New York - Neighborhoods

Picking a Neighborhood
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Picking a Neighborhood

New York City is composed of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. This City Sketch is focusing on Manhattan because, frankly, that's where most recent grads wind up living. There are lots of nice places to live in the other boroughs, especially in Brooklyn, and we'll be adding some "outer borough" sections when this module is updated in September.

If you're thinking about moving to New York, you're probably thinking about Manhattan, and that's only proper. It is the heart of the city and probably what those of you who want to be in New York are looking for. You shouldn't think of that as limiting, though. It is a wildly diverse place. The variety of neighborhoods on this little island would make your head spin. I've met people who have lived in Manhattan their entire lives and have never set foot in most of it. This is not a city that is broken up into neighborhoods that are strictly residential or strictly commercial. Although there aren't a lot of people who actually live in mid-town or on Wall Street, there are some. Essentially, people live and work everywhere.

Every neighborhood has it's own personality, and it's tough to pin down where you will be happiest. I've moved several times since I've been here, trying to find the right fit. Each area's vibe is different, and just a few blocks can mean a dramatic change. You wouldn't believe that 83rd and Madison is only a few blocks away from 86th and 3rd Avenue.

In my mind, there are three major things to consider in deciding where to live:

1) What can you afford?: We'll explore the various costs of neighborhoods later but if you are making under 30K a year, there are five or six places to think about. If you are making under 25K, there are three or four. If you are making under 20K, there are barely three. Keep in mind that the cost of living in various neighborhoods has a lot of variables. Primary is the cost of the apartment. Second is the cost of food. Both eating out and buying groceries can vary quite a bit from neighborhood to neighborhood. When I lived in the East Village, I could buy three oranges for a dollar. In The West Village, those same oranges cost $1.50, and on the Upper East Side, they cost three dollars. Certain areas have a lot of cheap ethnic food around, and if you don't like to cook, this can make the difference between eating well and just eating. Also keep in mind where you will be going out. If your friends all frequent bars in the Village and you live on the Upper East Side there could be a lot of expensive cab rides in your future.
2) Where will you work?: This may be hard to know, but try to get an idea. If it is at all possible, wait until you have a job before you pick a neighborhood. First, because you need to be able to answer question one. Second, because certain commutes (e.g., East Village to Upper West Side) will take an extremely long time, while living a few blocks closer to the right subway station will make your life much easier.
3) What do you like?: Where do your friends live? This is the most subjective and most important.