Help, moving to LI for a job in Hempstead (Union: low crime, homes) - City-Data Forum

JimO · 05-09-2007, 07:26 PM

I'm so glad I found this place.

It's probable that my family and I will be relocating for a job in Hempstead LI. We need some help in identifying what towns or communities we should look at when we go house-hunting. We need good schools, relatively low crime, housing cost no higher than in Hempstead itself, and I would prefer a commute of 40 minutes or less. What communities might we focus our attention on?

Many thanks.

Jim

NSHL10 · 05-09-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimO

I'm so glad I found this place.

It's probable that my family and I will be relocating for a job in Hempstead LI. We need some help in identifying what towns or communities we should look at when we go house-hunting. We need good schools, relatively low crime, housing cost no higher than in Hempstead itself, and I would prefer a commute of 40 minutes or less. What communities might we focus our attention on?

Many thanks.

Jim

What occupation are you in? What housing price range are you looking at? Hempstead stinks. Uniondale is slightly better, and West Hempstead is better than Uniondale.
Since Hempstead is one of the cheaper places to live on LI due to its undesirable qualities, it might be hard to find an appropriate place for you. Please give us more info so we can help more.

JimO · 05-09-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

What occupation are you in? What housing price range are you looking at?

I'm in higher ed admn, housing cost $450-500K. Our kids are age 6 and 9.

Jim

MollyMe · 05-09-2007, 08:15 PM

Wow--MONEY!!! Look into Great Neck on the north shore.

JimO · 05-09-2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Look into Great Neck on the north shore.

...and the cost of living index is 278, compared to Hempstead's 160. We are hoping to find a community with a similar or slightly higher cost of living as compared to Hempstead, but with better schools and lower crime, and a reasonable commuting distance from Hempstead.

We're hoping to get some direction before setting up appointments with realtors and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Jim

MollyMe · 05-09-2007, 09:21 PM

I don't know what the cost of living index means and the # you quoted but if means the chances of actually staying alive in Great Neck is higher than the chance of being shot while going to get a quart of milk at the local store in Hempstead you are correct.

YOU obviously do NOT know anything about the area. So my recommendation with a salary of your size would look elsewhere than the immediate Hempstead area. Try Garden City, just a stone's throw away from Hempstead. But waaaayyyy safer.

HEY why not Roosevelt--thats a REAL SAFE place to live....

willbo1 · 05-09-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MollyMe

I don't know what the cost of living index means and the # you quoted but if means the chances of actually staying alive in Great Neck is higher than the chance of being shot while going to get a quart of milk at the local store in Hempstead you are correct.

YOU obviously do NOT know anything about the area. So my recommendation with a salary of your size would look elsewhere than the immediate Hempstead area. Try Garden City, just a stone's throw away from Hempstead. But waaaayyyy safer.

HEY why not Roosevelt--thats a REAL SAFE place to live....

The 450-500k was for housing, not his salary, if that's what you thought. Won;t be able to touch anything in Great Neck for that amount.

MollyMe · 05-09-2007, 09:39 PM

I know the 450 was his housing cost. He is able to spend that much money on housing --GOTCHA. So there are homes in Garden City (south) for that, Great Neck I guess is too pricey. But then he quoted this index information and that totally confused me.

Guess, I've been living in Pennsylvania too long.

Glad2BHere · 05-10-2007, 01:33 AM

I would suggest...

Carle Place, Garden City South, West Hempstead (NOT hempstead or uniondale).

The other thing I would like to ask you is, are you looking for a certain culture? LI towns are very different and draw different types of residents. Some areas are more mixed culturally and racially, but others have large groups of predominant populations and cultures.

Try this...Google whatever towns people list (such as Carle Place, NY) and click on images. The map that comes up takes you to city data (maybe that is how you found us here on the boards) and it will give you an ethnic breakdown for that town, along with racial breakdown. That will tell you a lot about if you are interested in that town.

And Great Neck, no way. You could not touch a thing there plus it is not a family friendly area overall, and not a diverse population and the opposite extreme of Hempstead that is for sure.

JimO · 05-10-2007, 06:53 AM

Thanks very much for the tips, we'll check them out. For all kinds of demographic, financial, crime, cost of living etc data I've been using Sperling's Best Places. It's terrirfic and easy to use.

To answer your question we aren't looking for a particular culture, but everything else being equal we would prefer the diverse and vibrant end of the spectrum. We are a blended family, culturally-ethnically-racially speaking, so we're going to "stick out" in any case.

Jim