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Location: from houstoner to bostoner to new yorker to new jerseyite ;)
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What are some affordable alternatives to cities like NYC and Boston? Relatively safe, clean, livable cities with a decent amount of jobs and a relatively low cost of living for the region. Pittsburgh and Providence seem to be two alternatives. Any others?
Bangor, Maine can be added to Pittsburgh. Providence's economy is sliding fast though and it has a high unemployment rate. I'd have to believe it does not have any real job opportunities right now and this fact has been reinforced by a young lady that I've corresponded with that has been looking in Providence for some time.
On the east coast, Philadelphia and Baltimore are the two least expensive cities to live in. Both have great neighborhoods and nice downtowns. They don't have the flair of NYC or Boston but they are close enough.
providence is a wonderful city, unemployment is high, but the mayor and gov are looking to fix that immediately. Most of the lost jobs were in retail due to the sliding economy.
On the east coast, Philadelphia and Baltimore are the two least expensive cities to live in. Both have great neighborhoods and nice downtowns. They don't have the flair of NYC or Boston but they are close enough.
Aside from NYC and Bos, very few high-income jobs in rest of Northeast, so lower COL also entails dead-end, lower-inc careers...
And, unlike TX, older Northeast/Midwest states are saddled w/high state income taxes, to pay for their much older infrastructure and deeper entitlement/welfare programs....
Metro Hartford CT will be cheaper then Providence- if you want to stay close to the BosWash corridor---Metro Hartford population 1.3 million is 100 miles to Boston and 125 miles to NY
Metro Hartford and central CT has a better economy then Providence- you also might consider greater New Haven- and south eastern CT- New London/ Groton.
Skytrekker. Yes, while the Hartford area is a tad cheaper, housing cost wise than either Providence or Boston I'd hardly classify the area as affordable. Hell, I can't afford to buy a house in my hometown of Simsbury let alone most of the area unless I consider living in a really high crime neighborhood. No thanks.
Skytrekker. Yes, while the Hartford area is a tad cheaper, housing cost wise than either Providence or Boston I'd hardly classify the area as affordable. Hell, I can't afford to buy a house in my hometown of Simsbury let alone most of the area unless I consider living in a really high crime neighborhood. No thanks.
Actually you are wrong
for household income- the average family in greater Hartford with the local median income - can afford to pay for the median price of a single family home. The median price of a single family home is around 255K- slightly above the national median- household income is over 70K per year- which qualifies most families.
That percentage by the way is near 67%.
Median SFH prices are higher in Baltimore- with lower family incomes. Hartford metro has SFH prices 100K lower then Boston- why compare the two?
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At the very least we have "The Office" to keep you amused! LOL!
