for non-SF rent is always going to be a solid financial decision, and the Bay Area’s phenomenal public transportation system makes that convenient. Back in the East Bay, big-name companies like Clorox, Kaiser Permanente, and Pandora call Oakland their home. The health sector is big in Oakland too, and that combination of solid local and short commute options makes it a great place to live for work.


Worklife

Oakland Unified School District receives a [**"B-" grade on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/oakland-unified-school-district-ca/). Academics underperform and College Prep overperforms on average across the district. 

Families are assigned schools based on a lottery system in which they choose six priority choices in their applications. Admittance is based on a variety of factors including neighborhood but can apply to any school in the district. For more detail on the policies check out the [**OUSD placement page**](https://www.ousd.org/enroll/enroll-at-ousd/enroll-your-student-tk-12/how-it-works-placement-priorities-special-programs-resources). 

Higher-performing schools tend to be on the northeast side of the city. A couple of the best include:

-[**Oakland Technical High School**](https://oaklandtech.ousd.org/), often referred to as "Tech" locally, receives an [**"A" rating on niche.com**](https://www.niche.com/k12/oakland-technical-high-school-oakland-ca/?map) with high scores for Academics, College Prep, and Diversity among its strengths. It offers an excellent music, languages, and STEAM curriculum.
-[**Hillcrest Elementary School**](https://www.ousd.org/our-schools/school-directory/schools/~board/school-directory/post/hillcrest-elementary-school) is an [**"A-" rated**](https://www.niche.com/k12/hillcrest-elementary-school-oakland-ca/?map) K-8 with high grades for Academics and Teachers. 

Schools

It’s easier to get to downtown San Francisco by public transit than it is from even some San Francisco neighborhoods, and Berkeley is an even shorter hop. If you’re not all that interested in San Francisco, Oakland is a hot location in its own right. It has been experiencing a massive growth in jobs, especially in tech and media. Seven companies within Oakland made Forbes magazine’s list of the country’s top 100 fastest growing companies. 

Location, location, location.

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**u/InfluenceNo9260**
Living in Oakland
2y ago
✭✭✭

There a waterfront with sailboats at Jack London Sq. Lake Merritt is beautiful. There are parks with amazing views and hiking trails in the hills. There are different neighborhoods with different vibes. I recommend Rockridge, Piedmont, Grand Lake, Jack London, Temescal or Uptown for walkable shops, restaurants, cafes, etc. I lived Clinton, Ivy hill, and Jack London. I almost moved to Adams Pt, but chose Emeryville instead. I love walkable, urban environments with lots of transit access and lots to do and see.

Narrow down some neighborhoods, visit at night and see how you feel waking around. There are homeless people, bad drivers, car break-ins and all the stuff you hear about. But I have never felt like I was in danger. You do have to keep some situational awareness and don’t go to certain streets, especially at night. This is not a problem if you’re not out late at night trying to buy drugs or sex. If you mind your manners, mind your business, have secure parking, and drive defensively, it’s a fun place to live!

For more reviews of Oakland from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/oakland/reviews)

The hype is real. 

Reviews of Oakland from Locals

**The good the bad and the ugly**

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 a gorgeous lake (Lake Merritt) right in the middle of downtown, very serious coffee, craft brews, crazy good food, street art, hills with hidden staircases and an incredible history of social movement -- minorities of all kinds have a cultural voice in Oakland. There’s even another city right in the city (Piedmont) which makes no sense from a city planning standpoint, but there it is. Oakland has the kind of  genuine sense of place that many towns would love to have while running the gamut from hard core urban to wooded hills and parks. (And, when people say “the city” they mean San Francisco. Oakland is a town -- The Town.)


**The Best Thing About Oakland?** 

A bridge away from San Francisco (or a 10 minute BART ride), better weather, more affordable, more character, more down-to-earth mom and pop and more hip. 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. 


**The Worst Thing About Oakland?** 

The hype. As disgruntled young San Franciscans go in search of friendlier climes and the pandemic threatens to displace residents and possibly put rental properties in the hands of corporate developers, gentrification is pushing through threatening the nature of what makes Oakland great.

