We moved from the Mission District to Mt Davidson Manor when we had kids. Just did not want to raise kids in the Mission since I would be nervous to let them walk or ride public transportation in the area. We now have a street that has seven families with kids under 18 - a rarity in the city. Also, the schools are better for the most part on the western side of the city - both my kids went to public schools and one is still in high school. While it is a bit on the boring side, I like boring, especially when one has kids. Here are the boring aspects that I can live with: parking without residential permits and plenty of it; places to walk you dog, even at night; folks who keep up their houses; long term residents - some are now adults who grew up in these homes and are still there, a real "old time" San Francisco feel; quiet; the K car a block away; Whole Foods and a great Vietnamese restaurant at the bottom of my hill; Trader Joe's and Noriga Produce 10 minutes away; the Stonestown YMCA with lots of kid activities and great equipment and classes for adults; feeling OK about letting your kids walk to the library or take the streetcar to West Portal; the sunsets out my kitchen window with a view of the ocean; and neighbors who have the keys to my house when I lock myself out. Did I mention the parking? Anyway, the houses for the most part have a spanish character, there is lots of green and you feel relatively safe for the city here. And in 10 minutes I can be in Glen Park, the Mission, Bernal Hts, West Portal, Stonestown if I want a bit more action.
