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You are really demanding. Best bet is Westchester. An average of 1.5 hr commute door to door.
That depends on where in Westchester. It takes 28 mins from Pelham to GCT on the train, as little as 35 from White Plains. Add in the 10 mins walk from Grand Central and the time getting to the station and waiting for the train and it's still not 1.5 hours, though it's clearly more than the schedule time.
Westchester is really the best bet for the commute since the LIRR and NJ transit go to Penn Station, which is not that far from GCT but takes too long to get there. It is too far of a walk from LIRR to GCT because of the time it takes being added to a commute. Or add a monthly metrocard for $81 or $4 daily for a two-train ride to go 10 blocks. Walking or the subway adds at least 15 mins to that commute. Why bother?
And the LIRR won't go into GCT for five more years. Since this is on MTA time, that means 10 more years.
You save on NYC income tax living anywhere outside the boroughs, and the schools are better in many suburbs as well.
I know there are issues of wanting to do something outside the home, but if your wife would only add $20-30K in income while there are costs of daycare and commuting costs that would be more than what's coming it, it may not make sense.
Wow, this is fantastic. I don't know why I didn't come here sooner.
NewYowkur: when i read my own subject line after posting I laughed my ass off! Not what I meant. When I think of where I live now I think of the grass I have out in front of my house where my kids run around, and that's what I'd miss most about moving to an apartment in the city.
Ace Rock: I am indeed looking to recreate a middle class life in NYC! I figured it wouldn't be impossible. Anyway it's good to aim high and go down from there right?
I had never considered Westchester or White Plains, that is definitely something to explore. I know someone who lives on Long Island and enjoys it, so that's also a useful suggestion but, without ever having been there, it just never sounded like a place I'd want to go. Having taxied through Queens a few dozen times on the way into town from the airport that also never seemed that appealling, but that's no way to evaluate a place. Maybe I'll go check that out the next time I'm in town.
I thought there might be more New Jersey suggestions--are those just on the way?
Having taxied through Queens a few dozen times on the way into town from the airport that also never seemed that appealling, but that's no way to evaluate a place. Maybe I'll go check that out the next time I'm in town.
I thought there might be more New Jersey suggestions--are those just on the way?
There are great places in Queens (and plenty of blah) but you have the NYC schools, the NYC income tax, and have to be near a train that gets you to GCT. While there are places that have more yard space, they tend to be farther out and not on the subway in some cases, or expensive.
While there are nice towns in NJ, NJ leaves you with the Penn Station problem. I'd look north.
One option from LI or eastern Queens is to take LIRR to Woodside and switch to the 7 train. It's about 8-10 stops to GCT from there. I don't know if it saves any time or even if there are trains at all hours, but it's worth a look.
Subway to times square one stop then S across. It will only add about 10-15 mins to his commute and $2 each way. However the S train is horrible in the morning because of how overcrowded it gets. It's a short but torturous ride.
I'm with you though, I was trying to not show my personal bias, but I hate Lawn Island as well. But different strokes for different folks.
BTW aren't they building an extension, so the LIRR will stop at Grand Central eventually, won't it?
Yup that would be the East Side Access project. Hopefully it should be done in a couple of years:
Parsons Project Profile--Long Island Rail Road East Side Access Project (http://www.parsons.com/about/press_rm/potm/08-2001/index.html - broken link)
Long Island will make your life a LOT less pleasant, since it leaves you at Penn Station on the West Side - a 20 minute walk from Grand Central, but certainly not fun in really cold weather.
Especially if the ten minute walk from GCS is to the north and/or east, which would make Penn a half-hour walk or an unpleasant subway ride with transfer.
Same goes for NJ, since both LI and NJ trains dump (a word not chosen lightly) you into Penn Sta.
I would look in Fairfield county Connecticut. In my opinion it is the nicest area from which you can easily commute to GCT. Anything on the New Haven line at Fairfield or before is very nice. It will be pricey and that $130k which would allow you to live like a king elsewhere in the country will not go nearly as far if you're trying to keep up with the Joneses around NYC. You could probably find a 3 bedroom apartment for about $3k but yards and suburbia may be a bit more difficult. I admittedly don't have my finger on the pulse of Fairfield county rentals but Craigslist should give you an idea.
The commute to GCT from the Fairfield stop is about an hour on the train and I believe a monthly pass on Metro-North is about $350. You will also have the benefit of great public schools which are few and far between in the five boroughs. Fairfield county all has a very cosmopolitan meets small New England town feel which I think is very appealing and unique.
Make no mistake that between rent, commute fees, cars, utilities, and kids you will be spread VERY thin on $100k. You may be better off in LI or NJ which are much more firmly middle class but I am not familiar enough to recommend specific areas. They will also put you into Penn Station which, besides being far from work, is in my opinion comparable to the 18th circle of hell. Go stand in Penn Station for 5 minutes during rush hour and you will see what I mean. Penn Station makes Grand Central look like a beautiful vision of heaven.
You may also want to look at Westchester county ($$$), Rockland, Putnam, and Orange counties in NY. All are on the metro-north with varying prices and degrees of convenience.
100k in NYC is more like 50k everywhere else;
we need two incomes if we're going to live like we're accustomed to living;
my best options are north;
CT isn't the only option for a house and a yard
I appreciate all the comments, even the ones telling me I'm foolish for trying to make it work--a reality check is always good.
I'll probably be back as I keep looking. Thanks again!
Go stand in Penn Station for 5 minutes during rush hour and you will see what I mean. Penn Station makes Grand Central look like a beautiful vision of heaven.
Truer than you perhaps intended as you wrote it, since the ceiling of GCS is a picture of the sky. Nice, jeffcon.
GCS is an architectural marvel. MetroNorth commuters start every work day a little bit ennobled just by walking through it.
They will also put you into Penn Station which, besides being far from work, is in my opinion comparable to the 18th circle of hell. Go stand in Penn Station for 5 minutes during rush hour and you will see what I mean. Penn Station makes Grand Central look like a beautiful vision of heaven.
Amen. This is one of the more accurate passages ever written on here. I wanted to spread some rep but apparently have done so for you too recently. I'd live in a smaller house in Westchester rather than LI or NJ just for this reason alone if I had to choose.
Carbro is right. Except for being "as busy as Grand Central Station," Grand Central actually is a beautiful vision of heaven. It's exquisite. What Penn Station was 40 years ago before they tore it down and replaced it with the basement of a cruddy arena.
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