Founded in 1852, Oakland is one of the largest cities in  California and is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. Oakland encompasses a wide area of territory from the bay's shore all the way up into the eastern hills which includes an abundance of diverse communities and neighborhoods.
There are plenty of things to do in Oakland, with a major zoo, several museums, several shopping centers and districts, a Chinatown, and a large variety of restaurants and eateries. Along with Lake Merritt, Chabot Space Center with their intersellar exhibits and Jack London Square with their hit Jazz Club Yoshi's and their annual Fourth of July Fair and Fireworks display. All of this within easy access of BART and other forms of public transportation. 

Oakland offers a variety of housing types from apartments in the main city to houses in the hills, and "flat lands" with styles from Rockridge Craftsmen to West Oakland Victorians.

Berkeley

The Sum of its parts, Berkeley was once two seperate communities that came together to create what Berkeley is today, a combination of an interllectual's paradise (College of California, precursor to the UC Berkeley Campus) snf the working man's home (The town formly known as Ocean View).

The Area sport of lovely collection of housing sytles that can fit anyone's tastes. Berkeley downtown, Telegraph Avenue and Bancroft are full of shops and restaurants that add to the charm of the entire city. There ae numerous gardens, museums and parks like The Rose Garden, Tilden Park and the Lawrance Hall of Science. Berkeley also has the nationally renowned Chez Panisse, a  "Gourmet Ghetto" located in on 1517 Shattuck Avenue.

With the heart of Berkeley being the UC Berkeley Campus giving this city its liberal flair and interllectual reputation. While the area is somewhat expensive, its well worth it fot the look and feel of this beautiful architecturally and culturally enriched city.

San Francisco

The Pinnacle of the Bay Area, it is the center of it all.  San Francisco sparks a variety of diverse communities with a huge assortment of housing stytles from studio apatments to Victorian Houses.

While Living in San Francisco may be expensive, they place offers a lot of interesting things to do like the huge assortment of landmarks to visit, museums to check out and shopping/entertainment centers to visit like Chiantown, Meteron, The Asian Art Museum and Lombard street. Along with plenty of financial opportunities, with Financial, Industrial and several commecial districts San Francisco provides jobs for the entire Bay Area let alone San Fransisco residents.

Education in San Francisco is high class with the famous Lowell High School, the oldest High school this side of the Mississippi River. Another thing to keep in mind is the political atmosphere that is so aparent in San Francisco, the City has adopted many progressive policies like basic universal health care, alternative/bio-diesel Buses and Public vehicles for example Fire Engines. All of which work in concert for the City to follow the Kyoto Protocol.  San Francisco offers a great location that can fit the tastes of anyone in the market.

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Some Useful Demographic Information (US Cesus Bureau):
median household income: $55,221
median family income: $63,545
dominant age group: 25 - 54
median age: 36.5

Albany

Berkeley's little bother, Albany was founded in 1909 after a dispute over city lines and territory with Berkeley. A lovely area below the hills of kensington and reight next to Berkeley. The proximity to Berkeley makes it the perfect place for UC Berkeley Students who cannot or will not live in Berkeley. The Education system here is known to be the best in the San Francisco Bay Area, an added plus for people who are thinking about starting a family.

El Cerrito

A diamond in the rough, El Cerrito is a little city in between Kensington, Albany and Richmond. Its a charming place, with a great view of the bay, especially the golden gate. Its a great place to live, with 2 BART stations for easy access throughout the bay, and it is within striking distance of Oakland, Berkeley, San Fransisco, Sacramento and the Silicon Valley. The area is not especially diverse, but you find all kinds of people around. With UC Berkeley a short distance away and plenty of bus and BART options students can find this place a nice area to settle in for school.

Some Demographical data:
Median Household Income:$57,253
Median Family Income: $69,397
Dominant Age group: 25 - 54
Median Age: 42.7

Kensington

A nestled community in the hills in between El Cerrito and Berkeley, full of mid-sized bungalows with great views of the bay. Its a nice little village with its own small shopping center and town center. Kensington is within easy traveling distance to Oakland and San Fransisco and is of course right next to Berkeley

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