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Definitely DC. You can live in PG county or certain parts of Montgomery County, and have quick access to all that DC has to offer with very affordable living.
Yep, pretty much agreed with this. NY is the answer to the OP question for what it offers, but not the most desirable option for people of that class IMO, as opposed to what you get in DC or Boston metros.
Exactly. Fair point to expand on this is section 8 housing in DC and Boston is so much better than NY. But the quantity in Boston and DC is so low, Boston is even worse. NY theres quite a few empty slots, and you can get a unit at the Tracey Towers or Co Op City for pretty damn cheap. Its just you have to put up with the neighborhoods they are in.
What makes suburban DC preferable to suburban Boston? Its relative affordability?
Generally suburban Boston is Uber expensive. You buy into a school district not the town. Man does have county governance or boards so all 351 town have their own independent school districts. That affects homes prices tremendously. Higher income towns generally have little to no economic or racial diversity and low density. Unlike the mid Atlantic those resident are hyper sensitive to “aesthetic”, school overcrowding and greenery. Particularly to the west and northwest of Boston. This eliminates a huge area near the city for the lower middle class.
Most lower middle class areas in the Boston metro aren’t really suburban at all and rather are densely populated independent cities. The housing stock is old, heating bills are higher and crime can be an issue depending on which satellite city. In Boston the Lowe middle class is more likely to live alongside the poor in working class in places like Lowell Brockton Lynn and Everett Salem and it can have an overbuilt wooden rundown feel. Sort of like Orange/Irvington but nicer and much more independent. You identify with your town/city not necessarily Boston. Even if it is only a few miles away
There are a few suburban areas to the south of Boston like Randolph Taunton Holbrook Avon Stoughton Attleboro Bridgewater as you make your way to Rhode Island that are somewhat affordable but the available inventory is very low. This is where you find more socioeconomic and racial diversity as well as more apartment complexes and multi family housing. In those suburban areas there’s not nearly the shopping or dining you’d find in suburban DC.
New England town government can make it difficult for development to happen to you don’t have as many modern roads, plazas, nightclubs/lounges or as much highway accesin general. On the flip side if you live near town center those tend to be walkable and the neighborhoods are pretty unique and visually more interesting than DC. You will generally be driving far less..
Providence is probably the beat place for lower middle class here but the schools are abysmal-worse than anywhere we’re discussing here. But it’s rents are super low and the city is pretty safe and full of culture. The problem is it’s largely a hood with 30% poverty citywide. A relatively clean and safe hood with a huge array of cultural offerings and institutions and fine restaurants and nightlife downtown. The train will take you straight into Boston and even its outer neighborhoods but it’s a 50-65 minute ride.
Worcester is another option to the west but then your in the “Worcester MSA” it’s affordable and similar tor Providence with better schools and more middle class neighborhoods, but far less recreation, less access to beaches and colder weather.
Exactly. Fair point to expand on this is section 8 housing in DC and Boston is so much better than NY. But the quantity in Boston and DC is so low, Boston is even worse. NY theres quite a few empty slots, and you can get a unit at the Tracey Towers or Co Op City for pretty damn cheap. Its just you have to put up with the neighborhoods they are in.
This is why I'm a little surprised by all of the New York answers here. It seems like perhaps the most plausible place to live simply due to the sheer volume of housing. But it also seems like one of the hardest and unenjoyable places to live without money, to an extent that you can't even take advantage of the things that NYC offers because you're either out of money or time. For whatever reason Boston and DC seem more enjoyable at that income level.
This is why I'm a little surprised by all of the New York answers here. It seems like perhaps the most plausible place to live simply due to the sheer volume of housing. But it also seems like one of the hardest and unenjoyable places to live without money, to an extent that you can't even take advantage of the things that NYC offers because you're either out of money or time. For whatever reason Boston and DC seem more enjoyable at that income level.
NYc has plenty of lowkey things that are affordable to poor people. $5 halal is a whole meal. Thats same halal cost $8 in BALTIMORE and the cart in Bmore isn't open 20 hours a day. $1 pizza slices and abundant bodegas with cheap food. Cheap farmers markets and plentiful discount grocers. Not the sexy stuff but stuff you can survive on.
