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With NYC become increasingly more expensive–it was just named the 3rd most expensive city in the world–and renters paying 164% more than the average American, many people are looking towards suburbs outside of the city to make a move to, especially considering NYers need more than $1 million to retire comfortably.

So if you’re looking for a place where your multigenerational family can thrive you only really need to look an hour outside of NYC–that’s according to a recent study done by Fortune, who looked at over 2,000 cities across the country to find the best place for families to live in each of the 50 states.

As for New York that title goes to Long Island’s very own North Hempstead, which actually ranked 15th overall out of 50. Fortune writes:

The Long Island township of North Hempstead is a peaceful escape from the Big Apple with tree-filled enclaves and tranquil harbors dotted with sailboats. The area is made up of a series of incorporated villages, many of which have walkable downtowns…North Hempstead is a prime landscape for golfing and boating, thanks to its country club and many waterways. It’s also in a top-notch location; its proximity to the water means there are several beaches to enjoy during the summer months and several ponds for ice skating during the winter, while its proximity to New York City makes it easy to jazz up weekend life or commute to work; you can get there in under an hour on the LIRR.

North Hempstead has the highest Sharecare Community Well-Being ranking on the list–89 out of 100–and a Financial Well-Being Index Score of 66 out of 100. The median sale price for single family residences (according to data circa 2022) is $1,156,728, while the median household income is $144,003 (compared to NYC’s median income of $86,984).

Even more, North Hempstead is home to some of the best school districts in the state and has the highest number of recommended hospitals in the area (50) on the list.

And just because it’s not in NYC doesn’t mean there isn’t a ton to do–the suburb is rich in history and is home to more than 25 museums and historical sites to explore, like the Cradle of Aviation Museum and the Old Westbury Gardens, a historic mansion-turned-museum dating back to 1906.

To determine the best places to live for families, Fortune looked at over 2,000 cities, towns, suburbs, exurbs, villages, and townships, each with approximately 20,000 residents or more, across all 50 U.S. states. They then judged them on nearly 200 data categories across five main themes: Education, Resources for aging adults, General wellness, Financial health, and Livability.

The top 10 best places for families to live in the U.S. is as follows:

1. Silver Spring, Maryland

2. Upper Merion, Pennsylvania

3. Chantilly, Virginia

4. Ann Arbor, Michigan

5. Mason, Ohio

6. Franklin, Tennessee

7. Lafayette, Colorado

8. Overland Park, Kansas

9. Morristown, New Jersey

10. Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The full ranking can be found here.

The post This Suburb Just Outside NYC Was Voted Best In The State For Families appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

If you’ve been meaning to book that trip to the Dominican Republic, now is your time to shine. Thanks to a new aviation agreement known as Open Skies that was signed last Friday, air travel between the U.S. and the second-largest country in the Caribbean is about to get easier.

These sorts of agreements are made between the U.S. government and the governments of foreign nations to allow travelers “to use foreign air carriers from these countries for government-funded international travel,” according to the U.S. General Services Administration. Currently, the U.S. has Open Skies agreements with 28 countries of the European Union, Australia, Switzerland and Japan.

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This new contract was signed after two years of negotiations by U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat, who has advocated for easier and cheaper travel between the U.S. and the DR. Currently, there are approximately 2.4 million Dominicans living in the U.S. Of, approximately 700,000 live in New York City. 

“Today’s Open Skies Agreement between the United States and Dominican Republic is an incredible win for Americans and Dominicans alike,” Espaillat said in an official statement. “This pro-consumer agreement will provide more flight options between the U.S. and D.R., lower airline fares, increase travel, and spur economic growth in both of our great nations. Perhaps most importantly, today’s historic agreement will directly allow more Dominican American families, visitors, and American tourists affordable travel options to visit the country and their loved ones abroad.”

According to Gothamist, on average, the price of flights between countries that sign an Open Skies agreement drops by about 32 percent. 

The cheaper flights aren’t just good news for those who want to visit their loved ones in the DR. The development is, in fact, likely going to boost tourism as well. According to the U.S. Department of State, the Open Skies policy supports more than 15 million jobs in tourism and hospitality here at home. 

If you can’t wait for your next trip to the Dominican Republic, you can start celebrating this Sunday at the Dominican Day Parade along Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. If you decide to attend, be prepared to dance: this year’s theme is merengue. 

* This article was originally published here