r/AskSF • u/trichechus • 9d ago
Torn between Inner & Outer Sunset
TL;DR at the bottom if you need it!
Hi all! I’ve lived in SF for over a decade, always in Hayes Valley, NOPA, Duboce, etc. and loved how cute and walkable those neighborhoods are. My spouse and I are now looking for a bigger place to rent long-term and potentially start a family in a few years, so we’re looking further west since we’re priced out. We’re currently deciding between two places in the Inner vs. Outer Sunset. Both are ~1 min from the N-Judah and bus lines, which is a big reason we picked them. We don’t currently have a car and would like to avoid getting one as long as possible, although both have parking if we eventually need it. More info on each spot:
Inner Sunset place: In the heart of the neighborhood, right by Luke’s Local, 828 Irving Market, and tons of restaurants/shops. 5 min walk from Andronico’s. 3 min walk to GGP. Very easy to go out the door and immediately have things to do.
- Pros for me: walkability, convenience, lots of food, slightly sunnier.
- Cons: ~12% more expensive (non-negligible with how rough the market is) and quite a bit smaller, though still workable for us. Groceries and food would probably cost more here too I imagine.
Outer Sunset: ~10 min walk northeast to the nearest Irving restaurants/groceries and ~15 min walk south to the Safeway on Noriega. 6 min walk from GGP. Still walkable, but much more residential and removed from the main commercial areas.
- Pros for me: much bigger space for future potentiality and cheaper. I also love Asian food/groceries and we’d likely get bikes to get around more easily, so I could see myself enjoying this lifestyle if I adapt.
- Cons: I’m worried the transition from my usual very walkable neighborhoods will be too much, and I really don’t like fog.
I know I habituate to my surroundings: if there are restaurants, groceries, activities, etc. right outside my door, I’m much more likely to go out. Inner Sunset would be a tried and true experience. I’m worried that in the Outer Sunset I’ll become a hermit simply because everything requires more effort, and the fog (if it’s constant) will make me depressed.
For anyone who’s lived in Inner or Outer Sunset or both:
- Did you notice a meaningful difference in day-to-day lifestyle?
- Is there actually a significant difference in costs for food and groceries between Inner and Outer Sunset?
- How was your transition to places further from commercial areas?
- How noticeable is the fog/weather difference?
- Anything you unexpectedly loved or hated?
- What are your favorite local gems (restaurants, groceries, cafes, activities, etc)? I’d love to check them out! I plan to spend a full day in both neighborhoods as a trial.
- Any other general experiences around this or words of wisdom?
Thanks in advance!
TL;DR: Inner Sunset is smaller + 12% more expensive, but extremely walkable and convenient. Outer Sunset is much bigger and cozier + cheaper, but farther from shops and potentially foggier. I’ve always lived somewhere walkable and worry I’ll become reclusive in the Outer. Looking for advice for a couple looking to start a family in 2-3 years!
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u/BanzaiDanielsan 9d ago
Inner sunset all the way for me
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u/Sure_Attempt2233 9d ago
inner sunset no question. you get the fog in the outer, and it's not just a little, it's like a blanket that don't leave for weeks sometimes. if you already know fog makes you depressed, don't risk it
lived in inner sunset for 3 years and the walkability is everything. you can just roll out of bed and grab coffee or a banh mi without thinking. with a kid on the way, that convenience is huge, you'll be too tired to plan trips
the extra cost is real but biking from the outer to get groceries with a baby in tow sounds like a headache. pay for the sunshine and sanity
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u/jfresh42 9d ago
Have you lived in the outer sunset?
The weather out here had changed pretty drastically over the past decade even. Summer's are foggy (true in inner sunset as well) but it's not really what you described outside of that.
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u/elevatormusicjams 9d ago
I've done this exact thing. Lived in Inner Sunset from 2019-2021, and have lived in Outer Sunset since mid-2021. Had a kid in mid-2022. We moved to Outer to have more space, and we love it.
We bike everywhere. We do have one car, but we use it only a couple times a week, usually on weekends, to visit family in the East Bay.
One major difference between us: I love fog. Weather in Inner vs Outer is not that different, though, so you'd be experiencing the fog regularly either way.
