Sofia R

Hi there,
Our family is looking to relocate to the 🇺🇸 as my husband has been offered a relocation package with his job. I have a couple of questions I'm hoping people could answer

1, What is the best place to live for a family that is about an hours 🚗 🚆✈ from NYC - low crime rate, peaceful and good amenities.
2, I have 2 kids 7 and 8 and the relocation package includes them having a private school education - I'd like to keep them on a British curriculum if possible 🤷🏽‍♀️ or just a really good junior school that also fits the above.
3, Also, With decent houses upto 500k

Any help or advise would be great

christmasoompa

Hi, welcome to BE.

There's a British school in Manhattan, don't think there are any others outside of NYC though. But if you're looking at buying houses, then presumably this is a permanent move? So with kids age 7 & 8, you might want to look at just putting them in to the US system, as there's no need for them to stay on the British curriculum unless you'll be moving back after a temporary move, or unless they're at a crucial age in their education. We're sending ours to a British school, but he will be joining at age 16 after GCSE's and probably returning to the UK for uni, so a different situation. If you wanted to hedge your bets, then maybe look at a school that offers the IB program, so it's easily transferable either side of the pond?

Might also be worth mentioning whereabouts your husband will be working in NYC, so that those in the know can advise on commutes and whereabouts you're best living if you want his journey to be less than an hour.

Best of luck with the move.

civilservant

In that area? In this market? Ooooof....

postbox134

$500k is not a huge amount for a full size house for 4 with a decent commute to NYC (I assume Manhattan). It also varies a lot where in Manhattan as to which stations are nearest the workplace.

penguinsix

Hi and welcome.

I think the first big question is whether this is temporary or permanent move. I think where you envision the kids at Uni is something you need to be taking into consideration at this point, and which curriculum will get them into what Uni is something to think about.

Outside of the British School in the city, your best option is an IB program or an international school. There really aren't that many options for a purely British curriculum school in the USA. https://www.international-schools-da.../new-york-city

And sadly, $500k in this area with a nice amenities is going to be a really, really tough find. Do you know where in the city he will be working (Wall Street, Midtown, etc)?

This is our WIKI on moving to US schools which might be helpful:

https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Educa...s_in_school%3F

trentschris

Hi, I don't have any input on the schools but I thought I'd give you a baseline on housing that might be useful.

I have an apartment in Manhattan (not a full-time residence) that is 2bd - 1bath, 1100 sq feet that cost ~1.3 and that was a steal at the time compared to now.

As you go out a further, I have a friend who lives in Great Neck Gardens (NY suburb, 25 miles from Manhattan, 1 hour drive) - His family live in a 4bd, 3bth 3500 sq foot house which cost 1.6 a few years ago.

Nutmegger

I suggest that you Google the Metro-North Railroad schedules site and look at the listings for the Hudson and the Harlem lines (they serve Westchester County, NY) and the New Haven line (which serves Fairfield County, Connecticut). You will be able to see which towns are within your NYC commuting range. However, good towns within an hour of NYC are going to be expensive and, as already stated, 500K would get a pretty average house. Westchester and Fairfield towns do have excellent public school districts, however. The other alternative is to head east from NYC, along the Long Island Railroad. Housing is probably not quite as expensive on close-in Long Island, but the schools probably aren't as good.

Pulaski

It depends what you mean by "decent". Twenty years ago we couldn't find much under $500k, even when "decent" meant "in need of $100k+ in renovations", in a half-decent area and commutable into Manhattan; by the time we gave up looking and left, we were looking at properties that were 2+ hours from Manhattan.

If I was looking to move back there I would expect to start with a budget of $1million, but 1½million would give better choices.

Jerseygirl

I agree with what has already been said…$500K will not go far in the Tri State Area. School fees are also very expensive…kindergarten fees at the school my daughter attended start around $40K. We lived in NJ…approx 45 mins from Manhattan.

robin1234

Loads of perfectly nice family houses with good sized yards in Ossining, NY, in the 300 to 500k range. Less than an hour to Grand Central by train. As everywhere, your journey at both ends of the train journey will be an important factor.

Sofia R

Thank you so much for responding, so the house is part of the package he is getting with the job. We will be looking To move over on a temp basis for approximately 10 years and then heading home so the girls can go to uni in the UK. Could I ask what an IB program is? I don't really want to live in NYC as I'm a country girl, so If we can find a school that covers the curriculum outside of NYC I'd be really happy.

tht

I am in Fairfield, with 0 traffic 1h drive can be done, but no chance commuting. On the train it was 2h “door to desk” before CV19, trains are longer now, and thats if your office is waking distance from Grand Central. You could knock the 15min driving to the station off if you buy within walking distance, and then you may be able to get away with only 1 car vs 2 as well.

Not sure that $500k will even get you a below average house in this market.

if you will have private school you can actually look at less desirable areas… the house prices and tax map to good schools, so if you have no need for a good school you can save some money there. A similar house in Bridgeport is way less Extensive than Fairfield for example. I would say looks in New Rochelle NY, less than 1h on the train or somewhere like Norwalk in CT. Also most relocation packages don’t pay for things forever and makes sure it’s grossed up to pay the tax’s you will owe on it.

postbox134

After some time outside the UK, you'll have to pay for international fees at UK uni and I believe no student loans from the UK government, even if you're a UK citizen. Others will know more on this.

$500k in cash for a house purchase? Can't imagine the tax on this. Also look into property tax whereever you intend to move to, it can be very significant around here.

Nutmegger

Should be explained to the OP that you are talking about the town of Fairfield, and I was talking about Fairfield County as a whole -- specifically thinking about Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan.

PetrifiedExPat

Our old apartment 45 mins outside of Boston, which is cheaper than NYC now would cost 350k to buy, and its 2.5 rooms in a dilapidated building. I would plan to spend ~2 million based on your needs ~ 1 hr outside of NYC. Then add all the relevant taxes and cost of living, plus private schools.