Asian Life in New York City | Asian American Poll

ASIAN LIFE IN NEW YORK CITY
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:11:31 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Which NYC area offers the best environment for Asian Americans?
Manhattan | 53%
Queens/Flushing | 32%
Westchester | 3%
Long Island | 5%
Brooklyn | 4%
North Bergen | 3%

What's the best thing about living in the New York City area?
Being at the Center of the Universe | 32%
Great Street Life & Nightlife | 22%
Not Having to Drive Everywhere | 13%
Intellectual & Cultural Stimulation | 33%

What's the worst thing about living in the New York City area?
Horrible Winters | 32%
Lack of Personal Space | 2%
Rampant Ignorance & Prejudice toward Asians | 5%
Cramped Overpriced Housing | 61%

This poll is closed to new input.
Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

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WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]

AC,

I consider anything $700 or below is reasonable. Such a price range is rare these days, as rents will never go down but up. The issue is not really the price increases but whether people can make enough to pay their rents and balance the rest with their other expenses.

Did you read yesterday's NY Times.

Asians in NY have a median income of $70K and up.

Whites $50K and up
Hispanics $39K and up
Blacks $38K and up

I am assume they are more wealthy Whites (such as the Jews) in NY than there are wealthy Asians. But since they are more Asians in the household working, the median income for Asians are higher.

I speculate 3 things for our high median income besides the fact that we have more family members in the work force.

First, they are more Asians in the high middle income bracket ($40K-70K), while they are more Whites in the lower middle income bracket ($40K and below).

Second, Asians in the high income bracket ($80K and up) are balanced out with Asians in the high middle income bracket ($40K-$70K)while Whites in the high income bracket ($80K and up)are balanced with Whites in the lower middle income bracket ($40K and below).

Third, Asians comprise a small population of NY. We are a large group in NY but if we compared ourselves to Blacks, Hispanics and Whites in numbers, we are small. There are probably more Blacks, Hispanics and Whites in the poverty level or with low incomes than Asians.

One thing I also noticed is that Asians have a high purchasing power. We tend to buy the more expensive things yet, we still have tons of money left. One Korean dude was telling me that Jews in NY aren't all that wealthy or loaded to begin with since they are frugal and spend less than Asians.
LSD Wednesday, August 07, 2002 at 10:20:42 (PDT)

1/2LostSoul,

No not NJ. Goto LI if you're thinking about moving to NJ.
AC Dropout Tuesday, August 06, 2002 at 16:36:54 (PDT)

1/2LostSoul,

Nothing wrong with an illegal basement. When I got out of college and worked with AC, I got an illegal basement rental. Hell my company was started in that illegal basement.

If I ever get famous, I'll buy that house and have that illegal basement become a tour stop, right with the Soup Nazi. ^_^
AC Dropout Tuesday, August 06, 2002 at 16:36:05 (PDT)

LSD,

So what's considered to be reasonable rent in your opinion?
AC Dropout Monday, August 05, 2002 at 15:19:18 (PDT)

LSD,
Best bet for reasonable housing is NJ, with a long commute to NYC for the jobs and night life. You will have to commute somewhere in the 1.5-2 hours range (one way).
AC,
And what's wrong with an illegal basement?
1/2LostSoul Monday, August 05, 2002 at 14:27:49 (PDT)

AC,

Let's put this way...there are no reasonable rental prices these days in every part of NY with the exception of the Staten Island Landfill and maybe the Bronx.

If you wan't something reasonable, maybe living in the housing projects would be your best bet.

Anything above $700 is pricey in my books. If you find a place in Queens or Brooklyn for $800 or more, then you could find some place in Manhattan for the same amount. It's a choice of where you want to live. I take Manhattan over Brooklyn anytime of the day. Queens is suited for those who want a suburban environment.
LSD Thursday, August 01, 2002 at 08:19:21 (PDT)

LSD,

Unless you live in the heart of Chinese community, you will not be in a 100% asian neighborhood. Take Flushing for instance. That place is huge. Of course when people refer to Flushing, they are talking about the Main St. And all the Chinese shops around there. But they forget the Projects and what not near Main St.

Also the boundary for Flushing is at least 5 square miles. I assure you not all 5 square miles are Asian.

under $700 rent. Maybe an illegal basement apartment or over a garage. That is just not too realistic in NYC.
AC Dropout Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 15:19:36 (PDT)

AC and Where to Live,

Back from a vacation (hiatus)....From what I have heard from friends, Brooklyn and Queens are getting pricey too. Just take a look at the real estate market in Southern Brooklyn, the Chinese have been jacking up the prices on housing.

I never heard Flushing was cheap nor any place in Queens with a large Asian population.

Unless you want to live in some run down Brooklyn or Queens neighborhood infested with low income Blacks and Latins, there is no decent area with rents below $700 per month.

The changing demographics in New York City has always been in existence. Basically the White Ethnics like the Irish, Italians, and Jews have relocated to the affluent towns and left their neighborhoods of Queens and Brooklyn for other minorities to move in.

This pattern will continue with the Asians as they will gain more income and then move into more wealthier neighborhoods.

In terms of preference, I personally do not like to live in a neighborhood with a large Asian crowd. I am not a sellout but I prefer diversity.
LSD Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 07:51:53 (PDT)

If anyone's interested, there was an article in today's Washington Post about the changing demographics of Flushing. I think it's a good illustration of the different settlement and assimilation patterns taken by Korean and Chinese immigrants in New York, especially Queens.
JJP Monday, July 29, 2002 at 08:10:05 (PDT)

NYC or bust:

I heard Queens especially if you want to live near Asians, is the best and cheapest place to be.
Where to live in NYC Thursday, July 25, 2002 at 12:57:37 (PDT)

NYC or bust,

Probably Queens or Brookyln for reasonable rent.
AC Dropout Monday, July 22, 2002 at 07:55:14 (PDT)

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