Near SF: san bruno, daly city In SF: potrero, mission, bernal, noe (near 101), twin peaks, sunset (near 280). If your commute is by a company shuttle, then within 10 min walk of the shuttle stop.
Bernal and mission has easy access to get out of the city but isn’t as central. It’s a good compromise imo. Russian hill, pac heights, nob hill, Hayes valley are beautiful, expensive and central to the city. You may struggle to get out of the city for Sunnyvale. (4 hour shuttle commute) if you live in these central spots make sure you’re north of post at least. It’s sketchy even at post. If you must live on post get more west into lower pac heights/Fillmore. Marina is amazing but in the north most part of the city. Terrible for commuting even worse than the central spots. Mission bay/soma has cal train access but is ugly and not as good of shuttle rides. Anywhere else will NOT have shuttles and if you’re company does not have shuttles you pretty much have to live near the cal train unless you want to leave/arrive at odd times. 7am-3pm or something I did that commute (sf to Sunnyvale daily for 2 years) AMA
Why are mission Bay and Soma bad for shuttle?
Most companies have less shuttles to those places than to van ness and mission, really depends on the company. Typically the soma shuttles do that miserable stop in San Mateo too which another person mentioned in this thread. I doubt mission bay has its own shuttle at any company also.
San Jose has decent party scene. Goof city vibe. SF is cess pool.
Been here for a while. Only oldies stay in San Jose
Man Jose is a sausage fest.