<p>My S lives on 105th and Columbus…affordable (well, that’s a relative concept in Manhattan), vibrant, young and fun. Easy walk up to TC. He works on 20th and Park, so he has the reverse commute. It takes him about 20-30 minutes in each direction depending on the vagaries of the subway.</p>
<p>Living on the East Side in general is not going to be good for Columbia, because Columbia is on the West Side and fairly far uptown. So Murray Hill, the Lower East Side, the Upper East Side…not the most convenient.</p>
<p>Has she looked at Inwood? It’s far uptown, above Columbia, but parts of it are on the same subway line, the 1 train. And Inwood is pretty much a bargain compared with parts south. It’s worth a look at least. If it were my decision, though, I would opt to live right there in Morningside Heights. Why travel if she doesn’t need to?</p>
<p>The thing that makes her decision complicated is that she will be working on 82nd and Madison every day and will be going to Columbia probably 2-3 times per week (in the evening)…so where does it make most sense for her to live?</p>
<p>Try checking out [Apartacus:The</a> Apartment Hunter](<a href=“http://www.apartacus.com%5DApartacus:The”>http://www.apartacus.com) for nyc housing</p>
<p>Live near Columbia, it’s just as safe/vibrant as anywhere else she might consider. Manhattan School of Music and Barnard are right there. There are plenty of young singles. Subway service is a snap and rents far more reasonable than Murray Hill.</p>
<p>Working 40 or so blocks away is not an issue with subway and bus service.</p>
<p>My son has just relocated in NYC and I helped with house hunting. Having looked at more than 25 apts, many in the Murray Hill area, I have to agree that Upper West Side would be more convenient for your D, commuting to both school and work. The opinion of a few young singles in their mid 20’s who relocated from upper east/west side to Murray Hill is that it is more convenient to nightlife occurring mainly south of 34th and cab fares back to Upper W/E sides are exorbitant if you do it several times a week.</p>
<p>Most of Manhattan is considered safe these days, but I’ve also found the website [NabeWise</a> - Explore New York City](<a href=“http://nabewise.com/nyc/nabefinder]NabeWise”>http://nabewise.com/nyc/nabefinder) helpful too.</p>
<p>You can search and get a better feel for the neighborhood before you have your kids move there and so you can worry else. I know it helps me as a parent.</p>
<p>Unless your D is planning to buy an apartment, she will probably move again once she gets to know people and finds her favorite neighborhoods. Most young people move around a lot. In terms of ease of commute, the 80’s on the west side would be the most convenient: she can hop on subway up to TC, and she can take a 86th or 79th st. crosstown buss to get to work. She could even walk across the park for work. The upper west side IS very family oriented, but there is also a pretty active night life along Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. Actually, there is a nightlife in almost every neighborhood, but like every thing else in NYC, it’s very specialized. So, depending on her tastes and crowd, she might like the upper west side scene (kind of fratty), or the upper west side (fratty, but more preppy), Lower East Side and Williamsburg (hipster with lots of everyone else from every other neighborhood, including NJ and LI). In terms of affordability, the neighborhood around TC (Morningside Heights) is one of the most affordable in Manhattan.</p>