Anonymous
Post 07/15/2023 00:22     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:I was raised in Westchester and later commuted into NYC from CT. Had a wonderful quality of life. I liked having access to a major metropolis without living in the thick of its problems (homeless/mentally ill people wandering around, ridiculous real estate prices, no parking, crazy private school culture).

Kids who grow up in the city grow up too fast. They are worldly but jaded. Do you really want to have to explain addiction to your first grader? Teaching them to clutch their bags when walking down the street. It is a bit of a survival mindset (unless you are very wealthy and then create a bubble that is not normal).

Don’t you want backyard BBQ’s? Jumping in piles of leaves? Making snowmen in your yard? Little kids safely walking their new puppy around the block? Learning how to ride a bike.

Alternatives exist but I really appreciate growing up the way I did.

LOL!!! I grew up in (a very very wealthy part of) Westchester too. Addiction...for sure. You don't think suburbanites experience addiction? Cute.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2023 00:19     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:NYC or Brooklyn

Yeah. I want to raise my kids in either Washington, DC or Kalorama.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2023 00:14     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:NYC or Brooklyn


Brooklyn is NYC.
Anonymous
Post 07/14/2023 23:58     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:Assume HHI around $800k. Which would you choose between Manhattan, BK, Northern burbs?


Brooklyn, with public schools if you have kids who test well and less prestigious private schools if you have kids who test poorly.

Paulus Hook in Jersey City if you’re open to living outside the city.

The main reasons to prefer Westchester County over Paulus Hook are a less transient population and access to SUNY schools at in-state prices. But, if you’re making $800K, you should be able to do a good job of saving for college.

Westchester County over Jersey City if you hate your family and want to maximize commuting time.
Anonymous
Post 07/06/2023 01:25     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
The city kids I know loved having access to the museums, rush tix to the Tribeca Film Fest, eating Chinese, Jamaican or Mexican food, hanging out in Central Park.

They were worldly, independent & could handle themselves on public trans.

The suburban kids I worked with waited to go to the mall or play video games.
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 13:47     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:I was raised in Westchester and later commuted into NYC from CT. Had a wonderful quality of life. I liked having access to a major metropolis without living in the thick of its problems (homeless/mentally ill people wandering around, ridiculous real estate prices, no parking, crazy private school culture).

Kids who grow up in the city grow up too fast. They are worldly but jaded. Do you really want to have to explain addiction to your first grader? Teaching them to clutch their bags when walking down the street. It is a bit of a survival mindset (unless you are very wealthy and then create a bubble that is not normal).

Don’t you want backyard BBQ’s? Jumping in piles of leaves? Making snowmen in your yard? Little kids safely walking their new puppy around the block? Learning how to ride a bike.

Alternatives exist but I really appreciate growing up the way I did.


Wtf, my 9 year old does not "clutch her bag" on the street. You sound like the typical suburbanite, terrified of the big city.
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 13:38     Subject: Re:would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Don’t you want backyard BBQ’s? Jumping in piles of leaves? Making snowmen in your yard? Little kids safely walking their new puppy around the block? Learning how to ride a bike.


I grew up on Long Island, and hated when my parents bbq'd. I didn't really like the food very much. And I was forced to rake and bag the leaves in the front and back yards for hours each weekend in the fall - there was no time for jumping in the pile of leaves we'd raked. I never made a snowman - I had to shovel the walk and driveway. If I played with the snow my dad yelled at me and if he caught me playing instead of shoveling a second time, he sent me inside. Not every kid in the suburbs has a puppy. And you can learn to ride a bike at a local park - you don't need the suburbs for that.
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 13:31     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:I would choose the city. Then again, I grew up in Ridgewood, and it would absolutely be my choice if I didn’t want the city.


I love Ridgewood, and lots of the surrounding towns.
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 13:23     Subject: Re:would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Bronxville or Eastchester, Westchester


This. I really like Bronxville. That's where I would go if I had a super-high HHI.


Bronxville is super expensive to buy, and then there’s the property taxes!

