DC or NYC which is the best city to raise a family in the suburbs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought housing prices were higher in the NYC area?

I am open - what areas / cities would you recommend?

Thank you

Overall yes, but it's a much bigger area, and you can get a nice house for $1 million in parts of CT and NJ that are considered close in suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i grew up on Manhattan and we never moved to the burbs, in part because my working mom felt that the suburbs are so cut off from the city that in the event of an emergency it would be difficult to get home quickly. Getting from Wall St. Or even midtown, to Westchester/CT/LI without the help of commuter trains is very difficult and slow.

Orcas icily impossible as we found out in 9/11.

[Anonymous]

We've lived in the NYC suburbs (Montclair, NJ) and the DC suburbs (Bethesda). Here's my take on it:

NYC: suburbs are more removed, so it's harder to get in and out of the city. Property taxes are high ($30k on a million dollar home), however schools are local rather than county-based, which can be nice (or terrible, depending on the town you choose to live in). Lots of charming, old housing stock in towns like Montclair, Westfield, Maplewood or suburbs in Westchester.

DC: Much easier access to downtown from the suburbs. Maybe a 20 minute metro ride from Bethesda. Housing is a bit more costly here than in Montclair, NJ, however property taxes are much lower. Montgomery County schools are very good, however being in such a large school district feels annoyingly bureaucratic at times. So many of the homes even in the milion dollar range in the DC suburbs are pretty ugly. I've never in my life seen so many ramblers and split levels that look like glorified military housing. Not my idea of charm.

Also we like the general vibe of DC with the diversity of people from various countries and love the museums and other free stuff to do. Do not care as much for the fact that everyone around DC seems to be employed in law or government. NYC area was much more diverse in this respect -- our town had people in finance, artists, writers, as well as scientists, doctors and lawyers.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the housing stock and 'feel' of NYC suburbs compared with those around DC. NYC suburbs have significantly more character in my opinion. Most NYC suburbs were built as railroad towns in the 1800s. You will never come close to finding a spot as charming as Ridgewood or Morristown, NJ (for example) immediately outside of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised no one has mentioned the housing stock and 'feel' of NYC suburbs compared with those around DC. NYC suburbs have significantly more character in my opinion. Most NYC suburbs were built as railroad towns in the 1800s. You will never come close to finding a spot as charming as Ridgewood or Morristown, NJ (for example) immediately outside of DC.

I agreRidgewood is basically the perfect american town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised no one has mentioned the housing stock and 'feel' of NYC suburbs compared with those around DC. NYC suburbs have significantly more character in my opinion. Most NYC suburbs were built as railroad towns in the 1800s. You will never come close to finding a spot as charming as Ridgewood or Morristown, NJ (for example) immediately outside of DC.

Probably because the difference between NYC and DC is much greater than the differences, such as they are, between the suburbs. NYC is a real city; DC is just a little government town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised no one has mentioned the housing stock and 'feel' of NYC suburbs compared with those around DC. NYC suburbs have significantly more character in my opinion. Most NYC suburbs were built as railroad towns in the 1800s. You will never come close to finding a spot as charming as Ridgewood or Morristown, NJ (for example) immediately outside of DC.

I agreRidgewood is basically the perfect american town.

How long does it take to get from a house there to midtown Manhattan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised no one has mentioned the housing stock and 'feel' of NYC suburbs compared with those around DC. NYC suburbs have significantly more character in my opinion. Most NYC suburbs were built as railroad towns in the 1800s. You will never come close to finding a spot as charming as Ridgewood or Morristown, NJ (for example) immediately outside of DC.

I agreRidgewood is basically the perfect american town.

How long does it take to get from a house there to midtown Manhattan?

I used to make the commute from Ramsey by NJTransit train (three stops further from Manhattan than Ridgewood) and it took 40 minutes door to door when I would catch the rush hour express train. The other great thing is that NJTransit runs late into the night (1am). After work, I'd frequently catch a concert and it was nice not having to worry about missing my train home.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Does anyone experience both? Lots to do in both cities. More free activity. In DC
Dc is also warmer. [/quote]

Apples and oranges.

No comparison, OP.

Stop. Just stop.

[Anonymous]

A million will get you far in Queens, which is by far the best area of NYC to live in. Then again, a million will buy you something great in Mt Pleasant as well. So, good choices either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous[b wrote:]I'm surprised no one has mentioned the housing stock and 'feel' of NYC suburbs compared with those around DC. NYC suburbs have significantly more character in my opinion. Most NYC suburbs were built as railroad towns in the 1800s. You will never come close to finding a spot as charming [/b]as Ridgewood or Morristown, NJ (for example) immediately outside of DC.

plus 1
I grew up in Westport, CT....now living in Bethesda.

Another difference is that in CT people tend to NOT do the private school route as much as here. I am always surprised how many people here go private, even with a good public school system. Of course, there are CT privates, but in my experience it is not the norm to go to them. Public schools are good.

Also, beach accessibility for NYC suburbs. I grew up 10 minutes from the Long Island Sound

One more thing...many less big shopping malls in Fairfield County, CT compared to this area.

[Anonymous]

Dc suburbs much better bet. Very close in, great schools, tons of things for families to do, and keeping your commute time down is key for quality family life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]I'm surprised no one has mentioned the housing stock and 'feel' of NYC suburbs compared with those around DC. NYC suburbs have significantly more character in my opinion. Most NYC suburbs were built as railroad towns in the 1800s. You will never come close to finding a spot as charming [/b]as Ridgewood or Morristown, NJ (for example) immediately outside of DC.

plus 1
I grew up in Westport, CT....now living in Bethesda.

Another difference is that in CT people tend to NOT do the private school route as much as here. I am always surprised how many people here go private, even with a good public school system. Of course, there are CT privates, but in my experience it is not the norm to go to them. Public schools are good.

Also, beach accessibility for NYC suburbs. I grew up 10 minutes from the Long Island Sound

One more thing...many less big shopping malls in Fairfield County, CT compared to this area.

This! Love the beach access, and you can get a nice house with lots of land in Wilton for fairly cheap compared to this area.

[Anonymous]

My DH is also from Westport. I posted on page 1 . . But it seemed to me at least driving to be a world away from manhattan. You pass thru the all of Manhattan then Bronx then around rye in Westchester then the first towns in CT. . . Not sure how long Metro north or whatever takes to get to Manhattan from there. Also, I get the idea it's really lacking in diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised no one has mentioned the housing stock and 'feel' of NYC suburbs compared with those around DC. NYC suburbs have significantly more character in my opinion. Most NYC suburbs were built as railroad towns in the 1800s. You will never come close to finding a spot as charming as Ridgewood or Morristown, NJ (for example) immediately outside of DC.

Probably because the difference between NYC and DC is much greater than the differences, such as they are, between the suburbs. NYC is a real city; DC is just a little government town.

+1

Its tiny!