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I have a simple question to ask here it goes.
How much do you think (or even better if you know and don’t have to estimate or guess), does it cost for a Frum family with two young children, to live in upstate New York renting a regular size house and with one car, per month!
Thank You
I don’t know, but you probably need to be more specific.
1. Define upstate. Rockland and Orange County (which most people in upstate consider to be downstate since they are in commuting distance of New York City). Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, etc. They are all different markets.
2. What level hinuch do you want? Do you need a suitable school or do you plan to home school?
3. Unlike Brooklyn, one must have a car upstate, and if both adults are working, you probably need two cars. This somewhat off sets the cheaper housing. However kosher food can cost substantially more and some items might be hard to find.
To rent a house can cost 1150+. However you will most likely will need to pay for water, heat and possibly grass/snow removal (or you can do this yourself). You can possibly negotiate this. Also there are not that many houses available to rent year round but there are a few I believe.
Heat cost can vary greatly. Will very much depend on the equipment in the house and pricing. When I rented in upstate I used around 800 gallons of oil a winter approx. When I purchased my house (in Woodridge) I am using approx 430 gallons of oil a winter season (which is considered very low compared to my neighbors, my sibling in Passaic used more than me where the temp is not as low in the winter) since the house was better insulated (I think) and the oil burner is very efficient and multiple zones with programmable thermostats). Cost will also depend on the price of oil/propane which goes up and down. Last year at this time oil cost 3.35 a gallon. Now around 2.45 a gallon. Big difference when purchasing oil in large quantities. Two years ago over $4.
You will also have to figure commuting costs into the equation. Insurance for a car is about 40%-50% less then the city.
If you are just renting renting at the end of the day it can be a wash (but you will live in a house) between the two. However if the goal is to purchase a house a year or two later it will be worth it. That is what I did.
My previous post I am taking for grant it “upstate” is the Catskills IE South Fallsurg/Woodridge area since the question is being asked in July.
Food pricing where I live is not that much higher then Monsey , but a bit higher then Brooklyn. Three year round kosher groceries up here. Plus walmart, shoprite etc… Depends where you live you can get a way with one car. But as akuperma pointed out you may need two.
Schooling could be an issue for some. Will not go deep into it here. I could do so offline.
A frum developer just built dozens of brand new homes in Bloomingburg, NY in Sullivan County, and is planning to build another over hundred brand new homes in a developing frum community. From what I understand the pricing is very good. You can google “Chestnut Ridge Bloomingburg” (without the quotes) to find the website with the information.
I live in upstate (sort of)
I live as far downstate as you can without being in New Jersey, so there.
At least New Jersey people recognize that Rockland is basically in NJ.
Chaim37, are you the guy who was interviewed a couple weeks ago in Mishpacha/Family First?
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