If you're going to relocate to SF, want a flat, and are hoping to keep costs down, I'd recommend Glen Park, Sunnyside, Mission Terrace. They're not highly youn

If you're going to relocate to SF, want a flat, and are hoping to keep costs down, I'd recommend Glen Park, Sunnyside, Mission Terrace. They're not highly young neighborhoods like the marina (young and preppy) or mission (young and bohemian), but still pretty fun. The great advantage to them is 1) you're near the Glen Park Bart station, and 2) they're south of most of the city traffic, so you can hit 280 or 101 and get to silicon valley fairly quickly. I listed them in order of desirability. Glen Park is pleasant, and has a small village with good restaurants and a good vibe. Now and then people get mugged coming out of the bart station, which really sucks, but I walked home from it for a year and a half, no problems whatsoever. Sunnyside is a bit more boring, and not quite as nice. Mission Terrace, where I live now, is just a bit edgy. I love it, but you'll be a stone's throw from some blight. You might also want to check out bernal heights (nicknamed "maternal heights" because of all the young families that thundered in when rents/prices got too high elsewhere).