Campbell Vs Cupertino Vs Santa Clara Vs Sunnyvale (San Jose, Santa Cruz: apartments, houses)

[agirl20]

Hi Everyone.

I am going to be moving into the bay area and will be working for Apple. I will be living with a flat-mate who will be working in N. San Jose. For the first couple of months, both of us will not be having cars so we are trying to find apartments which have public transport access. We are both in early twenties so I am looking for a place that is fun to live in. Can you guys please suggest localities/area/apartments which might fall in our criteria?


Thank you

[darkeconomist]

If you're avoiding the car, where your roommate is working in north SJ will be an important factor. Also, price range.

[bobby_guz_man]

You're only going to be without the car for several months. Don't worry about the fun part, worry about the home-to-work commute first. After you get the car, then start worrying about your fun.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Santa Clara is close to North San Jose. Not sure where Apple is. Santa Clara University is right next to North San Jose. Great neighborhood. I live in this neighborhood, right next to SCU and love it. Very safe. Lots of young energy. Get a cheap old Toyota so you'll have easy transportation. Public transport's not really great for getting around easily.

Cupertino is pretty nice. Campbell is kind of non-descript. I think of warehouses when I think of Campbell or strip malls. Sunnyvale has lots of techies with big families. Don't know a lot about Cupertino, but I've been to restaurants there. Still think Santa Clara, by the university is your best bet.

[Local123]

"Campbell is kind of non-descript. I think of warehouses when I think of Campbell or strip malls. "

Have you been to Campbell? It has a very vibrant downtown.

I am new to this site but I am learning that the recs here are all over the place and it makes me think that people not from here should take the "advice" given here with a huge grain of salt.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by bobby_guz_man

You're only going to be without the car for several months. Don't worry about the fun part, worry about the home-to-work commute first. After you get the car, then start worrying about your fun.

Exactly. I don't know where your friend is working in North San Jose, but I can tell you pretty much about Apple's location - it's a number of buildings along both sides of DeAnza Boulevard between I-280 and Stevens Creek Boulevard.

If you want to take public transit, the VTA #55 bus runs on DeAnza Boulevard. Note that north of Homestead Road, which is the city limits and the start of Sunnyvale, DeAnza Blvd. becomes Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road. So as a starting point, you may want to live pretty close off of Sunnyvale-Saratoga Rd. Or within biking distance. I'd suggest Sunnyvale as a better choice, as the rents in C'tino tend to be higher (school age families move there for the public schools).

[Wry_Martini]

Apple (and the other big tech companies) runs shuttles (with wifi) for folks who are commuting, from SF, Santa Cruz, etc. I'm pretty sure that while most of the bus routes are between Cupertino and SF, there may be some in the south bay, so ask
the HR rep or recruiter you're working with for information about it.

It's worth looking into, you might be able to do a combination of public transportation and the company owned shuttle.

Shuttle buses taking over Silicon Valley

[marcopolo666]

1) Apple is no longer 'confined' to "both sides of De Anza Blvd". They also have offices in Sunnyvale, and on the other side of Vallco shopping center (on Valco parkway between Wolfe and Tantau) as well as N of I-280 on Tantau, and Ridgeview Court and along Pruneridge. You need to ask Apple where you will be working.

2) Apple has free shuttles from the Caltrain station - I'm not sure which one(s) - you should also ask Apple about that. So if you live anywhere close to a Caltrain station, you can just take caltrain. It does limit your work hour/options, as they have a couple of shuttles in the AM, and a couple in the PM - they don't run all day long. (CalTrain is the regional full-size train service from SJ to SF.)
System Map

3) Bring/buy a bike. The buses ( Bus & Rail Map - Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority ) all have bike racks on the front. So you can bike a mile to the "direct line" that goes *almost* from home-to-work, but the bike on front, and then bike the last 1/2 mile to your destination. Also, CalTrain allows bikes as well. And, you might just bike to work if you don't live to far away. It rarely rains here from June-Oct (although the temp can be in the 90s). {VTA is the public transport system in the south bay cities : Valley Transit Authority.)

4) Apple is so spread out now that they have shuttles that run all the time between the different buildings during the work day. You only have to make it to ONE Apple building and then you take the shuttle. It means a longer commute time, but it's pretty stress-free.

5) Apple *used to* (and may still) provide commuter vouchers for CalTrain and/or the VTA. So you could (for example) get a monthly VTA pass for $70 that gives you unlimited rides on all buses and light rail, and Apple might pay half of it. That means that you could, for example, live in Campbell and take light rail to downtown SJ for the nightlife and not worry about have one beer too many and get pulled over. Or, you could go to one of the bars in downtown Campbell (Campbell is not just warehouses and strip-malls). Anyhow, that's another thing you need to ask Apple - do they still have a commute alternatives program, and do they give transit vouchers. Apple also had a "carpool helper" where you could easily find a carpool partner.

* Concerning actual recommendations on where to live ...

If you find a place not too far from light rail, then your flat-mate could take that to work (although it could be a 30-45 minute commute). Basically, it depends on *where* both of you are really working. If your friend's work is convenient to light rail (or CalTrain), then pick a place close by a light-rail station. ("light rail" is an electric tram, or trolley - it's part of the VTA along with the bus system). "North SJ" and "Apple" might not be a very good combo, but it will depend on exactly where the two of you are working. I've provided links to transit maps.

If you want better info from people, you'll have to provide more precise locations (such as "In Cupertino on De Anza Blvd for me, and on Tasman Drive near Zanker for my friend").

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I've been to Campbell, up Winchester, mainly, and up Bascom, and what I've seen is strip malls and warehouse type areas or malls, some suburbs. Did find a Whole Earth Foods and Trader Joes on Bascom. Went to an expensive boutique in a little area that I guess is the "vibrant downtown area," but I do live in this area, (Santa Clara) and the question was where would a young man want to live who is without a car and looking for easy commute to Apple and North San Jose, where there might be other young people stuff going on. Didn't mean to offend Campbell-ites, but I don't think that's what he's looking for.

[Local123]

I guess we won't be seeing you at Boogie on the Bayou then this weekend. No worries....it's not at all an event a young person would want to attend.

I suggest you spend a Saturday evening in Campbell soon. I think you'll be surprised. If you think Santa Clara is a more happening place for young people versus Campbell I guess we have totally different ideas of fun.

And I am not a Campbell-ite. I live in SJ.