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And if you were single, in your 20s, and living in a big city would you find it preferable to live in the heart of the action with a roommate, or in a far flung neighborhood, with your own apartment?
Roommate. Definitely. I'm 26 and in this situation now. No way could I afford my own place in NYC. However, even in urban cities that are less expensive than NYC, it's still a decision that people will face. You can live in a less vibrant area on your own, or in the middle of it all with a roommate.
To generally answer the spirit of your question I would say roommate in the heart of the action. No question. That said, I did not follow that advice. Until I got married, I lived on my own ever since graduating undergrad (except for the year I moved back with my parents) and it was just easier that way once I became accustomed to it. But in retrospect, and barring unique circumstances, I do wish I had gone a different route for at least a year or two. Just as I wish I had lived in NYC, LA or abroad for some time as a single guy lol.
Now to get technical, it really depends on the roommate. If it was a good roommate situation, I probably would have preferred that to living alone regardless of location. And I wouldn't put up with a bad roommate situation no matter the location.
-Which situation has the easier commute to work
-Price differential between the two scenarios
-Does the far flung neighborhood have redeeming qualities i.e. easy highway access, near shopping, low crime? Or is it just a nondescript isolated subdivision with no character of its own?
- How much nicer is the apartment in the far-flung neighborhood? I wouldn't be too keen on living with a roommate if I also had to live in an outdated and cramped apartment even if it was a great location
If it was with something I knew well and liked, then definitely a roommate close to the action. I made the mistake once of rooming with someone I didn't know because it was in a convenient location. The guy was a total disaster and slob and made my life hell for a long time. It wasn't worth it.
Roommate, no question. I wouldn't live in NYC if I couldn't be in the heart of the action (Manhattan or at least nice part of Brooklyn).
Unless you're a total headcase who can't deal with roommates, as a 20-something you owe it to yourself to do what you gotta do to make the most of where you live.
Roommate, but only if I could live with a friend or someone I knew. No strangers.
I lived with roommates I met off Craigslist for 2 years. Worked out great!
You do get to meet the people beforehand you know...
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