I want to add that a young family (3 kids) whom one of my kids went to school with in here Chula Vista was from Pacifica, where they had inherited a house (bought long ago). They leased it and moved here for a job. After about five years in SD County, they returned to Pacifica and are still there. The parents DID tell me that the schools were very good in Pacifica but of course it is more pricey than the other areas I mentioned.
I also thought of mentioning Sunnyvale for schools but feel it will usually be out of your 45 min commute range, in traffic. The housing inventory in Sunnyvale includes 60’s and 70’s two-stories, mostly on 5000 sf lots.
In addition, I feel a commute from Union City on south (East Bay) will hit the 45-min mark on most days.
Like some other posters, I vote for the City or San Bruno and other close surrounds simply because life is short and commuting takes away so much from the worker’s already long day. Proximity is far more important than size in this instance.
Former SD resident, it would help a lot if you posted your price range.
