Relocating - Within 2-4 hours of Brooklyn (New York, Colonie: high crime, unemployment rate)

[bebopulation]

Hi all, thank you for your time. I'm currently living in the pacific northwest in a pretty small town. I have a sister in Brooklyn that I'd like to live close to, but I'm pretty flexible. I'd prefer to be within 2 hours of a train ride or car trip but as long as it's doable in under 3-4 then I'm okay with it. Any cities larger than 100,000 are out of the question. I work in a hospital if that helps and make about 35000-40000 a year.

I've received a few recommendations and have a trip planned for next month to check them out. Unfortunately, most of my recommendations aren't from people who have lived in New York for very long or from when they were kids so any additional advice would be appreciated.

I'd like a quiet place with nice restaurants. I tend to keep to myself and am not big on large social areas with bars and such.

So far on my list is to check out Long Island, Mahwah, Poughkeepsie, Colonie, Hudson. I'm not opposed to living in CT, PA, or Rhode Island. Thanks again!

[Airborneguy]

Have you considered New Paltz?

[bebopulation]

No, but I'll check it out. Thanks.

[Dreamshot]

Quiet place with nice restaurants? Maybe not Poughkeepsie (high crime), but nearby areas such as Fishkill, Beacon, and Wappingers Falls are worth looking in to. Mahwah also isn't a bad recommendation. Food is good in North Jersey IMO.

New Paltz is a "large social area with bars and such," so I don't think OP would go for it.

Definitely look in to Westchester County, too. I think a river town would be a good fit. Check out Peekskill, Croton-on-Hudson, Ossining, Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry, and Irvington.

[ckhthankgod]

Along with the great suggestions, my favorite is Nyack in Rockland County. Catskill may be another to consider. Perhaps Goshen or Warwick in Orange County. Saugerties may be another.

For places that are closer to 4 hours away, but are in NY, places like Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs, Clinton, Cooperstown, Oneonta, Owego, Hamilton and maybe even Ithaca, among some others.

What is your limit in terms of population?

[ckhthankgod]

You may like this website too: New York State Hospital Profile

[ccc123]

Goshen,Warwick or one of the other towns in Orange County.

[Njrover0216]

Are you sure you want to live in NY? You are going to deal with high taxes and high unemployment rate. If you are looking for something that is only a 2 hour train ride or quick airplace flight have you considered MAryland or Delaware or PA? I live in Maryland and it takes me by CAR 4 hours to drive to Staten Island. There is a amtrak train that runs right into NYC from MD, PA and DE, trip only runs 50-60 bucks...maybe an hour or so on the train.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Njrover0216

Are you sure you want to live in NY? You are going to deal with high taxes and high unemployment rate. If you are looking for something that is only a 2 hour train ride or quick airplace flight have you considered MAryland or Delaware or PA? I live in Maryland and it takes me by CAR 4 hours to drive to Staten Island. There is a amtrak train that runs right into NYC from MD, PA and DE, trip only runs 50-60 bucks...maybe an hour or so on the train.

Actually, even with the higher taxes, the overall cost of living is around the national average for most of Upstate NY. Maryland has a high cost of living, that is higher than that of Upstate NY. Unemployment rates are around the national average, give or take. Healthcare jobs are throughout the state and it will be a matter of where the OP wants to live.

[ki0eh]

Lancaster and Harrisburg, PA could be worth considering, they have hospitals and the train line to NYC for occasional visits (too far to commute). The Penn State medical center is in Hershey near Harrisburg and a fairly short commute from either Middletown or Elizabethtown (both stops on the train line).