Also-I think people don't have an image of anything But rich DC and especially rich boston. I don't think they have any idea where those lower middle class people live shop or what they do-there far more images of that forNYC- its part of the NYC story/identity/narrative.
People are fed the rent is 3k a month narrative about DC and Boston and dont really get a perspective on how most people actually live. Also i doubt many people (or any posters) to DC or Boston with $500 and a dream of becoming famous or successful the way people have in NYC. Being broke and one of the "common folk" is heavily romanticized in regard to NYCs, thats why its Americas most beloved city. Its kind of a rite of passage or authentic to be eeking out n NYC and i don't think the same holds true for perceptions of Boston and DC.
Yeah NYC offers a lot for the lower middle class. The Grand Concourse in the Bronx, Eastern half of Williamsburg for Brooklyn, even Flushing Queens is a cheap spot to hang out and take advantage of for Queens. Even Coney Island is a place for the lower middle class to hang out and enjoy in the summer, its cheap an its something to do. Just to name a few things.
Sure you cant go to SoHo or Tribeca and go to the museums/shop every week? But thats the same thing in DC, your not going to Georgetown or the Navy Yard? In Boston you arent going to be struttin down Newbury Street/Back Bay to the Seaport District on a low incomes?
I honestly cant think of an enjoyable, affordable area in Boston for the lower middle class, that is enjoyable.. connected by rail to the lower areas AND offers a safe environment. So on that, NYC wins hands down.
Again you can get a 2 bedroom apartment in the Bronx for ~1,000 a month. Co-Op city and Tracey Towers offer an affordable option for housing for $750 a month. Where can you get that in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville? Even Chelsea rates START at $1,200 for a unit. DC you have to go out to Maryland... or a crime infested part in East DC
When I say lower middle class I'm talking about household gross income in these ranges:
NYC: $70-80k
SF: $75-85k
Washington DC: $60-70k
Boston: $65-75k.
Maybe that's upper lower class. Maybe it's lower middle class. In any case, it's a bit poor, but certainly not destitute. Assume this is for a family of four, a steady job, decent health care, good spending habits, one parent stays home or the kifs are all in school to mitigate many possible day care costs.
Which of these metros offers the most to those who make less? Things to consider would be ease and affordability of transportation and affordable housing in relatively attractive and safe neighborhoods that aren't in the sticks, for example.
a family of 4 in NYC on that would be doable … if you live in a cardboard box and never eat.
Yeah NYC offers a lot for the lower middle class. The Grand Concourse in the Bronx, Eastern half of Williamsburg for Brooklyn, even Flushing Queens is a cheap spot to hang out and take advantage of for Queens. Even Coney Island is a place for the lower middle class to hang out and enjoy in the summer, its cheap an its something to do. Just to name a few things.
Sure you cant go to SoHo or Tribeca and go to the museums/shop every week? But thats the same thing in DC, your not going to Georgetown or the Navy Yard? In Boston you arent going to be struttin down Newbury Street/Back Bay to the Seaport District on a low incomes?
I honestly cant think of an enjoyable, affordable area in Boston for the lower middle class, that is enjoyable.. connected by rail to the lower areas AND offers a safe environment. So on that, NYC wins hands down.
Again you can get a 2 bedroom apartment in the Bronx for ~1,000 a month. Co-Op city and Tracey Towers offer an affordable option for housing for $750 a month. Where can you get that in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville? Even Chelsea rates START at $1,200 for a unit. DC you have to go out to Maryland... or a crime infested part in East DC
New Bedford Fall River and maybe part of Taunton i.e. not Boston. But those prices are more working class than lower middle. you could afford well more than 750 a month with 70k even with 2 kids.
New Bedford Fall River and maybe part of Taunton i.e. not Boston. But those prices are more working class than lower middle. you could afford well more than 750 a month with 70k even with 2 kids.
You could easily afford double that, which gives you a few options in NYC, some in Boston, and plenty in DC. I suppose it comes down to what kind of lifestyle you are looking for.
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