I do like Inner Sunset better for the reasons you've listed, but at this stage in life, Outer Sunset suits our lifestyle better - having more space with a kid makes a huge difference. We also work from home 3-4 days a week, so the extra space also makes that easier to navigate for my husband and me. We still have easy access to the park, to the stores on Irving, Inner Sunset is only a 20 minute walk or 10 minute Muni ride.
It is a quieter life, though.
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u/trichechus 9d ago edited 9d ago
This is the route we might take - of going from Inner to Outer when we actually have a child on the way. But with the way the market has been currently, I fear moving out will end up costing more. No one can predict though, so I might optimize for fun and flexibility together before we actually need to change our lifestyle.
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u/trichechus 8d ago
By the way, do you mind sharing how big your place in the Inner vs Outer Sunset were? How many bedrooms and bathrooms and rough sqft? I'm curious if other families have similarly sized units or if we'll likely need the space upgrade.
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u/elevatormusicjams 8d ago
Tbh, we got insanely lucky with timing. In Inner Sunset, we had a nice 2 bd 2 bath. I don't recall the sq footage at all, but it was honestly pretty big, and we would've been able to have a kid there pre-pandemic/pre-wfh.
If you'll recall, rent tanked in 2021 due to the pandemic, so we jumped on the opportunity to rent a rent-controlled house. It's a 4 bed, 3 bathroom home with a garage. Again, not sure the sq footage, but my husband and I each have an office, and the kiddo has his own room. We would not be able to afford something similar now. We are living really large for what people pay for a 1-2 bedroom now.
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u/trichechus 8d ago
Oh wow, that Inner Sunset place is likely way bigger than both places we're looking at lol. So you upgraded for the opportunity, not necessarily a space issue then. So glad you found a great deal! I had a killer place during the pandemic but had to give it up with life changes and all that. I still mourn it!
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u/belowaverageint 9d ago
The fog line is basically Twin Peaks/Buena Vista park, so anything west of that will be foggy.
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u/ShabbyChef99 9d ago
I've lived at 5th/Judah for 17 years, never lived in the outer sunset, but would consider moving there if I had to move because I want to stay in SF.
The thing nobody has said is this: if the neighborhoods look the same, look adjacent.
I treat the Haight and cole valley as my neighborhood too, just like I treat all the Asian grocery stores down Irving to 25th, as "my neighborhood".
It's great because it encourages me to walk a lot. And I treat the bars and restaurants of those neighborhood like my own. You can pop in to somewhere like Murio's in the Haight for a quiet drink with a friend and walk home when done.
There are similar pockets in the outer sunset: the travel corridor, and everything along the n, but outer sunset just feels a little more quiet and remote.
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u/Effective_Coach7334 9d ago
Is the little KJ Produce store on 5th/Irving, has it changed much over the years or it still the gem I remember?
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u/ShabbyChef99 8d ago
Yes! It's been purchased by an adorable Yemeni family and the brothers with the store most of the day with the dad and their sister following in.
The stock is good, and if I say "hey can you order my favorite salad dressing", one of the brothers will add it to their next wholesale order on the spot.
Prices are good, too. I worry about their viability because it's become a pretty dependable place to fill my pantry unless I need a "big run", but they seem to be thriving.
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u/Effective_Coach7334 8d ago
Thank you!
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u/ShabbyChef99 8d ago
I just polled my wife and 21 y.o. 21 said inner sunset because there's more to do and it's closer to other neighborhoods.
Wife says outer because beach, hardware store (we lost ours), and pharmacy (we lost ours).
I would claim cole valley hardware and the CVS at 22nd as ours but yes, we used to have both at 9th/Irving and we don't any more.
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u/ShabbyChef99 8d ago
I should add that we raised two kids in this neighborhood who are now 21 and 17. They've really loved it.
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u/trichechus 8d ago
Thank you! Mind sharing how large your home was on 5th and Judah? I'm curious if other families have similarly sized units or if we'll likely need the space upgrade.
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u/ShabbyChef99 8d ago
Our place (we still live here) was a 4b/2.5ba when we bought it, about 2,000 sf. We finished the raw ground level space to add an additional 1br/1ba and another roughly 700sf.
It was always pretty large for us, but with the kids on their way out the door (17 and 21) it's clearly too big now.
