Best area in SF to live with a toddler?

People usually recommend Pacific Heights or Noe Valley for couples with toddlers. A house for $3000 and 3 bedrooms makes things trickier.

Lately I've been steering friends towards the Sunset District or the Richmond District. The rents are just a lot more affordable--but most homes there are on the smaller side--usually 2 bedrooms. I was looking on a couple of websites and I did notice a 3 bedroom for $3000 in Noe Valley today. (Pretty rare in Noe Valley where rents are sky high.) So you might be able to find one there if you are persistent.

You might also consider somewhere just across the bay in the Berkeley Hills or in South San Francisco. If you don't mind the commute that might be easier. Schools are relatively good in Sunset and Richmond and there are private (what you guys call "public schools" I think).

Good luck!

No, you're not dreaming. I think you will probably find that you can get a lot more space here. Also SF's transportation system is pretty good, so even if you are out by Richmond or Sunset you won't have too much of a problem getting places. Sunset, I think is a great place for a family. You have Golden Gate Park on the north (almost like Central Park in New York with fewer muggers); you have Ocean Beach on the west (which is unfortunately only slightly warmer than Dover Beach with out the cliffs); you have the SF Zoo and SF State on the south and then just past the hills of West Portal you get Noe Valley, Castro Mission, Haight and all that good stuff.

But the great thing is that Sunset stays relatively quiet. Not too much by way of gangs and that sort of stuff, so you can live a relatively "normal life". Oh, but you do get a lot of fog, though you should be used to that.

Cheers.