I'm looking for an apartment in Palo Alto. I know they're pretty expensive.

What's the typical cost of 2br in the safe place? I don't need something luxurious, but not a ghetto and definitely not an old cracked building with mad landlord.

What're the good spots to live there?

Personally, I was thinking about the block that starts with Sand Hill Rd and ends with Oregon Expy, and Middlefield Rd and El Camino Real from the other side. I don't know how are my chances to find something affordable there though ;)

Speaking of this, how safe is to move closer to 101? What're the limits where I can stop and look around for good apartment without compromising safety for me and my family? I have a small kid, who'll go to school eventually, I want him to be in a good one.

I also liked San Mateo, but it is too small and old for me. I came from Los Angeles area, and even if I used to live in suburbs (Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank) they still had kind of more interesting downtowns there. But San Mateo has got a great placement, with making it easy 20-ish minutes to almost anywhere (with no traffic).

Thank you!