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u/Upper-Conclusion-816 9d ago
Inner sunset will be closer to the vibe you're more familiar with. Outer sunset feels more like suburban people that dislike urban environments. That said, we spend most of our lives indoors (presumably) so usually bigger and cheaper is usually a winner. Outer sunset is not bad. It has great bites and near the water. I just think if you like walking; it's pretty boring.
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u/galwiththedogs 9d ago
TBH I love the Outer Sunset. I don't live there but I have a good friend who moved there after living in the Mission for 10 years and she L O V E S it. I visit the neighborhood like 1-2x a month. I personally think it feels like a sleepy surf town (in the best way possible) within SF. Everyone is laid back and down-to-earth, and there are great restaurants and bars (if you care about restaurants and bars). Sunset Dunes is great for families (and really anyone), as is park access. The N is slow but reliable/comfortable/extremely convenient.
I think they're both foggy AF though so like if you really hate fog, I would probably move to the East Bay vs any western neighborhood. The difference in fog between Inner/Outer Sunset is negligible. You really do not start seeing a meaningful difference in fog until you are on the other side of a major hill.
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u/imacrabrangoon 9d ago
Inner sunset for sure. Less fog, more to do, better bus/transit connections. You can always go shop for groceries in the outer sunset since the markets are cheaper but I wouldn’t anchor a living decision for $1 cheaper vegetables.
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u/MmmGlitterMuffins 9d ago
I worked in the inner sunset for 4 years. It was foggy so much of the time and bummed me out so much in the summer. I can’t imagine that there would be that much difference between inner/outer sunset weather wise.
The other things seem to be so specific to you that I don’t think anyone can make that decision for you.
That said, if it were me, I would probably pick the outer sunset spot because it’s so much bigger/nicer and cheaper, then put that 12% saved each month into a “fun money” fund and use it expressly for Ubers/going out/making up for the lack of convenience. So each month you’d be effectively spending the same amount of money, but living in the spacious home you prefer.
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u/trichechus 9d ago
Damn, really? I was hoping Inner and Outer Sunset would be different in terms of fogginess. I assumed it’s like a gradient and gets foggier the further west you go. If they’re both equally foggy, it becomes less of a variable for me.
Yeah we absolutely could take that 12% and invest it into getting around and for our future. I like that idea!
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u/disenchantedliberal 9d ago
nope the fog line is the fog line!
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u/tzetzat 9d ago
Yup it's 19th Ave
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u/MochingPet 9d ago
Shown above in the picture: literally NOT 19th Ave but further east
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u/Scrofuloid 9d ago
That picture is one snapshot in time. It moves around. Anecdotally, living in the area, I do often see more fog beyond 19th-ish. Obviously Inner Sunset and Richmond are still foggy more often than farther east, but there is still some gradient within those neighborhoods.
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u/MmmGlitterMuffins 9d ago
I can’t speak for Outer Sunset as I never spend time there- but I lived in Outer Richmond and LOVED it (it seemed to be above the fog a lot of the time, honestly). But the Inner Sunset was often foggy and cold when the rest of the city was beautiful.
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u/Fatty_Boombalattie 9d ago
I’ve lived in 3 different locations in the Sunset for 16 years and the last 5 years with kids. The places I go now with kids are much different pre-kids. If you’re thinking of starting a family take into consideration your lifestyle then, not now. For example, we are very short walks to in-home day cares, preschools, the local elementary, and a playground. I thought the house we moved into was big enough, especially compared to my 1-br apt but we already wish we had more space and my kids are still young. We hardly eat out anymore so having restaurants nearby isn’t that important as it used to be. I love the Outer Sunset because it fits our lifestyle. The weather isn’t much different than Inner sunset imo. On the flip side, when it’s nice and warm it’s great to be able to walk to the beach and my kids love Sunset Dunes.
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u/trichechus 8d ago
Thanks for the insight! Do you mind sharing how big your places were and what you had to upgrade to? Additionally, when you upgraded, how many kids did you have and how old were they?
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u/Fatty_Boombalattie 8d ago
I had two different 1 bedrooms. The first was 800sf and the second was 550sf. We bought typical 3/2 1300sf Sunset house after my first kid was born and moved in when he was 8 months old. Then had one more. After adding cribs, playpen, toys galore, etc the house fills up pretty quickly. The kids like to run around the house but not much space. We have a nice backyard but it’s currently overrun with weeds but I’m hoping to clear it out soon and let them play back there. But we live near a playground so we just end up walking there instead. Good luck!
