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
11217, people were only bashing you for being a snob.
This is a free country, though, and so you have every right to be a snob.
“Most of my classmates moved to LA and trust me…LA is not fostering their creativity. They are there for work.”
Like Vienna, bless ‘er.
“plus it was an easy transition for me since i literally just lived right across the hudson river before i moved here.”
Obviously you didn’t have the problems crossing the Hudson that everyone else has.
I once crossed the Hudson in a kayak, it was terrifying.
quote:
When I first arrived in NYC I just couldn’t work out why the supermarkets were so crap. I still don’t know the answer to that
because there is a very VERY low profit margin in the supermarket business.
the suburb i lived in north jersey had all kinds of great and varying ethnic restaurants.. but it was an inner ring suburb and those tend to be a little more urban than the new subdivision types of suburbs
*rob*
If that’s not true, then WHY did you all move here?
I live here because my entire family lives in NYC (Harlem and Jamaica) and because I am a filmmaker and this is where I can find work. Most of my classmates moved to LA and trust me…LA is not fostering their creativity. They are there for work.
But when it comes to sitting down and writing, most of the writers I know go on retreats for that. If not they lock themselves in their apartments because the city can be a huge distraction. Again, everyone’s process is different.
Sure, the comparison has some holes, but I applaud the article for at least calling into question the widespread convention that living in the suburbs is always cheaper. The Times did a different feature a few months ago that examined the calculations involved in renting vs. buying, and, surprise surprise, it turns out that the convention that buying is a better investment isn’t always true either, particularly in pricey urban areas.
Sure, in many cases these assumptions do hold true, but not all or even necessarily most, so I like seeing them taken apart a little bit, since many, many people accept them as gospel without really examining the numbers and factors themselves. Basically, it’s not at all clear-cut, and depends a lot on your lifestyle and family situation (to put personal preferences aside). I think that’s a far cry from the public’s general perception.
The suburban food situation is definitely a problem. However, while the restaurants and greemarkets are generally lacking or absent, the suburban supermarkets put NYC’s glorified bodgea supermarkets to shame. When I first arrived in NYC I just couldn’t work out why the supermarkets were so crap. I still don’t know the answer to that, but at least I’ve become inured to their crapiness.
quote:
If that’s not true, then WHY did you all move here?
because i thought id live the fabulous lifestyle of sarah jessica parker? that’s a good question tho. i guess one of the reasons is that i dont have a drivers license and dont want one so public transportion it a major factor. honestly, cuz of the internet, one can live anywhere. nyc or any city for that matter really isnt all that special.
plus it was an easy transition for me since i literally just lived right across the hudson river before i moved here.
*rob*
“DH, you seem to be the resident food critic of Brownstoner…how’s the restaurant scene in your home burb? ”
It sucks – this isn’t about what I like better. It’s about the overall snobby tone of this thread. There is a whole lot more economic/cultural diversity in ALOT of suburban towns than areas in Brooklyn. And trying to justify sending your kids to substandard public schools based on some intangible “world view” that just sounds stupid.
FWIW – The Cheesecake Factory makes a mean Gin Ricky.