Reply #16: it's a 15 or 20 minute drive...

[The Sleeper]

From Where I live in Manhattan. I live right off the GWB in Washington Heights. You might want to consider that neighborhood, or Inwood. My neighborhood is very un-manhattan like...it has alot of parks, The Cloisters museum, and generally the feel of a small river town up along the Hudson. Housing as a rule is generally cheaper on the upper end of the island. There's also a bus terminal by the bridge so you could possibly get a bus to work.
Best of all, the A train kicks ass up and down the west side, so you could be right in the middle of the Village in 35 minutes or so.

www.simonesong.com These folks are one of the main realtors in our area and can give you an idea of what this part of manhattan is all about....hope you find this of interest...

Good luck.