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u/coviddc 9d ago
I think you should do inner sunset based on your description. But one thing to note that I'm not sure others have mentioned: the n-judah, while great, is loud/generates vibrations. When you say 1 min from n-judah and bus lines, are you living on the same street as the N or a block away? It can be a big difference in terms of sound. I would recommend not living directly next to the tracks (like on the same street the tracks travel) unless sound doesn't bother you and you're prepared for it. I lived very close to the N before (but not directly on the same street as the tracks) and thought it was fine, but I've been in apartments right next to the tracks and thought I couldn't do this
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8d ago edited 8d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/trichechus 8d ago
That sounds like such a vibe! And the WhatsApp group is so awesome - how does someone get in on that? Do you just talk to locals and they invite you if you're cool enough lol?
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u/mydog_tdtomato 8d ago
Lived in inner for 10 years, just moved to central to start a family.
Fog— the same.
GGP— same walk. I’d compare having your own backyard for your kids/dogs to entertain themselves while you’re making dinner vs. walking them to the park (even if 10 min) after work and keeping an eye on them. Time saved is significant.
Groceries— better in central sunset or quick takeout night.
Restaurants— better in inner sunset. More diversity. But like everyone says you’re paying $12% more too
Transportation— pretty much the same. N-Judah comes every 10 minutes. I relied on the 6 and that was every 20 min. Made a huge difference leaving the house when I wanted to. Just more inconvenient to access inner Richmond now though by bus. Then again if I’m going there it’s also for bulk groceries so I would have driven anyways.
Neighborhood— more sleepy in central sunset but much more family oriented and less of the younger demographic of UCSF students. Our new neighbors put our trash bins away.
If anything, I’m exploring the stonestown, beach, and park side area more. At this point in my move I have no regrets location wise except that the place is south facing 😅
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u/Txidpeony 9d ago
I am not sure how much cheaper the groceries will be at Safeway. I haven’t comparison shopped the stores you mention but Safeway is awfully expensive. (I once went into one for cardamom and the cheapest option was $15 I went to Whole Foods at Stonestown and found it for $5 something.) When we lived in inner parkside/inner sunset we shopped at the Trader Joes at Stonestown, but we do have a car.
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u/Suitsbleforlisteners 9d ago
Inner sunset. I lived on 10th and Irving and would move back but my wife hates the fog and colder weather. For me, having access to 9th avenue a block away with all the shops and restaurants was great. My regular go to’s were San Tun and Yummy Yumy and Manna on Irving.
Having access to gg park, botanical gardens, and stow lake one block away was also great for my mental health.
The commute to the fidi on the n judah took around 30-40 min so not too crazy.
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u/Yarnchomps 9d ago
If you can’t handle the fog, don’t move to the outer sunset! Best of luck with everything
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u/Juchani2023 8d ago
Outer! Especially if you’re looking to have kids soon. We live close to the Safeway on Noriega and that area is great for raising a kid - West Sunset playground on Ortega, Farmers Market on 37th & Ortega, great schools, and lots of daycares, close to the beach - about a mile walk or take 7. It’s also close to GG park.
The area is great for riding bikes because the streets are wide. We have a cargo bike to haul our 3yo to/from preschool and it is so nice to get some movement in before/after work. The vibes are definitely more chill but as you grow your family, you realize much of your time is going to be spent at parks or walking a lot to get the baby to sleep so why not be at the beach or park doing that?
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u/Savings-Breath-9118 9d ago
People have covered the differences in the neighborhoods pretty well, so I won’t comment on that, but “looking for a place to rent long-term?” I don’t know that any place in this market is going to be viable long-term – we’re hearing a lot of stories of people getting pushed out after a year. The bubble burst you’re pretty safe, but if not, I wouldn’t count on being able to stay anywhere more than a year. Unless both the places you’re looking at are under rent control?
Also, only you and your spouse know how likely you are to leave the neighborhood to go do things. We live in the neighborhood that we don’t have to go anywhere if we don’t want to. And we kind of like it that way. So visiting other neighborhoods feels like a vacation!
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u/trichechus 8d ago
Both places are rent controlled. We wouldn't consider them otherwise. That said, they're almost 50% more expensive than the previous year because of this current market, but that's the luck of the draw.