**How You Living?** 

In a funky old house on a quiet street walking distance to anything. Residential streets are home to both single-family and multi-family homes, ranging from older Victorians to renovated row homes. Rockridge, Temescal, and Grand Lake are super trendy. Laurel and Diamond districts are cute little neighborhoods with their own shopping plazas.


**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

Location, location, location. It’s easier to get to San Francisco than even some San Francisco neighborhoods and BTW, Berkely is also a short hop.  If you’re not all that interested in San Francisco, Oakland is a hot location in its own right. It has been experiencing a massive growth in jobs, especially in tech and media. Seven companies within Oakland made Forbes magazine’s list of the country’s top 100 fastest growing companies. 


The city of Oakland is just east of San Francisco, across the Bay. The west side of the city runs along the bay and the east side is surrounded by natural preserves including Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, and the University of California Botanical Garden. Just south of downtown Oakland is Alameda. Located in the bay, it’s a city that includes Alameda Island, Bay Farm Island, and other minor surrounding islands. Just north of Oakland is the popular area of Berkeley, home of UC Berkeley. Inside the city limits of Oakland is the city of Piedmont. It's a separate city although it’s completely surrounded by Oakland. The city detached itself from Oakland in the early 1900s and has since kept its reputation for being a more wealthy area. Local Piedmont residents, because they have a higher median income and, by design, better schools and local services, fear rejoining Oakland because they believe it would reduce their standard of living. The geography of Oakland can be split into what is called “the flatlands” and “the hills.” These terms can also symbolize the economic divide between Oakland’s residents. The hills cover about ⅓ of the land in Oakland and were historically considered to be more affluent. 


The Area

Oakland is California expensive without being SF expensive, and that’s an important distinction. If you’re moving to Oakland, take into consideration your budget, how close you want to be to bars and restaurants, and how close you need to be to BART. We suggest you start your search in Temescal. It has an artsy, slightly hipster vibe, in a good way. It’s super convenient to BART and Telegraph Ave has coffee shops, breweries, restaurants and more. 
- Temescal
- Grand Lake
- Downtown


Young Professionals

Downtown

While Oakland doesn't have a particular neighborhood like the Castro known as the center of LGBTQ+ community the town has the highest concentration of lesbian couples of any city in the country and the second-highest same-sex couple households right behind San Francisco. 

Popular areas include Temescal; a hip, spot with a growing arts scene, coffee shops and easy access to the local BART station. It also has its own craft brew scene, plenty of restaurants, shops, and nightlife to enjoy. 

Uptown is another good option. It runs along Broadway in downtown (we get the irony) and the area is home to the Fox and Paramount theaters, tons of bars and restaurants, and even an ice skating rink. 

LGBTQ+

Temescal

If you don’t want to give up the Oakland scene, but need to find a place to settle down, we suggest looking for a home or apartment in Piedmont Avenue. It feels more suburban than other areas of Oakland, but still has walkable amenities. It’s just northeast of Downtown, but not in the hills. You’ll have your choice of apartments, bungalows and super cute American Foursquare homes. Despite feeling suburban, Piedmont Avenue runs through the center of the neighborhood and has a grocery store, theaters, coffee shops, and restaurants. 
- Piedmont Ave
- Grand Lake
- Lake Merritt


Young Families

Piedmont Ave

If you’re looking for a suburban feel with a dash of city living, check out Rockridge. It’s not the Hills, so you can avoid feeling like you’re super far away from Downtown. It can be expensive, so keep that in mind when you start house hunting. We thing it’s worth it for the tree-lined streets and the bungalow style homes. It’s mostly residential, but the west side of the neighborhood has restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and boutiques. It’s close to BART and, to top off the pros, it has a Trader Joe’s.
- Rockridge/Upper Rockridge
- Montclair
- Temescal


Established Families

Rockridge

Oakland

**Robert Polevoi**
Living in Oakland
✭✭✭

It’s different than it used to be. But I’ll get to that in a moment because the question is about now.

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 daily.

