3. Oakland
Median home price: $891,800
Driving distance to Downtown San Francisco: 15 minutes
Oakland is better described as a city than a suburb, but it still earns a deserving spot on this list. This San Francisco suburb is usually the choice for people looking to stay close enough to S.F. without the hefty rent prices. Therefore, Oakland is full of young professionals, singles, and families coming from all backgrounds. This also means you won’t have a problem finding a community you relate to in this suburb near San Francisco.
This relatively affordable suburb of San Francisco offers you a flourishing foodie scene, thriving startup culture, great nightlife, and, of course, a prime accessible location. Compared to plenty of other San Francisco suburbs, Oakland is also among the most racially and economically diverse, which is a plus for many.
4. Pleasanton
Median home price: $1,310,300
Driving distance to Downtown San Francisco: 40 minutes
Pleasanton has a very fitting name because it’s indeed a very pleasant Bay Area suburb to live in. Great ethnic diversity, a spectacular education system, an unemployment rate of less than three percent, and more benefits qualify Pleasanton as one of the best San Francisco suburbs for families.
You’ll be close enough to S.F. for a weekend spent in the city, and to Tahoe if you ever feel like paying the mountains a visit. With the best of both worlds within a few hours’ drive—and plenty of hometown perks to begin with—Pleasanton is a suburb near San Francisco you can’t go wrong with.