Park Slope Versus The Burbs
New York has a reputation for being an expensive town, which of course it is. But the high housing prices and rents don’t tell the whole story. You see, New Yorkers don’t necessarily need cars. And our property taxes are pretty low. Which is why a Times story this weekend comparing the cost of living…
New York has a reputation for being an expensive town, which of course it is. But the high housing prices and rents don’t tell the whole story. You see, New Yorkers don’t necessarily need cars. And our property taxes are pretty low. Which is why a Times story this weekend comparing the cost of living in Park Slope versus Orange, NJ found that a family of four with a household income of $170,000 could actually live more inexpensively in Brooklyn than Jersey. In fact, monthly expenses were $1,285 cheaper in the County of Kings. “Specifically, each month, the suburban family needs to lay out about $5,668 to run their home and commute to work in Manhattan, compared with $3,852 for the urban family,” said The Times. “That includes most relatively static expenses — from the mortgage, property taxes and homeowner’s insurance, to transportation, utility bills and, for the house, landscaping. ” The major caveat: If you want to send your kids to private school, fuhgettaboutit. You’re better off moving to the burbs.
High-Rise, or House With Yard? [NY Times]
Photo by Betty Blade
fsrq — it was a joke.
Why am I not surprised in the least to privileged suburbanites who live in Brooklyn taking the positions they are taking without the least bit or irony?
“my daughter has much more of a world view living in the city than she would outside. And she knows it.”
Oh please. Look, if you are pleased with the lifestyle choice you’ve made for yourself and your family, good for you. Please do not turn it into some type of virtue, however.
I happen to live in the city but spent many years doing a reverse commute to the suburbs. My business travels often take me to suburban business centers and labs. It is arguable that life in NYC really gives one exposure to greater diversity. There are many types of POV’s and lives that are not well represented in NYC. For instance, it is rare to meet a person who has made a career in the armed services. Manufacturing and engineering have virtually disappeared from NYC. Folks in these professions and many others that are non-existent in NYC often have a different take on life.
I wonder what happened to the expression “Live and let live”? Why do some folks in Brownstone Brooklyn have a need to have their lifestyle choice externally ratified as superior?
tybur6????
I cant disagree with you anymore..Suburbs safer for bored teens drinking and doing drugs??????
40% of all Teen deaths are caused by motor vehicle accidents. In the suburbs virtually all things revolve around driving (this includes drinking and drugs). In NYC I’d guess the majority of teenagers dont have a drivers license.
Anyone wanna take a bet that the author of this article has a 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment in the slope?
I hate Fresh Direct and Ozzie’s.
quote:
You aren’t going to better yourself driving to Walmart, making dinner in a microwave and retiring to the television at 8:00 for reruns of the Bachelorette.
such snobbitude. that attitude is the reason why a lot of people revile fauxurbanites.
*rob*
“You aren’t going to better yourself driving to Walmart, making dinner in a microwave and retiring to the television at 8:00 for reruns of the Bachelorette. ”
But you will better yourself ordering from Fresh Direct, and posting on Brownstoner while drinking coffee at Ozzies?
You know, since we’re spouting silly negative stereotypes here.
By tybur6 on July 6, 2010 10:48 AM
I dunno Alexa…. I grew up in a small town (not a suburb, though probably similar in a way) and I think the suburbs would be MUCH safer for a bored teen using lots of drugs and drinking.
As the mother of a 14-year-old about to enter high school (a great high school, we are very, very lucky), I disagree. She can get around by herself on the train rather than needing a ride, and even more important, she and her friends will not be driving at age 16.
We hit the NYC public school jackpot all the way through, and I know how lucky we are. I thought I would have to move when she was 5 since we were zoned for an awful school back then, but we got lucky. With that caveat, if you can find your way to a good public school at each level, the city is a great place to raise a kid.
We are definitely not rich (below the median household income) and she always went to school with some kids who had more and some kids who had less. She went to various camps and programs with a huge variety of kids–different races, different social classes, different kinds of parents. Although most elementary schools are very segregated in various ways, most middle schools and high schools are not, and my daughter has much more of a world view living in the city than she would outside. And she knows it.