$1500 is a reasonable price for a good one bedroom in any major city or their immediate suburbs.
You claimed that if you were living anywhere else in America, you wouldn't be living at home. The reason you are living at home is because you don't want to pay $1500 for a one bedroom apartment. But, as I've told you, many, many cities (and their immediate suburbs) are going to cost you $1500 for a good one bedroom.
So, how much would you be willing to pay for a good one bedroom? Go see what you get stuck with for $1000 in DC suburbs like Arlington, Bethesda, McLean, Alexandria, Chevy Chase.
Go see what you get stuck with for $1000 in Boston suburbs like Cambridge, Chelsea, Somerville.
Go see what you get stuck with for $1000 in Los Angeles suburbs like Santa Monica, Malibu, studio city, Sherman oaks, Beverly Hills.
I can go on and on. If you are only willing to pay $1000 in suburbs of any of those and more cities, you are going to get stuck in a crummy apartment in a rough neighborhood.
So, stop acting like Long Island is the only place that young professionals face those struggles. Stop saying you wouldn't be living at home if you lived anywhere else in the country due to cost of apartments being better. Long Island is far, far from being the most expensive.
Hell, Dallas is a very affordable major city. For $1000, you can find a good one bedroom in a suburb. But, if you want to live in a nice place in the city, be ready for close to $1500.