Planning on moving to the Bay Area?

You're in for a great time! The Bay Area is one of the most diverse and exciting places to live. In fact, five of the top ten most diverse cities—Hayward, San Jose, Richmond, Santa Clara, and Stockton— are all there.

What to expect

In this article, we'll talk about what to expect when moving to the Bay Area.

Let's jump in!

Technology is everywhere

Moving to the Bay Area is like moving to the future. Everywhere you look, new technology is finding a home with early adopters.

New technology will surround you—quite literally. iPads alone have a 33% penetration rate in the area—not even including other tablets.

Almost 20% of all zero-emission vehicles in the country were bought by residents of Bay Area. And if you happen to move to Mountain View, you'll see Google's self-driven cars on the road.

Not all sunlight is equal

If you're moving to the Bay Area, you probably already know that the weather is gorgeous.

What you may not know is that not all weather is exactly the same. Yes, you'll have a nice 60-degree temperature year-round, through all seasons.

But the amount of sunlight you'll get on an average day is going to depend more on where you live.

Fog covers much of the Bay Area during the morning and evening, and you need to decide ahead of time whether or not that's something you want to avoid.

You can save money by living outside San Francisco

The city is wonderful, and if you're moving to the Bay Area, your first thought was probably to live right in the middle of San Francisco.

But for all of the marvels of San Francisco, you're going to pay one of the highest prices of living—not just in the area, but in the entire United States.

Before moving to the Bay Area, consider carefully which city you'd like to live in. You can find a great place to live without the extreme costs associated with living in the big city.

Get to know your transportation options

One of the best parts of moving to the Bay Area is the broad array of transportation options you'll have.

First off, there are the trains. Between the Caltrain, BART, and Amtrak, you can get just about anywhere.

If you're going to be commuting, these should be your first option. Roads are packed, and taking the train is going to be significantly faster during rush hour.

Unfortunately, the trains stop running late at night. If you're going to be staying out past midnight, be sure to have a backup option.

Thankfully, this won't be a problem either. You can choose from Uber, Lyft, or Zipcar to provide on-demand transportation.

No matter who you are, you'll be accepted

California has been a source of all kinds of people since the early days of the Gold Rush.

This tremendous diversity has created a culture that's accepting of all kinds of people.

No matter what your religion, culture, skin color, or lifestyle, you'll find a welcoming home after moving to the Bay Area.

Formality isn't very important

While the outfit of the multi-millionaire executive in New York City is a tailored charcoal suit, the tech moguls of the Bay Area have dictated a different kind of style.

T-shirts, jeans, and hoodies are the de facto business attire for tech companies around the Bay Area. This casual look extends everywhere—from the streets to the boardroom.

If you're planning on upgrading your wardrobe when moving to the Bay Area, consider doing it after you've seen what's expected in your new neighborhood.

Every area is unique

While most people see the Bay Area as a monolith, those that live there know every city has its own culture and style.

Before moving to the Bay Area, research the city (and even neighborhood) you're going to live in. Read online forums to understand the communities that will surround you—and the stereotypes locals will infer from your address!

Startups are everywhere

If you're going to live in or around the Silicon Valley, almost everyone you meet will be working in technology—and a huge number of these individuals will be working at startups.

The Bay Area has an overwhelming number of startups, mostly centered around the tech industry.

The entrepreneurial spirit is momentous and thriving. The presence of huge companies that have "made it big," like Google, Apple, HP, and Intel only adds fuel.

Expect a lot of your new friends to be involved in tech companies you've never heard of—and have only worked there for five years.

People moving to the Bay Area are highly educated

It's just a fact: most of your neighbors will be college-educated.

The Bay Area has one of the highest percentages of residents with college degrees in the entire country.

One of the reasons for this is that large technology companies like those mentioned earlier hire the best of the best, and that usually means highly-educated experts in the computer sciences.

In addition, the cost of living in the Bay Area is so high, it necessitates only residents with a well-paying job—again, something usually attained by education.

Delicious local organic food and wine

If you would consider yourself a foodie, you should absolutely consider moving to the Bay Area.

Healthy food is grown across the region, and it's easy and inexpensive to access.

The environmental focus of residents means the naturally fertile soil is used for growing organic and healthy foods, and it's available in abundance.

You'll find no shortage of local farmers with artisan wines, heirloom vegetables, and succulent fruits ready for eating.

There's a lot in store for you

As you plan your move, be aware of the changes you'll need to prepare for.

The Bay Area is an exciting and thriving place of diversity, exciting cultural trends, and cutting-edge technology.

You're sure to become infected with the hope and optimism that comes with the cultural influence of the Bay Area.