2023 Most Diverse Places to Live in the San Francisco Bay Area

• City in California

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  Rating 3.29 out of 5  389 reviews

Current Resident: If you work in the city, Vallejo is surprisingly a very great place to live. The ferry commute pre-pandemic was something that we actually miss! Post-pandemic, you'll really enjoy the large 4 bed house with a decent yard for $500-$600k, while in the rest of the Bay Area you get a 1 bed condo. Just like any metro city, there are sketchy places and there are very nice places. You might not get your Trader Joe's or Whole Foods here, but Berkeley is not that far away and most weekends your outings are probably going to be outside of this city anyways. Lifestyle here for tech workers is mostly young families that desire a beautiful, quiet neighborhood (e.g. Mare Island), Costco shopping, weekday nights out at the Mare Island Brewery, weekends in Point Reyes, Napa, SF, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Mt. Tam, Marin, the list goes on and on... Save up your money and eventually move to a neighborhood with a good school district, or there's lots of great and affordable private school options.... Read 389 reviews

• grade C

• grade C minus

• grade A+

• Population 125,350

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3.62 out of 5  21 reviews

Current Resident: I am currently a resident of Rodeo, CA. It is a small city right next to Hercules and Crockett. Overall, it is a nice and quite area depending on where you live.... Read 21 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 9,575

• City in California

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  Rating 3.9 out of 5  561 reviews

Current Resident: Born and raised in Oakland, California. Throughout the nation, Oakland is known for the violence in the poorer areas, mainly in black and brown communities. But, growing up as a black woman in Oakland, its one of the very places I actually feel safe in. Oakland has a record for protecting black women, as seen through the Black panther Party that was founded in this very city. But, Oakland is rapidly experiencing gentrification. One of the every quotes about Oakland that I recently heard was, "Oakland is the last place in Northern California that black people can still call home". Oakland is the only place that I've been able to walk around and see large groups of black people being able to get together and play games outside. If you've ever been there, it'll remind you of your classic 90s West Coast movie. Yet, my dreams of college are away from Oakland. I love Oakland with my whole heart, but need to experience something new. Growing up in Oakland is a true experience.... Read 561 reviews

• grade B+

• grade C+

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• Population 437,548

• Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

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• Population 3,392

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3.12 out of 5  297 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Antioch for my whole life, it is a very calm but also outgoing city. There are many nice outdoor places to visit such a Contra Loma and Black Diamond Mines. The people I have met are very nice and respectful. I love the environment and the biggest pro is how close I am to the City! Only 40 minutes away. Overall, living in Antioch has been a great experience.... Read 297 reviews

• grade C

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 114,750

• Neighborhood in San Leandro, CA

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  Rating 4.05 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: I love San Leandro because there are a lot of resources being brought to us from the county. I grew up here my whole life and the schools are good. There is a new youth center which provides great resources to 11-24 year olds as well.... Read 19 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 3,561

• Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

• grade C+

• grade C

• grade A+

• Population 3,193

• Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: School is one of the great place to learn new ideas and chance to teach back what one has learn in all their life. But as things became harder, people around you such as tutors and co-student are always there to encourage and support when necessary. I will personally encourage all youth to further their education when the chance arise to gain life and book knowledge to be applied in daily life.... Read 1 review

• grade B minus

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Population 2,107

• Neighborhood in San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 2.1 out of 5  10 reviews

Niche User: The overall of the area is very calm... Read 10 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Population 6,545

• Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

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  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Former Resident: Patten is a very small locale, but there is much to do despite that, and everything is close together.... Read 1 review

