Queens vs. Nassau Co. - taxes, driving, living (Island Park: apartment, rental)

[LilyinNY]

I will be moving to NY soon to work in Queens and rent in either Queens or Nassau Co. I've heard that NYC income taxes apply in Queens, but not in LI. I've heard property taxes are higher in LI/Nassau Co. Since I'm renting, will I need to concern myself with LI property taxes? Is the income tax difference negligible, or something to consider?

Also - how's the Cross Island Parkway at rush hour?

Thanks in advance!

[Coney]

Property taxes are included in the rent in Nassau County. You won't get a separate property tax bill. The Cross Island Parkway going north in the AM rush is a horror story. If you are on it before 7AM you should be ok. It gets really bad in wet weather. South bound after 4PM is another horror story. I don't miss that daily commute.

[Smash255]

Rental differences between Nassau & Queens are generally fairly minimal. Might be slightly cheaper in Queens, but not much. Parking is also a bit more difficult in most of Queens than it is in Nassau. The exception is generally NE Queens, but that is generally quite expensive anyway.

Here is a link to the NYC income tax levels

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/pdf...s/pitrates.pdf

[brassbin]

@ 0.0446%, you can save quite a bit if you earn enuff

i actually have a question somewhat off topic, what's the tax implication of living in LI vs. NJ, assuming one works in the city

[sparkledsneakers]

the Cross Island isn't great, but it is the better of all the parkways. Always seems to be slower coming home. I commute to Qns daily, I leave my home at 8AM and get to work (about 25 miles) before 9AM. I've tried all the pkwys....CIP, GCP, Jackie Robinson, LIE, and the Belt Pkwy. Just avoid the LIE at all costs. And Woodhaven Blvd in the evenings (nightmare).

[brassbin]

Originally Posted by brassbin

@ 0.0446%, you can save quite a bit if you earn enuff

i actually have a question somewhat off topic, what's the tax implication of living in LI vs. NJ, assuming one works in the city

of course i meant to say 4.46%

[grant516]

What you rent is going to make a major difference-

If it's just ONE person... Nassau has VERY VERY few apartment buildings, and the cost is through the roof. Otherwise you can commit yourself to living in someones basement or upper story of their house, which is a big topic of malcontent around here. Queens has plenty of smaller rental units which makes that bit smoother.

Traffic between Nassau/Queens is one of the worst in the country. Easily a CIP to LIE trip can take 90 minutes to go 15 miles during rush hour or post-an-accident. If you work non-standard hours though, you can make it sometimes stress free.

Living -I would say- is generally better in most parts of Nassau than in Queens. There's less intraisland traffic (from North to south at least), better parking, better shopping.

Consider your desire/need to get into Manhattan as well. Living in Queens on the LIRR or Subway lines can make that trip both fairly inexpensive and quick. That's a big plus for a lot of people.

Last but not least- consider the location of your jobsite in Queens and whether driving is an absolute must. On occasion you'll find there's a train or a bus that goes right where you need to go. Certainly isn't always the case- but the public transit can sometimes be quite less stressful than Queens driving.