family friendly city 1.5hr from nyc (New York, Riverhead: property taxes, travel, job)

[intony]

I have accepted a job in manhattan and will be making aprox 140k. Where should I look for a house within a 1.5 hr commute? Schools will be a priority. I am looking for the best overall lifestyle.

[NJ Chutzpah]

Toms River NJ, Brick NJ, Riverhead Long Island, New Haven Connecticut

[David K]

Hi intony: Fairfield County, CT has great towns with excellent schools. The property taxes are also significantly lower than NY state. Most towns are within 45-75 min. from Manhattan. Westport, Weston, Wilton and Fairfield are a few towns that come to mind. The area is also a very "child friendly" area. Lots of activities for kids. Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

[Viralmd]

Originally Posted by NJ Chutzpah

Toms River NJ, Brick NJ, Riverhead Long Island, New Haven Connecticut

NEW HAVEN???? YIKES! I wouldn't send my most hated relative to New Haven.

Why so far out? There are very nice places all over Westchester (albeit with high property tax, as in NJ) like Chappaqua, Bedford, Bedford Hills, Ardsley, etc., and as the other poster stated, CT property taxes are lower than those in NY State. Take a look at Westport, Fairfield, New Canaan.

[KB4]

Where in Manhattan is your office? If you are on the East side, Grand Central will be more convenient (Westchester, Connecticut). If your office is on the West side, New Jersey will be more convenient.

[DAS]

Since you are willing to travel 1.5 hours away there are nice towns in Putnam and Dutchess county close to the Metro North. Taxes may be a little lower than Westchester county. The school systems may vary from town to town.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

NEW HAVEN???? YIKES! I wouldn't send my most hated relative to New Haven.

I wouldn't recommend New Haven as an easy commute to NYC, or as a family-friendly place unless you're looking at private schools, but I lived there and really loved it. The downtown area is much cleaned up from 15 years ago and there are some very nice neighborhoods around the city . Great brick oven pizza, a nice green, a lot of cultural activities, museums and theatre, a lighthouse and beach, hiking trails in a big wooded park, and a pro tennis event every year, all within the boundaries of a city with far fewer people than the Upper West Side, and New York, Boston, and everything else in New England within a couple of hours. There are some rough areas but I tell people that, reputation aside, I would take New Haven over just about any city its size in the country, especially if your taste runs to the northeastern look of things instead of a midwestern feel like Ann Arbor.

[TheRisingSon]

Philadelphia is 1.5 hours from New York City. Low cost of living plus many of the same benefits as living the NYC.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by TheRisingSon

Philadelphia is 1.5 hours from New York City. Low cost of living plus many of the same benefits as living the NYC.

If you're right near 30th St station and going to right near Penn Station, it's 1.5 hours. But the monthly pass is now like $1000 and you can't take Acela trains with it. They said schools were a priority, that makes Philadelphia not such a great fit.