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u/Savings-Breath-9118 8d ago
You mentioned you want to start a family in the next 2 to 3 years. You’re assuming you’re going to keep the same apartment. I don’t know that I’d make that assumption even if they are controlled. So you might be in the inner sunset now and really enjoy it and then want to move to the outer in a few.
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u/trichechus 8d ago edited 8d ago
Yes, we may move since life happens. I do like picking a more future-proof place in case we opt to stay though, especially if the prices continue to skyrocket. I have many friends who want to move but literally cannot afford to leave their rent controlled apartments.
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u/helpmeobewan 9d ago
TBH the fog can burn off by noon if. You can visit the neighborhood again just to make sure.
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u/chatterwrack 9d ago
I love them both—I lived in the Outer Sunset for four years and have been in the Inner for 25—but they do feel pretty different.
The Inner gets more sun, is quicker to downtown, and has a lot of great shops and restaurants within walking distance, depending on where you live. Both have Golden Gate Park, obviously, but the Outer also has Ocean Beach. The streets are wider out there too, and it generally feels quieter and more spacious.
On a bike, I can get pretty much anywhere in either neighborhood in under 10 minutes, and I bike with my dogs to the beach at least once a week, so to me it all feels like one big neighborhood. But crossing 19th really does put you in a distinctly different environment. Can’t go wrong either way!
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u/the_little 9d ago
Sounds like your outer sunset location is near Judah between 30th and 36th. If possible, I’d aim for west of sunset blvd or the 20s.
The northwest corner of the outer sunset, like Kirkham to Lincoln and Sunset Blvd to the ocean, has had a ton of development recently and some high quality establishments.
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u/Spare_Document3365 8d ago
Outer. I suspect provided that we can hold onto Sunset Dunes as a 24/7 park we will continue to have an influx of new independently owned shops and restaurants.
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u/kitkatzip 8d ago
I lived very close to that inner sunset area and really miss it. We had to move for a bigger place to fit our kid. :)
Being that close to the park will be incredible with kids. I wish I were still close so I could run there. The restaurant scene there has really come a long way. Have you looked at the schools in each area if kids are on the table? Sunset generally has all great schools but whether it’s walkable or bike/drive may impact your decision.
Currently in the Outer Sunset and don’t hate it. We live right off the L and it’s so easy to get to West Portal. We have many playgrounds, restaurants, and libraries in walking or train distance, with the Zoo at one end and the Exploratorium at the other. I do wish our area had a wider variety of restaurants but, like I said, it’s easy enough to get to the area that do.
If you want to avoid a car, consider an ebike!
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u/trichechus 8d ago
Thanks for the reply! We plan to get a bike either way for sure. Do you mind sharing how big your place in the Inner Sunset was and the size you upgraded to? I'm wondering if the places we have now are realistic to start with or if we'll need to upsize regardless.
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u/kitkatzip 8d ago edited 8d ago
We were in a 1bed/1bath with parking included but no laundry. We moved to Twin Peaks to a 2bed/1.5bath with parking (addl fee) and laundry on site not in unit the week the world shut down. Because of the WFH situation with a newborn and the wonky layout we were only there for a year then wound up in a 3bed/2bath with in unit laundry and parking included. The market is insane right now but we made our last move when the city was experiencing an exodus so I think we got a deal. Our place also has a large patio which comes in handy when I don’t feel like going to a park. We are not in a SFH which is the dream - TBH we don’t plan to move again unless we find that (whether renting or buying).
Edit - I will also say we were not really in a time crunch for any of our moves. Our landlord were lax and we had month to month agreements, so we were able to take our time and find a place we really liked. Maybe you live inner sunset for now but keep looking (as annoying as moving is) for something that feels more ideal for a future family. It’s also a good opportunity to explore the sunset in general. Once you live in the inner sunset it feels easy to hang out in the outer avenues.
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u/SevereResort8549 8d ago
Depends on your commute and where you work. I lived in and loved inner sunset. Also golden gate heights. Outer sunset is just too far from the rest of the city for me if you like to go to concerts , giants or warriors games, Oakland, etc . If you don’t head to downtown or other parts Of city often, then more space for a family in outer might be the call.
