The 25 Best Affordable Suburbs in the U.S.

Business Week ^ | Maya Roney

[RockinRight]

Low crime, reasonable commute, and good schools—who says you can't find a nice house in a suburb without paying a fortune? Buying your first house? Fleeing the city for a life within your means? Here's a novel idea: Move to a suburb where you won't break the bank or get your car broken into. A community with reasonable home prices and decent schools. A suburb close to your city job, with a lively downtown of its own. For hedge-fund managers, plastic surgeons, corporate lawyers, and other people who earn millions a year, choosing a suburb is not about affordability but convenience and, frankly, prestige. These folks don't balk at high prices or look for fixer-uppers. They can pay for prime real estate on the most exclusive streets in the fanciest towns with the best schools. If they want to live in Greenwich or Brookline or Lake Forest or Malibu, they can. Unfortunately, most people aren't so lucky. Most people have to balance their real estate aspirations with reality—compromising on acreage or culture in exchange for better schools or lower property taxes.

[spikeytx86]

Of course. Depending on there argument one can be both destitute and uber rich. They are the masters of Hypocrisy remember.

[jveritas]

I absolutely agree with you on this one. There is much more to enjoy in life than just have a house. This year I was finally was able to buy 255,000 Condo here in Massachusetts, but I did not decide to do this before I was sure that with my current salary and after the mortgage payment and the other home expenses, I can still spend on other things and enjoy life.

[goldstategop]

I think for most people, 200G is the most they should spend on a new home. Any more is just wretched excess.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[RockinRight]

I was looking at the Greensboro, NC or Greenville, SC area.

[radiohead]

Herndon, Virginia as the #1 place in the Washington D.C.

Herndon?? That's a long way to go to be a 'suburb.' Silver Spring and Alexandria are suburbs. When I was growing up in DC, Herndon was the country. No way would I want that commute.

[RockinRight]

Even with NO property taxes the prices are insane for someone on that income.

[dakine]

Living in DC area, $500K houses and family incomes of $150K+ just seem to be the norm. I know that isn't true based on statistics, just anecdotal....

[RockinRight]

I agree. Of course in Cali and many other areas, it's impossible because there is nothing that cheap.

[HostileTerritory]

Absolutely, and it's driven plenty of young people out of the state to places they can hope to buy a home. I'm just saying about the taxes.

[Froufrou]

Um, could these be the same people who tried to say serving ketchup in school cafeterias constituted a serving of vegetables?

No, wait! That corporation who told their employees to shop at swap meets...

[RockinRight]

I spend time in DC since my wife-to-be lives there. I know what SHE makes, and what most other people she works with make, and it's all well under 150k.

FYI she rents a TINY place for a HUGE amount.

[goldstategop]

Its the cost of living that is driving people out of high priced areas more than the mortgage. You could put up with a slightly higher mortgage, if your other out of pocket expenses were lower. But if they aren't, there's nothing left at the end of the month after the mortgage is paid and no one wants to live like that. So never get a mortgage that has you paying 2-3G a month. You're one step away from foreclosure if something happens and you can no longer keep up with the payments.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Gay State Conservative]

State and local taxes in Massachusetts are relatively low, particularly property taxes. It's not a concern.

Particularly if you were around during the Dukakis years,you know that,soon,you'll have to use the past tense when making that statement.

[ekwd]

They're taking the the Northeast and California social and political values with them when they go.

[goldstategop]

You can find a place in high cost states half that amount - but its either in an undesirable area or in the neck of the woods.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Lunatic Fringe]

I got a great deal with the housing drops. 4BR, 2 1/3 Bath, 2250 sq ft, oversize lot for $149,000.

[dakine]

"200G is the most they should spend on a new home. Any more is just wretched excess."

Not a 200K house to be had in certain areas, esp. Calif!

[taxed2death]

"The young are leaving the Northeast and California. There's no future for them there - not on what they make."

There are still a few good jobs in the trades left here (although the damned illegals are chipping away). Heck, I know a young guy who graduated about 6 years ago from a local trade / tech highschool and started his own plumbing company. He was in my shop not to long ago and his small business grossed over $600,000.00 last year. If you're not afraid of workin, you can still make a good buck here in the northeast.

I've got $600,000.00 - $750,000.00 houses popping up all around my neighborhood like mushrooms lately.

[RockinRight]

Nice deal!

Now, my income has decreased a little due to that, but not much.