Here in S.F. you can get a child size bedroom and 5 minutes in the bathroom (a day). Kitchen Whats that? No shoes inside. No parking.

a house in one the "upperclass" neighborhoods or four houses in my neighborhood

that's crazy !

In Palo Alto for just $1,000 a month. You can get a tent in someone's backyard. Once a day use of the bathroom. I know it is not funny, but if one did not laugh one would be crying.

wow. And I thought the NY area was bad. I could get at least a studio for that much - maybe a 1BR.

There are still some areas in SF you can get a room for less. But, I don't think a it would be an area that one would feel safe living in.