San Francisco doesn’t garner its reputation as one of the world’s best places to live out of nowhere. In 2012, it was voted the best American city by BusinessWeek, and although it’s not as large as other major cities, it’s definitely a good place to settle down.
Public Safety in San Francisco
As with any major city, there are some places in San Francisco with a bad reputation, but overall, it is considered a safe place to live. Compared to other big cities in the U.S., the crime rates are relatively low and California operates very strict gun control laws. Some of the more notably safer areas include the neighborhoods of Richmond, Sunset, Pacific Heights, and Marina. The areas that are known because of their safety concerns include the downtown area of Tenderloin, Sunnydale, and Bayview areas.
San Francisco Employment
The job market in the Bay area is strong, with over 2 million workers in the vicinity. Because the city is considered part of Silicon Valley, technology companies dominate the local employment landscape. If you live here, you could very well land a job with:
- Pixar
- Apple
There are also plenty of financial and professional services jobs, and a number of employment opportunities within the biomedical and education sectors. Salaries are usually in line with the relatively high cost of living in the city. Although the area took a hit when the dot com bubble crashed and during the recession, the job market is quickly rebuilding. Unemployment is at around eight percent, but this is likely to fall as tech companies continue recruiting residents in the area.
Cost of living
Living in San Francisco can be expensive. Real estate prices are generally high and the average rent for a standard apartment with two bedrooms is about $2,000 a month. The San Francisco Bay Guardian actually conducted a survey to see what sort of salary would be needed to live comfortably in the city and the results indicated that a four person family would need around $90,000. The average home price is $550,000.
Schools and education
San Francisco residents are well-educated, as the city houses some of the best rated schools in the U.S. Grattan and Clarendon Alternative are great public elementary schools that are highly rated, and Lowell High School is a popular school as well. Families with college students have a few choices for their education including facilities like University of San Francisco (USF) and the City College of San Francisco. In 2011, USF was named one of the top 50 Universities in the country.
Pollution
San Francisco has a fresh ocean atmosphere, however, it is also known for its smog. Until recently, it was among the top 25 smoggiest places in America, according to a list compiled by the American Lung Foundation. There are an array of micro-climates here due to the city’s proximity to the ocean, and it’s best to do your weather research before deciding to move to any particular area. The largest source of pollution to San Francisco Bay comes in the form of storm water, but overall, the city offers a healthy living environment.
As an overall verdict, San Francisco is a great place to live if you can afford the high cost of living. It is safe, there are many employment opportunities, the schools are exemplary, and there’s not much pollution. It has the basic services that any resident would want, plus the added benefits of being one of the most highly regarded cities in America. Whether you have a family to bring, or are considering a solo move here, you can rest assured knowing that this would be a sound investment.