I have a lot of friends who live there and, frankly, I would not recommend. Yes, it’s nice and convenient, but it’s super small and insular. Everyone knows everyone’s business and God forbid you have a kid who’s not super sporty or different in any way. Gossip spreads like wildfire.

Also, while the school is great, for some reason, at least half my friends send their kids to private.


Op - oh tell me more. Bronxville was one of our options bc of the school. I have one ds who is sporty but who also has adhd


I’m not sure ADHD would be a problem, it’s more kids who are bookish/geeky or different from the preppy mold. A friend’s son got really badly bullied at school and nothing was done. The whole saga was horrifying and they ended up moving. Another friend has a dorky son and he had a hard time in HS, which may have happened anywhere but it’s a small school and a small town. His mom was also disgusted by all the cheating and lying on college applications. Again, this happens at all schools, esp. in wealthy places, but there’s no outlet for different kids.


Op - wow that makes me sad.
I must say we love our school. But giving them $110k a year is a tough pill to swallow. Ds I def see having rocky tweens that he will need a lot of sport and a lot of effort on my part to navigate
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 12:22     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Not city
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 12:15     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Suburbs. Too many rich people clogging up the city.
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 12:08     Subject: Re:would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Bronxville or Eastchester, Westchester


This. I really like Bronxville. That's where I would go if I had a super-high HHI.


Bronxville is super expensive to buy, and then there’s the property taxes!

I have a lot of friends who live there and, frankly, I would not recommend. Yes, it’s nice and convenient, but it’s super small and insular. Everyone knows everyone’s business and God forbid you have a kid who’s not super sporty or different in any way. Gossip spreads like wildfire.

Also, while the school is great, for some reason, at least half my friends send their kids to private.


Op - oh tell me more. Bronxville was one of our options bc of the school. I have one ds who is sporty but who also has adhd


I’m not sure ADHD would be a problem, it’s more kids who are bookish/geeky or different from the preppy mold. A friend’s son got really badly bullied at school and nothing was done. The whole saga was horrifying and they ended up moving. Another friend has a dorky son and he had a hard time in HS, which may have happened anywhere but it’s a small school and a small town. His mom was also disgusted by all the cheating and lying on college applications. Again, this happens at all schools, esp. in wealthy places, but there’s no outlet for different kids.
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 11:28     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:I was raised in Westchester and later commuted into NYC from CT. Had a wonderful quality of life. I liked having access to a major metropolis without living in the thick of its problems (homeless/mentally ill people wandering around, ridiculous real estate prices, no parking, crazy private school culture).

Kids who grow up in the city grow up too fast. They are worldly but jaded. Do you really want to have to explain addiction to your first grader? Teaching them to clutch their bags when walking down the street. It is a bit of a survival mindset (unless you are very wealthy and then create a bubble that is not normal).

Don’t you want backyard BBQ’s? Jumping in piles of leaves? Making snowmen in your yard? Little kids safely walking their new puppy around the block? Learning how to ride a bike.

Alternatives exist but I really appreciate growing up the way I did.


Op - couple of curveballs to consider I’m gonna throw:

Kids in elementary already (have not taught them to clutch bags yet)
Have a house out of town also where they jump in leaves and ride bikes on weekends/ vaca
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 11:26     Subject: Re:would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Bronxville or Eastchester, Westchester


This. I really like Bronxville. That's where I would go if I had a super-high HHI.


Bronxville is super expensive to buy, and then there’s the property taxes!

I have a lot of friends who live there and, frankly, I would not recommend. Yes, it’s nice and convenient, but it’s super small and insular. Everyone knows everyone’s business and God forbid you have a kid who’s not super sporty or different in any way. Gossip spreads like wildfire.

Also, while the school is great, for some reason, at least half my friends send their kids to private.


Op - oh tell me more. Bronxville was one of our options bc of the school. I have one ds who is sporty but who also has adhd
Anonymous
Post 07/03/2023 11:11     Subject: would you rather bring kids up in NYC or the NY burbs?
Greenwich Ct. Best public schools.
I grew up there in MS and most of HS. Safe, clean, excellent teachers, beach, and 30-40 mins from Grand Central.