<p>When I was living/working in NYC/CT, NY income tax was up to 10% of income, and CT didn’t have any at all. Moreover, if there were two of you and only one working in NY, they used the combined income to establish your bracket, even if one spouse never set foot in NY! There was no break for non-residents on the state tax, but there was on the NYC tax. Oddly.</p>
<p>Later a CT income tax was established, but it was significantly lower than NY, and people with incomes below $35K or so didn’t pay any. (I don’t recall the exact figure.)</p>
<p>^ Top Connecticut state income tax rate is now 6.5% on income over $500K. On income between $10K and $500K it’s 5.0%. </p>
<p>In New York it’s 7.85% on income over $200K, and 6.85% on income in the $20K to $200K range. Assuming this is an entry-level job earning somewhere between $20K and $200K, the difference in state income tax rates would be 1.85% of AGI—not trivial, but probably not a deal-breaker. But don’t forget New York City also has an income tax of its own, which adds another 2.907% to 3.648% on top of the state rate. So depending on the tax bracket, this means state and local income taxes could be higher by about 5% to 6% of AGI in New York City than in Connecticut. That gets to be significant.</p>
<p>I think it would be insane to live an hour away from work by train if you’re going to work 12+ hour days 5-6 days a week. I would not even think about it.</p>
<p>My D is considering that and she works in NJ. She heeded my advice and moved to Hoboken shortly after she started her new job. Now that her lease is up for renewal, I am wondering if she would move to Manhattan since all her friends and social activities are there. She complains that the Path doesn’t run frequently enough for her after 11PM and weekends. She is paying over $2000 for her 1 bedroom and she is not into sharing.</p>
<p>OP, if your son isn’t too social, he may consider living in CT, but I think bclintonk’s idea of the Bronx may suit a young person’s lifestyle better.</p>
<p>Yes $1500 - 2000 Maximum per month. Buying a very small house is not an option, as we do not know what future holds. It is doable but not a good option. I can see living in CT versus NY City, one can save substantially $$$$ in paying less in taxes. Thanks for pointing this one out. I will point this one out, as it is something very substantial money for future savings.</p>
<p>Even though commute may be two hour long, one has to decide themselves what is good for them. So advice will be given but decision is not mine. </p>
<p>My nephew is very social person. This is the crux of the matter is and will make or break the decision;
</p>
<p>I will stay away from one way or another way. i will let the kid make their own decison after knowing all the facts. It is better to make mistake early on and learn from them rather than I bring my own decisons in the picture. Thanks a lot. </p>
<p>So what will be a good building area in BronX. Also the are you are telling how safe it is as money is immaterial in front of safety issues? Safety is utmost important.</p>
<p>With such horrible working hours, your nephew will only be able to socialize on the weekends, when he can go into Manhattan at his leisure. So why take on a long commute just for the privilege of sleeping in NYC and paying higher taxes? There are plenty of young people sharing apartments in Stamford, which borders Greenwich, so I think it’s the best spot. And if he ever does get out of work at a reasonable hour, there are plenty of places in Stamford to unwind with a drink and meet peers. The only reasonably close and safe area I can think of in the Bronx is Riverdale, but I don’t see any appeal there for a young person.</p>
<p>The neighborhood I had in mind is the Belmont “Little Italy” area, immediately south of Fordham’s Rose Hill campus (follow link from “Bronx Neighborhoods” page). A lot of Fordham grad students live there. I don’t have crime statistics but it has a reputation as a relatively safe area, with lots of rental units and vibrant urban life, tons of little shops and restaurants, especially great if he likes Italian food. (To be honest, this neighborhood sometimes feels eerily safe, and it’s rumored that the Italian-American community is, well, shall we say “organized” and that’s what keeps the street punks in check, but that could be just urban legend; in any event, I’ve always felt totally safe there, and we used to go there frequently for the restaurants which are better and cheaper than in Manhattan’s “Little Italy”). If he finds a place within walking distance of the Fordham station on the Metro North New Haven Line, the commute to Greenwich would be about 30 minutes, as opposed to about 10 minutes from Stamford. Yes, the taxes will be higher; as I mentioned before, the state taxes are not very far apart anymore, but that additional city income tax takes a bite. But I think for a lot of young people the difference between an urban setting and a suburb is night-and-day. Besides, from the Fordham station it’s only about 20 minutes into Grand Central on the weekends, as opposed to about an hour from Stamford. And Bronx/Uptown Manhattan attractions like the Bronx Zoo, NY Botanical Garden, Yankee Stadium, and The Cloisters will be right on his doorstep, along with, I imagine, a lot of cultural offerings at Fordham.</p>
<p>That is just too rational.
My D will say “Where would I sleep in Manhattan after the bars on the weekends?” I’d say, “At your brother’s, who has a huge apt to himself.”
She’s still not convinced. :(</p>