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Comment by ericabiz | Hacker News Reader

Chris, I could not agree more. This seems to happen in the Valley every four or five years. I lived through two of those crazy cycles before finally leaving in 2009 along with a bunch of other people. By 2013, another wave will leave.

I also find it interesting that a lot of people live in the Valley in their 20's, but when they hit late 20's/early 30's, they're gone. I'm not sure how it ties in to the above statement (or if it does at all.) The most common reason I've heard is that the Valley is a terrible place to start a family.

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I find that mentality interesting. Personally, I spent a short time in the valley in my very early 20's (internship) and found it so boring outside of work that I knew I didn't want to spend the rest of my 20's there. I did see how if one already had a family it would be more bearable.

Clearly you didn't spend enough time in San Francisco. :)

True, but I draw a large distinction between 'the valley' and SF. SF was an hour and a half away in traffic from my employer, and I don't want to spend 3 hours a day of my life commuting.

The most common reason I've heard is that the Valley is a terrible place to start a family.

I would imagine that the cost of housing plays a large part in that. Housing in the Silicon Valley/Bay Area is insanely expensive. Maybe not as bad as downtown Manhattan, but still insane by the standards of pretty much every other metropolitan area in the US.

If you're by yourself, you can get away with squeezing into a tiny apartment and making do (or getting roommates). If you're starting a family, this isn't an option.

I've started a family in Silicon Valley, and it is tough financially. We were lucky to find housing a below-market rent, and it's come with some hassles but overall it has been a godsend. Other expenses like health insurance really add up -- you should see the cost of preschools on the Peninsula. I like living here but it is expensive.

The most common reason I've heard is that the Valley is a terrible place to start a family

Apart from the cost of housing, let's see: sunshine 9 months a year, driving distance of Tahoe to go ski, the ocean is 40 minutes away, we can go every weekend, plenty of campgrounds and parks within an hour drive.

No, I think it's a great place to raise a family. But of course everyone is different.

How's the schools?

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