Forbes Discovers New York's Middle Class
“Despite Mayor Bloomberg’s celebration of “the luxury city,” there’s still a middle class in New York, although not in the zip codes close to hizzoner’s townhouse. In many cases, they live in Bay Ridge, Bayside, Brighton or Bensonhurst, in the vast sprawl that is Brooklyn and Queens. Some of the emerging middle class also cluster…
“Despite Mayor Bloomberg’s celebration of “the luxury city,” there’s still a middle class in New York, although not in the zip codes close to hizzoner’s townhouse. In many cases, they live in Bay Ridge, Bayside, Brighton or Bensonhurst, in the vast sprawl that is Brooklyn and Queens. Some of the emerging middle class also cluster in places like Ditmas Park, a reviving part of Flatbush. The new population here is made up largely of information age “artisans”–musicians, writers, designers and business consultants who cluster in New York. They may have migrated there for the culture, but they stay because they find these neighborhoods congenial and family-friendly. “It’s easy to name the things that attracted us–the neighbors, the moderate density,” explains Nelson Ryland, a film editor with two children who works part-time at his sprawling turn-of-the-century Flatbush house. “More than anything, it’s the sense of the community. That’s the great thing that keeps people like us here.” — Forbes
housing costs are expensive if you want a doorman building with a gym and spa.
“lol. I was young once. I remember what it was like to think like this.”
so you’re entitled to have a kid? Just the same way as my gf thinks she is entitled to have her own bathroom?
Santa,
I totally agree with you. I was making less than 30K when I first arrived in 2000 and did so for 2 years. Those were some of the most fun times in my life. In NYC, as long as you’ve got a roof over your head and enough to eat, some of the most amazing things about the city can be had for free.
People also underestimate the fact that anywhere outside NYC requires a car, which is basically a $500 a month expense for the car payment, insurance and gas. It basically makes up for the increased expense of housing when we’re talking about a moderate salary like that of someone sharing an apartment with a couple friends or roommates.
30K for a single person in this city is not difficult. I’m not sure I’d say it’s EASY, but it’s definitely doable. Some people on this website think that if you don’t live in 3000 sf, your life must be a shitshow.
“then what makes living in this city difficult?”
Housing costs.
“wanting to have children and living here is the same as wanting everything from the Marc Jacob’s catalog. If you dont make enough money then you should do it.”
lol. I was young once. I remember what it was like to think like this.
i hate the people that tell people who make between 25 and 50 k a year that they should move out of the city and make a better life for themselves somewhere else. um what? you can’t be for real to use that as a blanket statement can you? also there is a good safety cushion in nyc when it comes to social services. if anything truly disastrous happens you’re basically in a good place. not a “good” place in life, but perhaps much better than if you were down on your luck in other parts of the country. i dont know, that’s just how i see it.
and i love that today i learned im truly middle class. go me! im stepping UP in the world!
*r*
Northsloperenter:
I don’t understand. Most of my friends in my age bracket (early 30’s) are making roughly 75K or 100K at this point working in non-finance related jobs. If you need a 2 bedroom place, we’ll assume you are a dual income household, so let’s say a couple each making 75K for a total of 150K a year, 450K mortgage, 20% down, aren’t we talking about a 600K or so apartment here?
Very easy to find a 2 bedroom for 600K in most areas of Brooklyn and Queens. Even in the most prime neighborhoods this would be possible.
If you go to Ditmas or Kensington, you can get a 2 bedroom for 400K or less.
then what makes living in this city difficult? Its not expensive transportation and to a certain degree its not housing if you’re smart.
wanting to have children and living here is the same as wanting everything from the Marc Jacob’s catalog. If you dont make enough money then you should do it. Other than this I see no reason why its not easy to live here on 30k. yes EASY.
For me making 30k while living in new york fits with my lifestyle and allows me the luxuries I enjoy – cheap access to music, art, museums, no need for a car, and a wide range of interesting people, and amazing food.
however i would not call myself middle class because im unemployed right now…. ( :
Thinking of this in terms of buying real estate and using the very sensible formula that “your mortgage should not be more than 3x your annual income”:
35K = 105k mortgage
50K = 150k mortgage
75K = 225k mortgage
100K = 300k mortgage
150K = 450k mortgage
Not a lot of options if you need a 2 bedroom space or more.
NYC has a long way to go before middle class families can be home owners again.
“its fairly easy to live in this city making 30k a year. You just dont eat 50 dollar diners and buy jeans for 500 bucks a pair.”
This is a fairly absurd statement.
Just because something is *possible* does not mean it is *easy*. Sometime in the last few years it became commonplace for people to say *easy* when they mean *possible with good discipline, planning, and some luck*. Drives me nuts.
Also, if you think what makes it difficult to live in this city on 30k is spending too much money on food and clothes, you don’t get it.
A single person with sensible habits and roommate or two can live in some parts of this city on 30k, but unless this person has expectations of rapidly increasing their income or some other compelling reason to stay in NYC, I’d suggest they move and make a better life for themselves somewhere else.
“Is someone living in a sprawling turn-of-the-century Flatbush house really middle class?”
…
“If two teachers paid $350,000 for their house and then it appreciated in a real estate bubble, does that make them not middle class any more?”
If you’re making less than $150k you’re still middle class – Obama said so in the campaign, discussing who should get a tax cut. Your house may be worth more than $1 million, but your home value doesn’t pay your bills.