Working in Manhattan, living outside of NY?

Question

I am wondering if it's worth working in Manhattan and living in New Jersey or even Connecticut?

What is the commute like from NJ or CT?

Would it save money?

How are the schools in NJ?

Does anyone on Y!A do this and can tell me their experience?

Answer 1

Depends on how you handle the commute. Some handle it better than others and spend years waiting on the platform day after day, year after year, decade after decade just to take the train. If you are married with wife or husband and kids, it's not that bad since the salaries are so much better in Manhattan. As far as the suburbs, Nassau County on Long Island, NY has the highest standard of living. Houses in Nassau on average go for $110,000 more than in Bergen County, NJ, Westchester County, NY, and Fairfield County, Conn. Secordary education in the suburbs are second to none. Higher education Princeton in NJ, Yale in Conn., and Columbia in NYC.

Answer 2

I've lived in Fairfield County Connecticut for 40+ years and I can tell you a lot of people here commute to NYC for work every day. Commute times are 1-2 hours each way depending if you're in northern or southern Fairfield County. Most people take the train to NYC. Housing prices are cheaper the farther away from NYC you get. Stay away from Bridgeport and Norwalk, every other town is OK. Schools are very good in CT. My friend commuted from New Haven to NYC every day for 4 years while working for an institutional broker. In that time, she earned enough to retire. If you can put up with the commute, you'll get all the pleasures of CT coupled with the money of NYC.  

Answer 3

Some towns in NJ have good schools.  Some don't.

The commute is an hour by public transportation at rush hour or by car at off peak hours.  Three hours by car at peak times.

If you work in Manhattan, you must pay NY and NYC tax on your income from that job, even if you live elsewhere.  You calculate CT or NJ tax on your total income, but then subtract a credit for the portion corresponding to the income also taxed by NY.

Answer 4

Is not unusual to have a 2 plus hrs commute. I know people either in NJ and Conn. both work in manhattan. One reside in Paramus, NJ and the other in Greenwich, CT. Both don't mind the drive. Renting in garden city,nj and newark already save some $$. But I heard school districts in Newark is not all that good.  

Answer 5

The commute from Jersey can be pretty easy . There are good bus connections to the city from Ft Lee, Teaneck, Bogota, Ridgefield, Leonia, Palisades Park, average time is around 30 - 50 minutes if the tunnel isn't messed up. Schools in Ft Lee, Leonia are very good.