Cross the Bronx off your list. I live in the Bronx and I'm trying to move into Manhattan. You don't wanna move here.

When you say you'd be commuting downtown do you mean Midtown or do you really mean someplace downtown in the lower parts of Manhattan?

For Half an hour commutes or less I'd say Queens of Brooklyn.

Like the Bronx, Queens seems pretty desolate, but if you live on the N, R, W, 7 train lines (as long as you don't go too far out past Queensboro Plaza) your commute wouldn't be more than 20 or 30 minutes into Manhattan. You'd also be able to get a decent sized apartment for your money just about anywhere in Queens.

I'd try for Brooklyn first though. Williamsburg is a bit shabby at first glance but it's a safe, quiet neighborhood for the most part. 10 or 15 minute commute into Manhattan. Not much else really goin' on there.

Park Slope, Brooklyn is nice. I'm thinking about re-locating here. The area is very "Soccer Mom". Definately less of a younge people area than some places in Manhattan. This is more of an area where people go to settle down/raise kids. Great scenery, safe for the most part, quiet, really nice restaraunts, nice bars and lounges as well, and of course, apartments at higher prices. $1,200 should be able to get you something though (studio most likely). Park Slope's median income is about $53,000 a year though the area seems to reflect a bit higher salary than that. The commute would be about 30 minutes into Manhattan. I wouldn't venture any farther out into Brooklyn than that.

I wouldn't mess with commuting from other states but that's just my preferance. All the times that I've used the Path Trains to and from NJ (never during rush hour) it's been a breeze. No more than 10 minutes in transit. That's a big plus. Of course if ANYTHING goes wrong you're either stranded in Manhattan or stranded in NJ. Big minus for me. Good luck on your search.

Jersey City and take the PATH in.

Otherwise, Brooklyn.

-Your Mother

quote:

Originally posted by DigitalMP For people that work outside the city and commute downtown, or even that have a good knowledge of the best way to work this, where would you recommend living? I don't want to commute an hour to work every day (maybe 30, even 40 minutes), so I guess that would depend on where I'm working downtown, but I would need to be pretty close to the edge of the city to accomplish this, no? I'll explain my situation - I'm originally from Upstate (just outside of Buffalo), I've lived in Toronto, and I'm currently working (I wouldn't call this living) in NE PA, about 2 hours from NYC. I'm tendering offers for new contracts (IT, primarily technical writing, but not limited to), but I won't really start trying to make one work until May or June. I'm trying to get downtown, but I'll even take one that's a 30 minute drive from the city. However, if things do workout that I get a contract downtown, I don't think I'll want to live right downtown. Hopefully I could get some of your input on where is a good place to live, as I'm not entirely familiar with Brookyln/Queens/Bronx, and the areas within them that I should avoid. I just don't want to worry about getting my ride jacked on a nightly basis, but I also don't want to break my bank every month for a one-room shack. I would like to be around $1000 monthly (inclusive), although I don't know what options that would afford me. I love the city, and downtown would be great if it was sensible to have a vehicle there, but I just don't see that as being the case. If you can't give me a good recommendation and where to live, where not to live and why would be very helpful! Thanks for your time everyone

+1 on the advice about jersey city...jersey city and hoboken have been getting a lot of much needed development and renovations in the area to atract commuters...more apts up for rent, more stores coming into the neighborhood, and theres always a bunch of options for getting into manhattan...bus, train or PATH (PATH is easiest into midtown)

im pretty sure you'd have a better chance of finding either A)a roomier place to live for the same amount of $$ or B)a decent place for cheaper than what you'd pay in NYC

good luck

___________________
"I refuse to bow down before a god I cannot look in the face." - Aesop Rock

"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." - Vladimir Nabokov

great advice everyone...thanks again.

this put things much more into perspective!

you can contact me and i can help you find that contract job.

i am the recruiting manager at a 24m consulting firm in NJ. most of our clients are financial and pharma.

also, i would look at places like rutherford, nutley, secaucus as they are about 30 minutes by train to downtown and 10 minutes on a friday night when going to crobar, spirit, pacha, etc.

montclair is also a good area with a train that gets you to nyc in about 40 minutes.

make sure you keep your options open if you are contracting. you could get one contract downtown and then end up midtown down the line.

the beauty about jersey is that you can work in jersey, downtown, or midtown and be just as far from each.

quote:

Originally posted by CosmoKid the beauty about jersey is that you can work in jersey, downtown, or midtown and be just as far from each.

true dat...one of the very few redeeming qualities of jersey, take it from someone who was practically born and raised there. ...most stores are closed on sundays, parts of it smell like something you never ever wanna come across dead or alive, and road rage is rampant (especially in the lee hotti communities )but its a nice after-work escape from the hectic atmosphere of nyc, and close enough to the party

___________________
"I refuse to bow down before a god I cannot look in the face." - Aesop Rock

"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." - Vladimir Nabokov

cool, i'm in the exact same boat, i think i may want to live in manhattan for a year or two but i'm not sure

either way i need to find a place to move in for July, i'll be working in midtown on 6th and 52nd
and i'll have to commute to stamford every once in a while.

___________________
In the beginning there was Jack. And Jack had a groove. And from this groove came the groove of all grooves. And while one day viciously throwing down on his box Jack boldly declared "Let there be house!" And house music was born. I am the creator and this is my house and in my house there is only house music. But I am not so selfish because once you enter my house it then becomes our house and our house music and you see no one man owns house because house music is a universal language spoke and understood by all. You see, house is a feeling that no one can understand really unless you're deep into the vibe of house. House is an uncontrollable desire to jack your body and as I told you before this is our house and our house music. In every house you understand, there is a keeper and in this house the keeper is Jack.

Ok, I know you said outside of manhattan, but when I was looking for places, the BEST apartments are in Harlem, especially on riverside Drive, which is a nicer neighborhood with a park (where I live) Its MUCH cheaper, away from downtown, but still close near 1,2,3,a,b,c,d trains, and the neighborhoods where I live are full of columbia students, so its decently safe. Also, there has been a lot of renovating of buildings, as well as old architechture (keeping on riverside) so the apartments are REALLY nice for cheaper....also GORGEOUS view of the river and GW bridge Its about 15 minutes on an express to midtown, more to downtown.

(when looking in harlem tho, stay towards the river, bc central harlem is GHETTO).....

if you have to do another borough, williamsburg and astoria are nice.

___________________

Park Slope! Full of late 20's-early 30's people and young couples raising kids. Beautiful (trees! ah-ha!) and 20-30 minutes to downtown if you live near the R. Prices are a bit steeper than what you're looking for but it's worth it. Cab all the way from Crobar is only $15-17 for those too-drunk-to-ride-the-subway nights.

quote:

Originally posted by Miss Bliss Park Slope! Full of late 20's-early 30's people and young couples raising kids.

those ppl are my nightmare

j/k of course!

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by dcctnycprincess those ppl are my nightmare j/k of course!

instead she picked a lavish upper east side corner view condo - did i mention UES breeds "old money" lol........

don't kill me hahah
WESTSIIIIDDEE!!

___________________
I PUT TRADEMARKS AROUND YO MOTHAFUCKIN EYE
JUST ME N YOU