Queens has educated and artistic people, too. Queens also has MOMA, P.S.1, American Museum of the Moving Image, Noguchi Garden Museum, Silvercup Studios, Kaufman Astoria Studios, and the Socrates Sculpture Park.
The fact of the matter is you're lucky if you can find an apartment for under $1,000 in almost any neighborhood in New York City and the suburbs. It is an expensive city. I grew up in Astoria and rents have almost doubled in about six or seven years. A two bedroom apartment that rented for $750/month in 1998 now rents for $1,500. People are thrilled when they find a place for $1000.
Here is an article about Queens.
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/realesta...astorialic.htm If you look to the left hand side, you can click and read about different neighborhoods in New York.
mullet, I think that you should probably stick to Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn because of the location of your office.