Oakland, California

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.

Pros and Cons of Living in Oakland

Should You Move to Oakland or Berkeley?

Living In San Francisco VS Oakland | Moving To California