About Santa Clara, CA

When most people think about living in the beautiful and scenic Bay Area, the only “affordable” option that comes to mind is Oakland. While Oakland is a popular choice for those folks who want to live the Bay Area lifestyle without paying Bay Area prices, there are a host of other cities in and around the Bay Area that provide relief from the wallet crunch that is so common here. Santa Clara is located to the south of San Francisco, right next to beautiful San Jose, and it is a popular choice for many Bay Area dwellers. Founded in 1777, the city boasts a population of over 100,000, making it a large city by most people’s standards. It is also home to Santa Clara University, the oldest college or university in California. Recently, Santa Clara’s men’s basketball team has made a habit of beating much more established schools in the annual March Madness tournament every year.

While the number of sights and things to do in Santa Clara are numerous, perhaps the most interesting feature of the city is the fact that it is home to the San Francisco 49ers NFL football team. For years, the team has kept its corporate offices and training facilities here in Santa Clara, and it was recently announced that the team would be building a brand new stadium in Santa Clara to play in in the near future. The team will keep the San Francisco name, however. Most people who move to this 18 square mile city do so to be near the amazing Bay Area. The incredible views, the high wages and the amazing people are all enough to attract folks here year round.

While it can be tough to pin point one particular reason why people choose Santa Clara, the accepting nature of the people in the Bay Area has a lot to do with it. The gay and lesbian population in both Santa Clara and throughout the Bay Area is world famous, and many people flock here to immerse themselves in such an open, happy and welcoming environment.

If you are in search of a studio Santa Clara apartment, you can expect to pay $1000-$2000 per month. A one bedroom Santa Clara apartment will generally cost $1200 a month, while a larger two bedroom Santa Clara apartment will start at $1500. A three bedroom or larger Santa Clara apartment is tough to find for under $2000 a month. As high as the cost of living here is compared to most of the United States, it is still below that of living in San Francisco, which is why so many people choose Santa Clara.