Had some experience in a different part of the NE USA. One thing to bear in mind is that 'Cities' in the US are more like councils here (as if we had the city of Hackney), each has their own Police force and will have their own priorities.
I started looking on Seeking.com and found someone who seemed like a good match, before we had a chance to meet to subject of fees came up, I offered $250 and they said no way. In retrospect it would ave been a good idea to be more open to negotiation. This is my only experience using seeking so others may be more successful.
Lots of ads in sites like Backpages, (un)surprisingly if you contact most of them they are in the same zipcode as you and keen to meet up as soon as you have paid their deposit by cash transfer or ebay vouchers. Obviously a scam. It's possible that some are real, but very difficult to find out which.
I also tried Asian Massage Parlors - one which had recent reviews on Rubmaps and one which didin't, but I was passing. When I walked in the reviewed parlor the girl was immediately very touchy-feely (as was I) and when I got in the room and she asked me what I wanted I produced a condom. She asked how much and I said $200, she said plus house fee. I assumed it would be her, but she went away and another (younger) girl came in and stripped off. I had a lot of fun, but not a lot of massaging, and left a very happy man. I enjoyed myself so much I decided to go back the next day. When I turned the corner to the street the parlor was on I noticed a police car parked outside, and another one just round the corner. I just walked on past. Bearing in mind that paying for sex in the USA is a criminal offence (2 1/2 y in the state I was in) I think I had a very lucky escape.