The bottom line is that Oakland has never been, and likely will never be, a city with a great and impressive downtown as San Francisco has. It is, above all, a city of great residential neighborhoods with individual character. It’s a city with the most remarkable parks. Nothing more characterizes the contrast with SF than the contrast between Golden Gate Park and the magnificent outdoor experiences of Sibley and Redwood Regional Parks, unparalleled for anything directly adjoining a true city. (The memory of Chief Justice Earl Warren, had he not been responsible for so much that America is proud of, would be honored solely for the incredible insight he showed in getting this land set aside many, many decades ago.)

**u/InfluenceNo9260**
Living in Oakland
2y ago
✭✭✭

There a waterfront with sailboats at Jack London Sq. Lake Merritt is beautiful. There are parks with amazing views and hiking trails in the hills. There are different neighborhoods with different vibes. I recommend Rockridge, Piedmont, Grand Lake, Jack London, Temescal or Uptown for walkable shops, restaurants, cafes, etc. I lived Clinton, Ivy hill, and Jack London. I almost moved to Adams Pt, but chose Emeryville instead. I love walkable, urban environments with lots of transit access and lots to do and see.

Narrow down some neighborhoods, visit at night and see how you feel waking around. There are homeless people, bad drivers, car break-ins and all the stuff you hear about. But I have never felt like I was in danger. You do have to keep some situational awareness and don’t go to certain streets, especially at night. This is not a problem if you’re not out late at night trying to buy drugs or sex. If you mind your manners, mind your business, have secure parking, and drive defensively, it’s a fun place to live!

**OdinPelmen**
Living in Oakland
9mo ago
✭✭✭

No, you absolutely do not need a car in the Bay Area. I lived in SF for 10 yrs with consistent outings to Oakland, Berkeley, Sonoma/Napa, Pt Reyes, etc and never owned a car. Most of my friends in the Bay don’t own a car or share a car if they’re a couple bc it’s so easy to use car share and taxis. Plus, the transit is great compared to majority of US outside of NYC. A car is sure a nice little perk and will absolutely come in handy, but not a necessity. Though if you’re planning to constantly drive out to nature then yes, you’ll need it.

The Bay is absolutely beautiful to live in tbh and California is like nothing else, but go live in NYC for a little bit and then transfer to the Bay if you can. I lived almost all my 20s in the Bay with a tiny stint as n NYC and, while I don’t regret it as it was awesome, I wish my time in New York was significantly longer than it was just for the experience. I moved back to CA and would’ve probs ended up back here anyway bc it’s a much better living overall especially later. The nature is amazing, the vibe, the ocean, the culture, and the weather makes a huge difference. I don’t see snow unless I want to see it; I can do forest, mountains, ocean, desert or fields in a day if I want to. There are a million national parks a drive away and a he whole coast is gorgeous. Plus, the food, the people, etc. But I’d say, come back in a few years after you’ve been there, done that.

**ggabitron**
Living in Oakland
10mo ago
✭✭✭



Oakland - if you don't love the LA summer heat, Oakland weather truly cannot be beat. It's almost always between 65 and 75 during the day, and 50-60 at night. It rains maybe 20% more than it does in LA, but not much. Having a car here is very stressful, because car-related crime is extremely common. Traffic is slightly more predictable in the bay, but when there is traffic it's terrible because there's no way around it. Drivers are also far less predictable than in LA so driving can be very stressful. Oakland has a surprisingly lively bar scene for its size, and there are frequently things going on downtown so you can have a pretty active social life without leaving Oakland. Neighborhoods in the bay are more concentrated and closer together, so there's a lot less separation between the 'good' and 'bad' neighborhoods, which requires more awareness of your surroundings and location than in LA, but I wouldn't necessarily say I feel less safe in the East Bay than I did when I lived in LA. People here are a lot less fixated on physical appearance, but they can still be very superficial regarding income/job stuff, especially people in tech. Lots of tech bros who won't shut up about their startups, but fewer of them in Oakland than SF or the South Bay. People in Oakland tend to be a little less in-your-face about stuff than folks in SF and Berkeley have a reputation for being. People in the bay tend to be more outdoorsy than in LA, probably because the weather is so much cooler and outdoor areas have a lot more vegetation and shade.

Oakland, California

Diamond In The Rough

Looklyloo Score: 92