Some of this is responding to you but I think it got a little away from what I originally was going to say :)
I agree Manhattan real estate can be crazy expensive but there are plenty more affordable apartments in Harlem, Brooklyn, Long Island and Queens. They are still expensive compared to the national average but I live in one of those areas and pay a third of what many of my friends do that live in UW/LW/UE/LE sides.
From this article it seems the most important things to them are the space and schools they are able to get from moving outside of manhattan. Which is nice but certainly a personal preference. I value things to do over my commute so I actually live in NYC and do an hour to work outside of the city.
Either way, what do you think they're missing out living in some place like Bethlehem? Most people move there because there is nothing there, and as someone who has spent some time, there really is nothing to do there. Most cities have parks, rec leagues etc. for kids to enjoy. Not having a yard won't deprive you kid of most activities besides not having to walk a few blocks to find somewhere to play.
To add to that, having easy access to all the cultural events that a place like NYC provides is great for kids. All of my friends that are native New Yorkers got exposed to a whole lot more at a much earlier age than those that didn't grow up here. For a curious kid there is a whole lot more to explore in a city like New York than in a suburban backyard where things are only accessible by car.
I agree Manhattan real estate can be crazy expensive but there are plenty more affordable apartments in Harlem, Brooklyn, Long Island and Queens. They are still expensive compared to the national average but I live in one of those areas and pay a third of what many of my friends do that live in UW/LW/UE/LE sides.
From this article it seems the most important things to them are the space and schools they are able to get from moving outside of manhattan. Which is nice but certainly a personal preference. I value things to do over my commute so I actually live in NYC and do an hour to work outside of the city.
Either way, what do you think they're missing out living in some place like Bethlehem? Most people move there because there is nothing there, and as someone who has spent some time, there really is nothing to do there. Most cities have parks, rec leagues etc. for kids to enjoy. Not having a yard won't deprive you kid of most activities besides not having to walk a few blocks to find somewhere to play.