Single mother moving to NYC?

Question

I am a single mother with a 10 year old daughter. I have a master's degree in the health care field and can earn about $80 k /year. Can I live in a decent area, where there are good schools, in at least a 1 bedroom apt? I am willing to live in Brooklyn or Queens, but is it possible to live in Manhattan with the above mentioned criteria? Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible to live in New York City with a child making 80K a year. In fact people are doing it making much less money. I assume when you mention you want to live in a "decent area", you are talking about one of the ritzier areas such as the Upper West or Upper East Side in Manhattan. On 80K a year, it would be difficult to find affordable housing for under 2000 a month.

However, there are neighborhoods that are fine and "still" affordable. In Brooklyn you could probably find a nice place in Ft. Greene, Clinton-Hill, or even Park Slope. If you wish to be adventurous and on the forefront of the gentrification wave you can even try Bedford-Stuyvesant or Williamsburg.

I am not too familiar with Queens, but Astoria is an up and coming area.

Answer 2

It may be a little tight. 80k a year isnt that much when housing in a decent area will run you 2-3000 a month for a 1 bedroom. Plus childcare expenses it jsut may be a little too pricey.

In Brooklyn or Queens you may do better, but the commute is going to be longer. And as a side note...a masters degree isnt uncommon in NY...A 4 year degree is a starter degree.

Answer 3

It really depends on what exactly you are looking for ...

I am not sure where you are now, but in the city you will probably be taking the train every day. You need to think about how long you are willing to commute.

Many things also depend on what you consider a decent neighborhood and what you are willing to pay in rent.

The neighboorhoods that would be considered nice by almost all are pretty expensive, but I feel like their are a lot of neighborhoods which are "up-and-coming" - slowly developing. (i.e. As Columbia University expands all the area around it becomes nicer and nicer ... the area by Columbia Medical center in Washington heights is also developing quickly...

I would check craigslist.org regularly and try to visit before you come. Make a list of a few places you feel fit you financially (this would be determined by the ads) and check them out...

I have included some links below for affordable housing in NYC... this is NOT the norm! This is housing made available through the city and non-profits! (In the housing lotteries the grammercy area is nice) most places where they are offered are "lower income areas" , but that doesn't mean they are horrible!

If you can't find something that
fits you right away, keep looking. They add new listings all the
time, but you need to check regularly.

http://nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/apartment/lotteries.shtml

http://nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/apartment/mitchell-lama.shtml

http://www.dhcr.state.ny.us/ahd/default.asp

http://www.hud.gov/apps/section8/results.cfm?city_name_text=&county_name_text=New+York&zip_code=&property_name_text=&client_group_type=Family&maxrec=20&state_code=NY&statename=New+York

http://www.nyhomes.org/home/index.asp?page=289 (Click the 2nd
link)


Good Luck!

P.S. You can always ask about specific neighborhoods on Yahoo answers if you are unsure....

Answer 4

I can think of better places to raise a 10 year old in this country.
After Federal , State and City taxes Rent,food ,transportation and after school care, . you will be in the red at 80k

Answer 5

I'm going to stick my neck out here and ask you WHY, of all the nicer places in the U.S., would you choose to live in NYC? I would move heaven and earth to not bring a child to NYC. She will no doubt have to walk to school, which is a danger in itself. I could go on for hours trying to sway you but I'm thinking it would be useless. Do your homework on this one. Learn all you can before deciding, and god be with you.