<p>Although people do a “reverse commute” when necessary, I agree that it doesn’t sound great. Manhattan has gotten really expensive for anything. Close to Penn station it is mostly business type buildings, although Chelsea and Clinton (formerly Hell’s kitchen) are within the adjacent area and are residential. They are no longer inexpensive neighborhoods. Your D might do a lot better in Queens or western Nassau with an inexpensive car, and perhaps a building that has parking and driving to Adelphi. I originally am from Long Island, and in my experience people commute to places like Adelphi by car. I think there are apartments in Garden City, but if not, there are many other places in western Nassau County that have apartments. I was thinking of Lake Success which is right on the Nassau Queens border, as is Bellrose/Floral Park. She needs to look carefully at the areas, as there is a great deal of variability in the housing stock and if she is far from here, a realtor (yes, even for apartments) might help. Bellrose/Floral park has a train to LIRR that could be used on weekends to go to NYC. Also, although people might gasp at Jamaica, there are some nice, safe, apartments there, and there are trains, subways, buses. I know some folks who live in the area of St. John’s University, and it is nice. </p>
<p>Given that none of this is like living in Manhattan. Sometimes people look for roommates to try to get into NYC apartments. This would never have been for me, but it works for many people. </p>