• grade C+

• grade C

• grade A+

• Population 2,472

• Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

• grade B

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Population 8,789

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.09 out of 5  150 reviews

Current Resident: The northeastern neighborhoods, Broadmoor and Estudillo Estates, represent some of the best value in the East Bay. Relatively safe, walkable tree-lined neighborhoods, where a 3 bedroom house can still be bought for just 1 to 1.3 million (a relative bargain). Many tech and professional middle class families are moving in here now, having been priced out of Berkeley and Oakland. Elementary schools here are considered good, and it is only a matter of time before the middle/high school follow suit given the changing demographics. And it’s wonderfully diverse, with every major ethnicity represented in roughly equal proportions. There is a decent restaurant scene here, but most of Oakland is still only 10-15 min away. The only negative thing is that people may look down upon you for living in a less perceived prestigious city, but joke’s on them- life is fantastic here. The usual occasional property crime is something to be aware of, but not be paranoid of.... Read 150 reviews

• grade B minus

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• Population 91,176

• Neighborhood in San Leandro, CA

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

• grade B

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 2,388

• Neighborhood in San Leandro, CA

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  Rating 4 out of 5  4 reviews

Niche User: The cities expanding and getting better.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B

• grade A+

• Population 1,765

• Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: Living in Sausal creek for 4 years. It's a beautiful neighborhood, especially living along Sausal creek. There's beautiful nature and trees, hummingbirds. It's an incredibly diverse place, with friendly people and a lot of families.... Read 1 review

• grade B minus

• grade C

• grade A+

• Population 2,983

• Suburb of San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade A

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• grade A+

• Population 3,094

• Neighborhood in San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 3.35 out of 5  31 reviews

Current Resident: Being in the Bayview has been definitely an eye opening moment for me. This area of San Francisco has not always been discussed in a positive light, but after thriving in the district for already a year, I am proud to say that the Bayview has many pros. This area has many public schools, a good commute system, quality houses to rent, and it is quite diverse. I would totally recommend this area to anyone that is considering of moving to the beautiful San Francisco county.... Read 31 reviews

• grade B

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• Population 10,078

• Neighborhood in Hayward, CA

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  Rating 2.67 out of 5  3 reviews

• grade B minus

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• Population 12,333

• Neighborhood in San Leandro, CA

• grade B+

• grade B

• grade A+

• Population 4,351

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3.26 out of 5  234 reviews

Current Resident: Richmond is a mixed bag when it comes to fellow neighbors and neighborhoods in general. On one hand, there are many friendly areas and people that are open and welcome to many, no matter their ethnic or personal background, especially in the large Latin community that resides here. I'm a part of that community and I have never seen an occurrence of oppression or ignorance from the Latin community towards anyone, and I'm proud to be a part of that friendly environment. However, there's a side of Richmond that even people who don't live here know it as bad and somewhat dangerous. Just like any other city, there's always a part of it that will always have a negative reputation, and sadly that side of Richmond has overshadowed that good part of it for a lot of people, but I stand my ground by saying that the majority of Richmond is filled with good people that are more than happy to welcome individuals of all backgrounds.... Read 234 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Population 115,677

• Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: I've lived here my entire life and it's a wonderful neighborhood. Dimond park is beautiful and connects to a massive system of trails and parks and there are many family-run delicious restaurants with a wide range of food. However, because of the Bay Area's proximity to Silicon Valley, housing is really expensive and overpriced.... Read 1 review

• grade B

• grade C+

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• Population 1,694

• Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

• grade C+

• grade C

• grade A+

• Population 9,585

• Neighborhood in San Francisco, CA

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  Rating 3.33 out of 5  6 reviews

Niche User: Living in this area I am blessed to be surrounded by so many different cultures and growing up in a place that is so strange and diverse, to be able to see the different neighborhoods and be faced with affluent and working class communities. It is interesting to see the different religious groups, the private and public schools, small mom and pop grocery stores compared to retail stores and seeing the different grassroots organizations and non profit organizations made available to the youth. This place is fruitful for someone who wants to understand how communities of color thrive in America. It is also a place to see the segregation that still takes place on a subtle level. San Francisco is where I call my home, but know that my mother land is not here,yet no where else can ever suffice.... Read 6 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B+

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• Population 4,506

• Neighborhood in Hayward, CA

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 6,296

• Suburb of Oakland, CA

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  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 5,080