Best places to live in the San Francisco metro area

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July 8, 2025
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Best places to live in the San Francisco metro area

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the San Francisco metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

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#25. Hillsborough

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 11,122

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#24. San Anselmo

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 12,711

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#23. Orinda

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 19,472

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#22. Atherton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 7,021

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#21. Alameda

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 76,876

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#20. Walnut Creek

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 69,790

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#19. Burlingame

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 30,526

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#18. Santa Clara

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 129,239

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#17. Corte Madera

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 10,101

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#16. Los Altos

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 30,736

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#15. Los Gatos

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 32,773

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#14. San Carlos

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 29,797

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#13. Menlo Park

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 32,775

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#12. San Ramon

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 85,734

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#11. Los Altos Hills

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 8,367

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#10. Piedmont

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 11,012

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#9. Pleasanton

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 77,500

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#8. Foster City

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 32,964

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#7. Belmont

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 27,505

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#6. Sunnyvale

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 153,455

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#5. Palo Alto

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 67,231

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#4. Moraga

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 16,790

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#3. Berkeley

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 120,223

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#2. Albany

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 19,768

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#1. Mountain View

- Niche grade: A+
- Public school grade: A+
- Population: 82,363

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