https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 00:01:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2667158 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 22:26:50 +0000 JCCovi 2667158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kakimochi: Thanks for the info. We are taking the leap and heading out there, so everyone input will be a big help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2667152 Sun, 18 Dec 2016 22:10:36 +0000 JCCovi 2667152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@newlypregnantlady: Somehow I missed this until now, but that is a great response, very helpful.</p> <p>@wheres_c: My husband wants to experience the valley for a few years at least. The density of computer enthusiasm there is hard to beat.</p> <p>We have officially decided that we are moving! The plan right now is to live and work in Menlo Park. We aren't locking anything in until we get out their next month, but we'all probably go super super small on an apartment in order to live in biking distance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2666741 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 18:52:36 +0000 kakimochi 2666741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I can only talk to Santa Clara and Fremont as far as schools go--they have overall pretty good schools in areas of Santa Clara, Cupertino, Campbell, and where I live in Fremont. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2654961 Sun, 20 Nov 2016 12:39:35 +0000 wheres_c 2654961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you actually want to leave NC?<br /> Many Bay Area tech companies offer full time remote options.<br /> I work as a manager for a Palo Alto based software company (and get paid bay-area salary) but live in Austin, Texas.<br /> I travel to Palo Alto every few months, or meet my team elsewhere.<br /> Just an option that is a little more affordable than living in the Bay Area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2654955 Sun, 20 Nov 2016 10:58:33 +0000 Anagram 2654955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kakimochi: How are the schools in Redwood City, Fremont, San Mateo, Santa Clara, etc? Occasionally, my husband will get a headhunting bite from Silicon Valley, but we already live in an expensive place and it seems silly to move cross country and still pay the same $/sq foot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2654906 Sun, 20 Nov 2016 00:30:18 +0000 kakimochi 2654906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my husband works in menlo park, i work in san jose, we commute from fremont. that means he does have to cross the bridge, it will take him about 40 minutes to get to work, but he goes to work at about 6:30a beating some of the heavier parts of commuting. i leave at 8am and it takes me 45 minutes to an hour to get to san jose during the heavy rush. the same coming back. the commute is something i've accepted as part of living here, and I've been doing it for so long, im ok with it. rent is pricey anywhere in the bay area, fremont is a bit cheaper than the peninsula, but we're still talking $2500/month for say a 2 bedroom condo. we bought our home here some time ago because of the school district we're in, and we're pretty happy with it, so this is basically our forever home. we wouldn't be able to afford this home now if we were buying it, the prices here have just shot up so much in the last 5 years. i love the bay area, it's a really nice place to live, if you can stomach the traffic and cost of living.</p> <p>most of my friends who used to rent in menlo park, couldn't afford the homes, it's just too expensive there, so bought homes in redwood city, san mateo, san jose, fremont. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2654887 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 23:33:39 +0000 newlypregnantlady 2654887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just for some info for awhile I was commuting from San Jose to Palo Alto and it took me around 1.5 hours (so 3 hrs per day). But it wasn't an even split. Usually 1hr in the morning and 2 to get home. Even if a house looks close the commute may be horrible.</p> <p>Tons of people live in the Central Valley and commute to the bay, that's about a 6hr commute per day. My old boss lived in Oakland and commuted to Palo Alto and it took her about as long as it took me and I lived in San Jose. So it's all about what you can handle. My aunt commuted from Lodi to downtown SF for YEARS and that was like an 7-8hr per day commute (but this was after her kids were in college so she didn't have kids to worry about). </p> <p>I live on the peninsula and we rent a one bedroom for $2300. We qualify for below market rate housing but it's a lottery system and so I'm not optimistic we'll find something. We'll be moving after this lease is up because we need a second bedroom and we'll have to move further south. </p> <p>They also have below market rate home buyers programs, so look into those if you think it'll apply. You'll probably be surprised at how high the median income is for most cities. I believe you can apply for SF's BMR program even if you make over $100k. I'm more familiar with the peninsula, however. </p> <p>If you can afford it this is a wonderful area to live with kids. Tons of families, tons of activities, tons of everything. Restaurants are great, museums, opera, ballet, movies, concerts, etc. Menlo is a beautiful area. Without considering price I'd love to buy a house in Los Altos. They have a great little community, and even an amazing children's bookstore! Tons of family activities like Easter egg hunts, Christmas parade of lights, summer family movie nights, etc. </p> <p>We are getting priced out so we're thinking we'll move to the Central Valley of California in the next two years (so take what I say with a grain of salt because I don't love this place). We are actually not leaving sooner because I'm currently pregnant and don't want to have to worry about insurance issues and looking for employment right after I give birth. </p> <p>Make sure to check out the prices of daycare if you'll need it. I'm actually a SAHM because it wasn't worth it for me to work for $0 and have a crappy work environment. </p> <p>Sorry for the rambling!</p> <p>ETA:<br /> <a href="https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2016/04/07/in-search-of-cheaper-housing-silicon-valley-workers-face-long-commutes/" rel="nofollow">https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2016/04/07/in-search-of-cheaper-housing-silicon-valley-workers-face-long-commutes/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/02/17/bay-area-housing-what-635000-median-price-really-will-buy-you/" rel="nofollow">http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/02/17/bay-area-housing-what-635000-median-price-really-will-buy-you/</a></p> <p><a href="https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/03/09/you-need-to-earn-142000-dollars-to-buy-a-home-in-san-francisco/" rel="nofollow">https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/03/09/you-need-to-earn-142000-dollars-to-buy-a-home-in-san-francisco/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2654867 Sat, 19 Nov 2016 21:34:42 +0000 JCCovi 2654867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: @MrsA: @Boogs: @pinkcupcake: @KT326: Thanks for the info. My husband interviews next week and I'm going to be checking out the area! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2653741 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 14:32:31 +0000 KT326 2653741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in the area. I would try to avoid commuting too far if at all possible. I used to commute from San Jose to Palo Alto. Without traffic it was a 20 minute drive (about 15 miles). With traffic, it could be anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half or more if there are accidents. </p> <p>Rents are high everywhere. If you find a place with low rent, well like someone else said you get what you pay for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2653718 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 14:11:55 +0000 pinkcupcake 2653718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother and his wife commute from the city - I think their commute is pretty terrible (2 hours each way on a bus / shuttle) and their rent is pretty high ($3,300 for a 1bed but I think it includes a few utilities) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2653369 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 19:10:06 +0000 Boogs 2653369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I could tell you there's somewhere close, but cheaper you can commute from, but you kinda get what you pay for. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2653088 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 12:18:59 +0000 MrsA 2653088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JCCovi: I'm local to the area. I posted some info on your wall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2652911 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:06:39 +0000 Foodnerd81 2652911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My MIL lives in Menlo Park! It's a really nice area, from what icould tell walking and driving around, but I know it's expensive. She used to work in San Jose, now she works in San Francisco and I know her commute is harder now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/silicone-valley-bees-where-do-you-live#post-2652899 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 07:22:29 +0000 JCCovi 2652899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband is interviewing is Menlo Park and Mountain View. If we accept a job we'd be coming from NC. I've always known it was an expensive area but I looked at some rents and my jaw hit the floor! </p> <p>If there's anyone here who works in those towns, do you also live in those towns? Or commute from slightly cheaper areas? </p>