Where to live if working in SoHo? (Hudson, Newport: neighborhood, tax)

[joninaz]

I live out west but for career advancement, have been encouraged to consider working in our NYC HQ on Hudson St., just south of Houston. I've only been to this location once (but to NYC about 8 times), so I don't have a real sense of how easy of a commute it might be from other parts of the greater metro area. I'm probably looking for a 1 bedroom in the sub $1,500 range, so SoHo and the immediate area might be too expensive at this time. Thus I'm fine with considering other areas including Brooklyn, Queens, NJ, etc. It seem the nearest Subway stations are Houston (1) and Spring (C, E). so one strategy might be to look at areas near those lines. But then again, I realize that one can change trains and this opens up all sorts of areas. I'm just wondering if if some areas are easier to commute from than others? In terms of lifestyle, I'm a single, hetero guy, 30s, and would like to be in an area with similar professionals. I like casual pubs over clubs, ethnic eateries over chains/hip spots, and I expect being new to the area, I'll be spending the a lot of time exploring. Any thoughts/suggestions?

[Fred314X]

It's actually not necessary to live in the neighborhood adjacent to where you work. Even if you found a place all the way uptown (like, say, Fort Tryon in northern Manhattan), the A train could get you to work in half an hour. I live in the Midwood section of Brooklyn--a perfectly fine residential neighborhood--and I can get to lower Manhattan in 35 minutes by subway. So you've actually got a much wider range of areas to consider!

[crescent22]

Live in NJ - Hoboken or Newport/Pavonia - You'll easily get the price you want and avoid the city resident tax of 3.65% - you can take PATH from either place to World Trade Center and swap to the E train - 20-25 min commute I would guess.

[clevedark]

I used to work at Hudson and Houston, and lived in Hoboken, which was a fairly easy commute by PATH, and then I moved to Tribeca which was shorter.

The only place that might be a pain to live would be the Upper East Side, but I'm projecting. I don't remember anyone complaining, but people as a rule people suck it up about whatever their commute might be in NYC. Usually other people point their finger and say eew, their commute is horrible, mine is so much better.....

[tpk-nyc]

If you're single and in your 30s is would suggest getting a studio in Manhattan (or the nicer parts of Brooklyn). Prices are coming down and you could find something for $1,500 or a little more. Once you start looking for a one-bedroom in that price range, you have to go a lot further out.

If you're exploring the city, you want to be in the center. I'd live in the center for a year or two and then figure out where you want to be. Do it now, before you have kids to worry about.