In this edition, we continue the
New York City versus Boston
match-up, bringing in two players from the East Coast of the United States: New York and Boston.
Undoubtedly, the first major city on the East Coast is New York, and the second contender in comparison is Boston, an area familiar to many Chinese friends. On the surface, these two metropolitan areas differ greatly in terms of city size, atmosphere, development, the Chinese community, education, and more. Some say New York and Boston represent a contrast between modern metropolis and historic old city, while others argue that Bostonians are more intellectual while New Yorkers are too hasty, aiming for speed and accuracy in everything. However, in reality, these two cities also share many similarities.
Next, I will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the two cities from a real estate perspective, to see which one might be more suitable for you.
First, let’s take a look at the New York metropolitan area, with a focus on areas where more Chinese people reside for a proper city analysis. Among the neighborhoods with a significant Chinese population in New York, the top one is undoubtedly Flushing, earning the titles of “Little Shanghai” and “Little Taipei.”
The living facilities in Flushing are unquestionable: Chinese restaurants, supermarkets, tutoring centers, banks, and more. Transportation: Direct access to Manhattan via the 7 subway line. School resources: There are several public and private schools with good performances. This area is ideal for first-time immigrants and elderly family members, as life here tends to be less hampered by language barriers. The average housing price in Flushing is around $760,000, showing a 3.5% increase from last year.
The second popular Chinese community is in Bayside, Queens. As the name suggests, this area is located near the bay, providing a quiet residential environment with good security. Though the Chinese population in Bayside is not as high as in Flushing, it has been steadily increasing over the years.
In terms of educational resources: The district is desirable for many Chinese families due to its good school district. Housing prices in Bayside are slightly higher than in Flushing, with an average price of around $860,000. This is because the quality of life here is better, leading to a 4.5% increase in prices compared to last year. Bayside is suitable for families who value education and quality of life.
The third hot spot is Great Neck on Long Island. This area tends to cater to wealthier families, with an average housing price of nearly $1.39 million, marking a 9.8% increase from last year. It belongs to a community with good living standards and school districts and is not lacking in large shopping centers and Asian supermarkets. Transportation-wise, it takes about half an hour by train to reach Manhattan. Hence, in recent years, the number of new Chinese immigrants has been steadily increasing in Great Neck, suitable for middle to high-income individuals who prioritize school districts.
The fourth hot spot in New York is Bensonhurst and Sunset Park in Brooklyn, traditional Chinese residential areas, especially dominated by Fujian immigrants. Shopping and dining facilities are ample, but there is a significant disparity in housing prices, with high-end properties exceeding a million dollars and lower-end ones around $500,000. Especially in Sunset Park, where housing prices are only around $560,000, making it very suitable for new immigrants or working-class families.
The fifth hot spot is Downtown Manhattan, which can be divided into two areas: Chinatown, a traditional Chinese enclave with rich culinary culture, though living conditions are relatively old, gathering old immigrants. It is also a must-visit spot for tourists to experience food. The other hot spot in Downtown Manhattan is Battery Park City, presenting a completely different scene. This area is a fashionable residential district adjacent to the financial district and World Trade Center, offering a peaceful life with excellent school resources, particularly suitable for finance industry professionals.
Moving on to the sixth hotspot requires crossing the Hudson River to New Jersey, where we have three locations: Fort Lee, Edison, and Princeton. These communities share a common trait of high living standards and good school districts.
Fort Lee’s proximity to Manhattan makes transportation more convenient, with a high percentage of Chinese and Korean residents, gradually becoming a gathering place for new Chinese immigrants. Although Edison also has a significant Asian population, it leans more towards the Indian community. Princeton is the location of Princeton University, exuding a strong academic atmosphere, with abundant educational resources, leaning towards intellectual types.
The average housing price in Fort Lee is around $570,000, with the housing market in a stable state, offering a suitable choice for families seeking affordability and commuting to New York. As for Edison and Princeton, the median prices are around $610,000 and $950,000, respectively. Fort Lee tends to have lower prices due to a higher proportion of apartment-style properties.
Above are some of the popular Chinese communities in the New York metropolitan area, provided for readers considering living in New York. Next, let’s explore some excellent areas in Boston.
The first prime area in Boston, also known as “Little Taipei,” is Quincy, where the Chinese population accounts for over 15% of the total population. It’s the city with the highest Chinese population in the Greater Boston area, making Quincy the most convenient area for Chinese living. Currently, the median house price is around $670,000, more affordable than Boston city as a whole, but the quality of the school district is relatively average.