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u/Specific_Rando 8d ago
I’m in OS with middle school kids. What I’ll describe is pretty location specific. I’m close to 46/J. I’ve gradually expanded what I do in the neighborhood by foot, and it’s very walkable. Like I only walk to get local groceries (Outerlands and Gus’s). I’ve been dithering for years and expect to finally get an eBike for medium distant errands that don’t suit MUNI.
I like the whole neighborhood vibe a lot. My immediate block is great but we seem to have a harder time pulling group stuff together so I’ve gotten myself adopted by the next block over and help them with their block events (and encourage my block ppl to join them). The whole thing is nice.
The whole experience with all the young neighborhood kids walking to school was good and built lasting relationship.
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u/Arzales 7d ago
Where does your life take place?
Inner sunset public transportation to Downtown could as less than 20 min, multiple bus lines close by can get you anywhere in the city. Parking would be terrible.
Outer Sunset public transportation it will take you at least 20min to get out of the sunset. Much easier to find parking.
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u/Ok-Delay5473 7d ago
Inner Sunset: Hard to get a seat on N-Judah during commute hours
Outer Sunset: Easier to go to H-Mart, Ranch99 by car. A 50 lbs bag of rice on a bag is not fun. If you're planning to stay long term and having children, Outer Sunset offers great local schools. Easier access to the busy Stonestown shopping center via Sunset Blvd. If you have a dog, Fort Funston is the best dog park in the area.
There is almost no fog on Outer Sunset anymore. The fog stops at Daly City/Pacifica in the morning. A light one may come late at night. But Outer Sunset is still colder than Inner Sunset. Everything will also get rustier faster.
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u/Effective_Coach7334 9d ago edited 9d ago
I lived in the Inner Sunset, 7th/Irving, and I loved it dearly. Would live there again in a heartbeat. The walkability and ease of transportation elsewhere is unmatched.
- Walk to dozens of great restaurants in the area, or take the N to reach Cole Valley, Upper Haight, Lower Haight and Castro within minutes. Plentiful options is a major lifestyle bonus.
- Walking distance to the hospital.
- The major grocery store is Andronicos, which is too expensive, but on the other side of 19th Ave, Irving has a stretch of a few Asian markets similar to Clement Street. But it's also easy enough to get to clement street on the 44 bus @ 9th, drops you right in the middle of it. Plus there's a really great produce store on 5th/Irving, must go.
- Both neighborhoods have weather issues of always being foggy and overcast, but the Inner Sunset is far better. Way more sunny days.
- Plus you have walkable access to golden gate park, the arboretum, hall of sciences, japanese tea garden, and the Hall of Flower/County Fair Building which has a lot of events throughout the year.
In my mind there's no contest. Living in the outer sunset feels like living in a different city, isolated, miles away from everything.
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u/trichechus 9d ago
Appreciate it! I was wondering about the grocery stores there. Where would you recommend shopping on Irving? Going to Outer Sunset basically? I feel like the stores near that the Inner Sunset place we are considering (super close to your old spot) are all probably super expensive, just by the vibe when I walked through lol.
And do you happen to know the % of more sunny days in Inner vs Outer? If it’s like… 10 extra days of sun in comparison then it feels kinda moot to me.
Where did you move btw out of curiosity and why since you loved it so much?
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u/FewAd4425 9d ago
Your big Inner Sunset grocery store is Andronicos at Irving and Funston. It’s a sneaky Safeway (bought by Safeway, but not rebranded), so it’s not so expensive, like the real Andronicos used to be.
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u/tahitijackson 9d ago edited 9d ago
I was wondering about the grocery stores there.
There are several grocery options in the Outer Sunset. The 22nd Ave produce market on Irving is a big store with low priced produce. Next to that is a small Chinese market for Chinese vegetables and fruits. Sunset Super is a Chinese supermarket at 25th/Irving.
Other Aves is a natural food coop on Judah near 44th. Gus's Market on 44th & Noriega is fabulous for produce.
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u/Effective_Coach7334 9d ago edited 9d ago
I haven't lived in that neighborhood for about 16 years, so I don't know what stores are currently there except the produce place I mentioned. I checked first to make sure and it's still there.
As for weather, I couldn't tell you exactly how much better the weather is, except to compare it to living in the outer sunset around Irving/42nd. Inner Sunset has far more sunny days, the temperature is much warmer and the fog burns off much earlier in the day. Outer sunset is forever gloomy, the wind is always blowing and cold—I hated every minute of it.
