Best place to retire: Hudson Heights
Pros: Relatively affordable; Fort Tryon Park
Cons: Removed from most of Manhattan; hilly
Real estate: Up to $400,000 for a one-bedroom co-op. One-bedrooms rent for $1,500 a month.
New York City living comes with high culture, high convenience - and high costs. But if you're willing to sacrifice a bit on location, you can trade for more space and affordability without giving up an urban lifestyle.While Hudson Heights is in the upper reaches of Manhattan, it's just a 30-minute subway ride from Times Square and less than 40 minutes from attractions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
"I can hop on the subway and be anywhere," says Donald Wilen, 71, who moved to Hudson Heights in 2005 with his wife. Three times a week his local walking group traverses the lush gardens of Fort Tryon Park, which abuts Hudson Heights to the north and overlooks the river.
Even by Manhattan standards the neighborhood is affordable. "It's full of things to do and very low-key, fun and safe," says local resident Janet Hays, 78, author of "Retire in New York City - Even if You're Not Rich."
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