Family-friendly alternatives to living in Manhattan?

Oh, I do so understand your question, because I know so many couples having this conversation!

I live in Park Slope, which I think is a nice compromise. It's still really urban, but with lovely tree lined streets and many parks. MANY families live here, and the whole neighborhood is set up to cater to families with children. The local elementary schools are quite good. There are several good middle schools - but you do have to deal with the whole middle school "choice" thing, which is stressful. There are no decent high schools near here unfortunately, but in high school you REALLY have to do the "choice" thing big time, anyway, and most local kids go to Manhattan for high school. (My daughter was just accepted at a really first rate high school in Manhattan, and will be going there next year.)

In Park Slope you can buy a house - a row house, mind, but it will have a small yard in back. But houses here are pricey! Almost as much as in Manhattan. But there are many large apartments, also VERY expensive these days. (I DO live in a row house, btw, with the tiniest back yard. But I live directly across the street from a park, too.)

However, even in Park Slope there are families having conversations like you are having with your wife. Many people leave here to move to Montclair or South Orange, New Jersey. They go to get more space, more green space, or to not have to do the whole middle school/high school thing.

I will say that, in many of the couples I meet who've done this, only one of the parents is really happy out there. It might be the wife or it might be the husband. But, invariably, I meet them again when they've come back into town to a party at a friend's house and one member of the couple will complain about feeling terribly isolated out there, and having trouble meeting people or finding things to do out there, while the other member is just glowing and going on and on about what he or she loves about Montclair or South Orange!

It sounds to me like you might be headed up the same road with your wife. Perhaps you just want different things? That's why a compromise might be in order. Park Slope is a nice compromise, if you can afford it.

And remember, even in the prices in the suburbs seem substantially lower for much more room, they pay MUCH higher property taxes out there to fund public schools. Our public schools are funded through a much different formula, so our property taxes are far lower. You really do have to figure that into what you are spending.

Good luck!

Long Island! Tons of kids here and very suburban. I live In westbury which doesnt have the best rep. But I love it. The towns I would recommend are Garden City, Rockville Centre, Franklin Square, Floral Park, Searingtown, Albertson, East Williston, Carle Place, Mineola, Hicksville, East Meadow. Glen Head, Port Washington, Manhassat, Great Neck, Herricks, New Hyde Park, Glen Cove, Malverne, Levittown, Lynbrook, and Syosset.Most of all of these is about a 45 minute train ride into the city...Great Neck and New Hyde Park are closer to the city though. Prbably about a 20 minute train ride and a 30-35 minute car ride.

i does no longer consider the others who pronounced that long island isn't kin friendly. high priced, sure, yet that doesn't make it kin unfriendly consistent with se. i stay on the top West facet, and there are loads of families here. you're able to additionally seem into Morningside Heights, the place Columbia college is, and which has a fascinating mix of scholars, school, singles, couples, and families, a lot of whom are no longer affiliated the two with the college or the wellness facility (St. Luke's / Roosevelt scientific middle) in any respect. long island is a *great* place to have a kin. i grew up in long island, and that i became out basically nice... and a great community eating place that usually welcomes families with small young little ones is V&T Pizzeria and eating place, an area corporation on Amsterdam street and West one hundred and 10th street considering that 1945.

The Village of Scarsdale in Westchester County is the ideal place for you and your family. You can take the express train in and out of midtown in less than 45 minutes. It is truly a beautiful town with great schools for your children!

It seems like you would be okay with Brooklyn, so maybe you should look at Prospect Park South.