Which neighborhoods are near and safe to live in?

• San Mateo
• Foster City
• Hillsdale
• Belmont
• San Carlos
• Redwood Shores
  The Archstone is fairly nice, but rent is expensive and so are utilities (over $130/month just for w/s/g).  It’s very convenient to EA but not to anything else, so it’s recommended that you have access to a car if you live here.  Also, even though it’s only two miles from the freeway it takes at least ten minutes to get past all the stop signs, so estimate extra time for going anywhere.
• Redwood City: generally cheaper area but also more sketchy than the others
• Menlo Park/Atherton: expensive area
• Palo Alto (near Stanford University)
• East Palo Alto: generally unsafe area, try to avoid it

Note: For someone looking for a studio/1 bedroom it is not uncommon to pay $2K+/month EXCLUDING utilities. If you share a room, it ranges from $600+ depending on how many people, where, etc., but it is very rare to find something within the $300/range (unless it’s your friend or relative’s home), as you could in Pittsburgh.

What apartments are nearby?
A: Archstone is the closest apartment complex to EA and you can walk there. It is a safe, nice neighborhood and the distance is roughly about from the South Side bars to the ETC, if you walk across the Hot Metal Bridge. However, you pay for it – it is really expensive. Such is the housing situation in the Bay Area; there is more demand than supply. Especially for short term leases, the cost can be almost as much as an extended-stay hotel. If you haven’t looked already, try searching on:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/
https://www.padmapper.com/

https://www.apartments.com

Here is a breakdown of apartments where people generally live in the area:

Riva-Terra Apartments at Redwood Shores

• Walking distance to EA (approximately 1 mile), grocery store and shops
• Downside: Suburban area, no nightlife, bit of a trek to get to the Caltrain station for weekend adventures in San Francisco
• You will need to contact the local utilities companies to set up your own electricity, cable, and internet.
• You will need to take care of your own furniture rental – http://www.bfr.com/ or http://www.cort.com/ – both offer student discounts!
• Rental pricing is subject to housing availability, rates available online: approximately $2,700/month (Unfurnished 1 Bedroom/1 Bathroom) and $3,057/month for a 2 bedroom

Indian Creek Garden Apartments

• Walking distance to EA (approximately 1.5 miles)
• Downside: Suburban area, no nightlife, bit of a trek to get to the Caltrain station for weekend adventures in San Francisco
• Bit further from EA, but tends to have better rates/availablity than Archstone
• 1 bedroom/1bathroom – Approximately $2,904 –to $3,503

Hillsdale Garden Apartments

• NOT within walking distance to EA, but close to Caltrain, can use free EA Shuttle to get to/from work every day!
• Makes it easy to go to San Francisco on the weekends, and is walking distance to a mall!
• Unfurnished Studio – Approximately $2,429 – 2,444
• Unfurnished 1 bedroom/1bathroom – Approximately $2,563 – 2,745
• You will need to contact the local utilities companies to set up your own electricity, cable, and internet.
• You will need to take care of your own furniture rental – http://www.bfr.com/ or http://www.cort.com/ – both offer student discounts!
• Includes gas and electric
• Water & Garbage = Approximately $90/month

BE CAREFUL!!  There are many scams out there!!!

* Locations to consider looking (based on proximity to Caltrain shuttle):

• San Carlos
• San Mateo

updated 07/23/2018