About to move back from overseas to the NYC area. Would love to live in manhattan (UWS/UES) but wife thinks it’s a dumb idea and we should instead look at other neighborhoods outside manhattan / NYC proper for more space, better schools, etc. Thoughts from this group? I’ve loved living in manhattan and don’t really get excited about suburban life. I appreciate there are trade offs though, especially with two young kids now…

With kids I’d absolutely be looking Westchester, CT or NJ

UWS with kids is amazing. I’ve done both suburban and city life. Wouldn’t go back to the suburban routine

I loved living in Manhattan without kids and a lot of social life, but Brooklyn is so much better with kids. For me, and for the kids. Your call. I would say that Manhattan isn’t what it used to be anymore. More dirt, more crime.

Your wife is pretty smart. Stick with her and you will do well.

PS- Avoid Manhattan at all cost. It’s not what you think it is. I was born and raised there.

Live in Manhattan with kids. Great school options if you can pay. Kids come with driving also. Unless you can afford drivers like a lot of your neighbors. It is a place that propels kids in the same ways it does adults. But can also take them off track in the same way it does with adults. Have to be focused and you’ll find out there are plenty of playgrounds on Manhattan…

The schools in NYC are excellent. I am looking to move back for that reason. My ideal is being in Nyc during the week and them a place outside the city for weekends or whenever you want space.

UES or death.

It’s honestly a matter of finances. Manhattan can be solid with kids but takes a lot more money. If you will be miserable in the burbs that will not work either….we decided to stay in Manhattan (two young kids) because we couldn’t imagine ourselves in the burbs.

Maplewood or Montclair in NJ

Totally with the Swedish friend. I lived on the UWS for 10+ years, first as a single, then as a couple. Planned to have kids in the city too, then escaped during covid and never looked back. I thought maybe I would send my kids to PS87, they would go to Stuyvesant or some other magnet high school, and we would enjoy all the city had to offer. I valued time with my family rather than being a slave to the train schedule and wasting hours commuting.

In a post Covid world, I’m only in the office or with a client half the time and working at home the other half. Commuting is less of a drain than before. With young kids still in strollers (or probably whatever age) space is a premium. Kids have a lot of shit, and I can’t imagine bunking my kids in my old 2 BR and managing all their stuff and jamming in there on work from home days with my spouse and nanny as well.

A 3 BR with doorman, elevator, outdoor space on the UWS/UES will run you $2mm+. Private school for 13 years may be $1mm per kid. Plus nearly 4% NYC tax on our salaries is not negligible.

With $2mm you can get a 6 bedroom house with a yard within an hour of NYC with excellent public schools. You can put that $1mm per kid in their trusts. That 4% tax savings can pay for the best date nights and family outings in the city every weekend. Or all of that savings can be used as a buffer to retire early and spend time with those kids.

If you can afford it (including private school tuition) UES/UWS is the best way to go — not only for you, but for absolute best education for your kids and exposure to so many more things

A Swedish friend told me last year he was moving his family back to Sweden because: “You really can get buy anymore in Manhattan on $600k a year”.

Grew up in Rockland and will always live in Rockland. Far enough from the city to keep the rif raf out. I recommend you go to Brooklyn. 😎