The second area is Cambridge, known for harboring Harvard University and MIT, offering a high level of internationalization and academic atmosphere. The Chinese population here consists mainly of students, scholars, and technology professionals, with a demographic skew towards young knowledge workers. Due to its status as a university town, Cambridge boasts good security, cleanliness, and well-developed public facilities. Consequently, housing prices here fall into the expensive range, with a median price exceeding $1.1 million, but the rental market is very active.
Newton, coming next, also boasts a highly commendable school district, but housing prices are also very high, with a median price reaching $1.5 million. The community ambiance is peaceful, safe, and green, making it an ideal environment for raising children. It’s only a 25-minute drive from the Boston city center, attracting high-income families who value education and environmental quality.
The fourth hotspot is Malden, rising as an emerging Chinese settlement with a rapidly increasing Chinese population in recent years. As a result, Chinese restaurants and businesses have witnessed rapid growth. With a decent school district and affordable housing, the median price is around $660,000, making it a preferred choice for many young families.
Lastly, there’s Brookline, located near downtown Boston, known for its rich educational and cultural atmosphere as an intellectual community with a strong school district and numerous cultural activities. Its residents include many doctors, professors, and families of international students. With elegant living environments and excellent integration of commercial and residential areas, housing in Brookline naturally comes with a price tag, with a median price of around $1.1 million. Despite recent fluctuations, prices remain at the high end.
After analyzing the Chinese hotspots in the New York and Boston metropolitan areas, there is a lot of data to digest. Therefore, let me provide some comparisons: Regarding housing prices, prices in Bayside, New York have significantly risen, indicating an active market; Flushing and Great Neck show stable growth; Bensonhurst and Sunset Park are experiencing price declines, potentially more appealing to first-time home buyers.
In the Boston area, prices in Cambridge and Newton continue to rise, reflecting a strong market demand; Quincy and Malden provide relatively affordable housing options; while Brookline remains pricey, there are signs of a downward trend, offering opportunities for homebuyers.
Looking at Chinese communities, New York’s Chinese communities are larger in scale, more spread out, diverse in language and culture, and boast comprehensive living facilities; Boston’s Chinese communities are relatively concentrated, offering a peaceful living environment, more suitable for those seeking education and family living.
Moreover, while the Chinese hotspots feature excellent school districts, the educational systems and standards in the two metropolitan areas are significantly different. New York City boasts the largest public education system in the United States, serving over 1 million students. With 32 school districts, each having certain local oversight powers, the New York City Department of Education is directly under the mayor’s office.
Furthermore, the variance in school quality in New York is significant, comprising both top-tier public schools and many underperforming ones. For those not interested in public schools, New York offers a myriad of renowned private schools to choose from. High school admissions are extremely competitive and complex, especially for specialized high schools.
In contrast, Boston’s education system is smaller, serving about 50,000 students, with higher spending per student. Due to its smaller system, Boston schools tend to fare better than average public schools in other large cities. Supervised by the directly appointed Education Committee by the mayor, the management is relatively centralized, facilitating reform efforts but may lack some local flexibility.
In fact, New York and Boston share many similarities; both cities serve as top-notch centers for higher education in the United States, with New York hosting Columbia University and NYU, while Boston boasts Harvard and MIT, attracting students and innovative talent globally.
Furthermore, both cities were important port cities in the early colonial period, preserving many historical buildings, monuments, and museums, reflecting a profound immigrant cultural heritage.
Nevertheless, Boston retains more historical architecture, being one of the earliest established cities in the United States, showcasing colonial-era buildings, red-brick streets, and ancient churches, evoking a sense of being the “birthplace of America.” In contrast, New York City appears as a perpetually evolving modern giant, despite its historical footprints, always drawing attention with its trendiness and fashion.
Due to the differing development paths of the two cities, Boston is renowned for its historical architecture, preserving more early street designs, irregular layouts often winding around historic landmarks. Manhattan in New York, on the other hand, showcases a typical grid-street layout, well-planned and logically named, making it easier for outsiders to navigate.
Walking on the streets of Boston, you may notice a higher concentration of knowledge workers, giving Bostonians a sense of “calmness and rationality,” particularly evident around Harvard and MIT. New Yorkers, on the other hand, are known for their direct, quick-tempered, and charismatic nature, with a straightforward approach in dealing with others, sometimes considered too direct and even a bit “aggressive.”
With this extensive comparison of two distinct cities, you should now have a clearer idea of which one to choose! ◇