Pros & Cons of New York metropolitan area (Franklin: home, safe neighborhoods)

[PalmBch]

What's your top 5 Pros & Cons of New York metropolitan area? (Including New York City, Northern New Jersey, Long Island, parts of Southern Connecticut)

[Rachael84]

Pros- being in the shadow of the greatest city and having all its amenities right at your fingertips, very safe neighborhoods, good public transportation, some of the best schools in the country, lots of different cultures all around you, unlike most suburbs in the country.

Cons- expensive for some.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by PalmBch

What's your top 5 Pros & Cons of New York metropolitan area? (Including New York City, Northern New Jersey, Long Island, parts of Southern Connecticut)

Pros--having every kind of food you could possibly ever want easily available. Getting to know all types of people from all over the world. Having a larger pool of intelligent people for conversation.

Cons--the traffic, the expense, time lost in commuting to work

[MrMarbles]

I think the pros are obvious - jobs, transportation, diversity, access to theaters, Broadway shows, museums, an almost unlimited variety of restaurants and nightlife.

Cons-
Price - if you budget is limited you may have to settle for a less optimal location (too far away or a neighborhood that's not so good)
Overcrowding - parts of Manhattan may look like Shanghai sometimes. Beyond that, while the public transpiration is good, the roads struggle to meet the demand of millions of motorists (of course, NYC is hardly unique in this regard)
Sprawl - again, common to most big cities but if you like to get away to enjoy nature and outdoors, don't plan on doing it too often in NYC (if you're in north NJ then it is a bit easier)
Aesthetics - I think the whole area could do much better here. Personally, I don't like the dirty subways, the smell of certain parts of NJ, the industrial relics of an era long gone. Maybe what we need is an Olympics and an authoritarian government that could clean things up.
Restrictions - this is more political so everyone will have their own opinions. If you like carrying a concealed weapon and smoking in bars, NYC may not be the place for you. It feels like there is a lot of red tape, and the local government is not the most nimble and efficient.

Some of these are generalizations, of course. It is hard to describe an areas with such diversity as Manhattan on one hand and small towns in NJ and central Long Island on the other.

[grapico]

pros - world class everything (food, shopping, museums), 24 hour public transit, top institutions (policy/academic/government), lots of job opportunities, location next to other great cities and short flight to europe

cons - weather (winter and summer are less than to be desired for many), expensive (out of many peoples price range, high taxes), traffic (can be a nightmare), getting into real nature is a longer trip than most metros, prone to terrorist attacks.

[Chava61]

Pros - public transportation 24/7, lots of cultural activities including many free activities, the ability to buy food 24/7, hub for many airlines (with direct flights to many destinations worldwide).
Cons - cold winters; expensive.

[tpk-nyc]

If you like living in an urban area (as opposed to a rural area), New York can't be beat. As everyone has noted, the real downside is the tremendous cost.

If you have a lot of money (i.e., several million to spend on a home) you can live a wonderful life on the Upper West Side or in Westchester County. However, if you make $50k or less, it's very difficult to afford a place, especially if you want an easy commute or a nice neighborhood.

[Cliff Clavin]

Pros - World class museums, theaters and restaurants.

Cons - New Yorkers.

[DailyJournalist]

Pros- Everything an urban lover could want.

Cons- None

[nycricanpapi]

Pros- 24 hours transportation, there's always something to do, is very diversed, you can find all types of food, great skyline, we are the home of all parades,

Cons- expensive