Woodland Ave, East Palo Alto

Don't be fooled - this street appears to be part of neighboring Palo Alto, given that it is on the west side of the freeway and the condominiums are constantly advertised at the 101 junction. But when you drive on it, it is still very much East Palo Alto until you officially cross over the leafy "Welcome to Palo Alto" junction. The houses are smaller and more run down, the vehicles outside are 1980s pickup trucks and beat-up minivans, and overcrowding is almost as much as a problem as crime.

Even the newer condominium complexes, appealing as they sound, aren't nearly as nice as the newer buildings on Bay Road and University Avenue; the whole area feels more North Fair Oaks than IKEA central. But one drive through will be more telling than reading a description.

You do have the fringe benefit here of being located within walking distance of downtown Palo Alto, and you do practically live on the right side of the tracks for much less than your neighbors a block away. Frankly, I would almost feel safer living here than a few blocks down, which warrants the proverbial target on one's back. Almost.