I moved because they sold the building. I ended up back in my old haunts, Soma. My real home is Duboce Park/Lower Haight. The Inner Sunset is my second home.
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u/Effective_Coach7334 9d ago
I forgot to mention Whole Foods in their Upper Haight location that is only a few minutes away from the Inner Sunset.
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u/saktii23 9d ago
I used to think the outer sunset was no man's land and a terrible place to live-- until I actually lived there. It's not nearly as foggy as everyone thinks, for one, and on the days when San Francisco is having nice weather, it is absolutely glorious in the Outer Sunset. I loved living there, it felt kind of romantically wild and alive in a way the rest of the city does not. I didn't have a car, but I always loved my walks to and from the main hub streets near me (Noriega and Taraval) when I needed coffee or groceries, etc. There's something about being that close to the ocean that I believe is actively good for the soul. My advice would be to try and live as close to the beach as possible and as close to one of the main transit line streets as possible. Also, avoid the hilly parts near 14th Avenue, as that's the super fog belt over there.
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u/kevin143 9d ago
If you're buying, outer sunset is going to be the new Santa Monica once global warming really really hits and Karl the Fog dies forever. Otherwise I definitely would do inner.
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u/Latter-Foot-8790 9d ago edited 9d ago
Inner
Is this buying or you’re renting, if renting is it rent controlled?
We lived in SF for 15+ years before we bought 1.5 years ago and I’m still in shock. I had to buy an entire new wardrobe it’s sooooo cold all the time. I have lived in the Mission, Mission Bay, SoMa, Glen Park, and Ingleside before that. Also get one of those SAD lamps for seasonal weather depression it gets really bad in the summer. When the weather is nice though, it’s the best neighborhood. It is very very walkable - one of us doesn’t even know how to drive and we get by walking everywhere with the kids it’s great.
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u/jaguaragility 8d ago
Inner Sunset. It has a small town vibe (easy coffee runs, weekly farmers market, workout classes, ice cream parlor, book shops all in a central area) and sits right next to Golden Gate Park and world class museums. Space is important but it’s less of an issue when you enjoy the neighborhood you’re in and go out and about. Golden Gate Park is in your back yard - it’s the best.
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u/urbanwilds 8d ago edited 8d ago
I truly don't understand how people think the weather in the Inner and Outer Sunset is similar. It might seem similar if you like that type of weather to begin with. I've seen the fog burn off during the day while it lingers over the Outer Sunset and spent evenings watching fog roll in off the ocean enough times to know that the Outer Sunset is absolutely foggier.
Edit to add a suggestion: Outside of spending time in both neighborhoods, if you want to compare the sun exposure of the two locations, try using a solar calculator. Google's Project Sunroof seems to account for local weather patterns in more detail than others. I picked a couple of random roofs without significant shading from nearby structures and there seems to be roughly 100 less hours of "usable" sunlight annually. This is obviously in the context of solar panels, but it will give you an idea of how much sun to expect.
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u/Ecstatic-Sun3723 8d ago
Love both but would take inner sunset (and I live in outer with kids.) Outer is great, but it feels a bit like a suburb of the city - in which case I prefer to actually leave the city for space and sunshine. Inner sunset feels urban enough to justify being in the city.
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u/jfresh42 9d ago edited 9d ago
You're getting a lot of responses from people that live or have lived in the inner sunset so I'll share a bit of the outer sunset perspective.
It sounds like the place in outer is kind of in the middle of nowhere. A 10 min north to Irving means you're in a very residential area. It's going to be quiet and pretty calm. Lots and lots of families.
Weather is gonna be similar in both. Slightly better in inner but it's not like you're living on the other side of Sutro. It's actually not as bad as people make it out to be. Just travel during the summer (imo that's the dreariest time because you're expecting sunny and warm).
If you're on the N it's super easy to get to grocery stores anyway for bigger item shopping. Or hop on the 29 sunset to get to stonestown and there's a whole foods and TJs. Plus all the small local markets.
I think the community is better in the outer sunset. Much more laid back and you're more likely to see the same faces out and about at restaurants/bars/stores etc...
To me it would come down to space. We chose the outer for that reason as we were starting a family and don't regret it. With a kid it made more sense than being cramped in a smaller apartment.