The East End, and particularly Fernside, are generally much more expensive then the West End. You're paying for schools, which are much better, and for the neighborhood, which is better maintained, which has fewer rentals and far less low-income housing. (The West End's waterfront Ballena Point is its own neighborhood and can be quite pricey due to its deep-water dockage and direct bay access.) There's a perception that the West End has more crime, but I don't know that the statistics necessarily back that up. Personally I've found the West End to have some lovely homes, particularly near Encinal High, and the interior parts of the neighborhood are very quiet and have little traffic. If you're willing to take a chance, the West End could be a good investment, particularly once the naval base is developed with (what will almost certainly be) very expensive housing.
