What does your New York City neighborhood say about you?
New York City is one of the first places that comes to mind when you think of The American Dream. But the big question really is, which neighborhood in NYC? Picking the right neighborhood for you can be challenging and there’s a list of questions that should run through your mind when making a decision! There are tons of quizzes to find out what personality you are based on traits about you, but have you ever wondered what your New York City neighborhood says about you? Are you new to the city, and don’t understand what vibe matches you? Should you move near your work or where you’re most suited to enjoy your free time? Let’s run through the different possibilities and questions of what can be in a New York City neighborhood.
When starting to look at new neighborhoods, even if you’re familiar with them, there may be many factors you aren’t exactly sure about. Let’s start with the basic questions you should be asking:
- Is this a safe area?
- How far is the commute to work?
- Is it near your friends and family?
- Is it near transportation?
- Is it affordable?
These five questions can help you get a better understanding of the area, and what you are willing to sacrifice vs. what you are not. It can also help rule out neighborhoods right away without wasting your time looking at what to rent!
We took the most popular neighborhoods in NYC to break them down with you!
First on the list, Chelsea
If you’re a creative or an artist, Chelsea is a great option for you. Chelsea is a neighborhood on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Not only is it safe, but it is filled with history in the walls with its architecture. It is also known for having large freight elevators, which have been commonly used to transport materials and artists’ work. Chelsea is known for many things, but especially it’s art scene. There are hundreds of art galleries that exist in Chelsea. It’s also a great place socially, being as it’s a desired location for bars, shops and restaurants. It is home to the High Line Park. There is a definite urban feel in this neighborhood, and most who are there are renters. Many young people live in Chelsea, though it is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city. It is a prime location due to its walking distance to the Empire State building and Madison Square Garden.
Next, Midtown
Midtown is one of the busiest places and neighborhoods in NYC. If you like the hustle and bustle of it all, Midtown is the neighborhood for you. It is also crawling with tourists due to the fact that there are many New York staples in this area – Times Square and the Empire State Building. You will definitely never get bored in Midtown. It is also home to Broadway, so you can understand why so many out-of-towners love living there. It is also known to be a safe neighborhood, tons to do, and many bright lights all around you!
Soho, Manhattan
Soho is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in NYC. It is located in Lower Manhattan. Similar to Chelsea, it is the home of many artists’ lofts and tons of art galleries throughout. Soho is also known for its boutiques, international stores, tons of shopping and home to many fashion and tech companies, making it a desired place to live for young professionals wanting to break into the scene. Soho is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in NYC. There are many high-end restaurants with a mix of affordable cafes, making it a desired place for anyone to enjoy and find themselves. There are also tons of nice hotels in the area! It is not your typical NYC area, but you’re bound to get your bearings in order after a while!
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is known for its wealth amongst other identifiable traits. This neighborhood is home to some of New York’s most expensive real estate. There are many single floor apartments as well as luxury penthouses in this neighborhood, making it less ideal for youngsters moving to the city. If you want to save money, this is probably not the neighborhood for you! It is also known as quite a desired area for families as it has many private schools around, making it a place where people move to for this specifically due to the commute. It also hosts some of the best museums around the world!
Lower East Side
Best known for its bars, art galleries, dancing and dining, the Lower East Side seems to have it all. What you WON’T find in this neighborhood are museums So if that’s not on your list, nothing to worry about. Some say it’s one of the most vibrant areas of Manhattan with a very up and coming scene of young designers, musicians and talents all around. Over the years, it has become more and more popular and real estate has been on an up-rising trend. Generally, it’s as safe as any other neighborhood in the Manhattan area. It’s also near Little Italy, and Nolita
East Village
East Village has been historically known for it’s cheap living dating back to the 1950’s. Like many other neighborhoods in Manhattan, East Village is once again known for its artistic vibe in this neighborhood. It’s known for the coffee shops, stores, and tons of ethnic restaurants, too! The majority of the population now is populated with students from NYU and tons of other surrounding schools. Many millennials reside here, making it a younger population neighborhood overall!
Throughout all of Manhattan, we see different cities evolving from “once was” to “what is” and “what will be.” And while this may be interesting in the Real Estate Market, it is interesting to see what happens with current trends in the neighborhood.
Let’s take a specific example, Harlem.
Harlem, stretches River to River. It is one of the most transforming neighborhoods in all of the city! It’s cleaner and safer than it has ever been! There is a very distinct and unique character in Harlem, and it has been over the decades. Dating back to the 20’s, it was known for being an African-American neighborhood full of greats – writers, artists and even politicians. But, over the years the Real Estate market has noticed an interesting trend. Known for its Brownstones, many are flocking to Harlem, slowly changing the lively neighborhood community. They are truly some of the most beautiful Brownstones in Manhattan, and it looks like people are just starting to discover the hidden gems in the city, especially in Harlem!
Brooklyn
Brooklyn, almost too big to “sum-up.” Why? Because there are a range of different characteristics that run through Brooklyn, making it an ever-changing, ever-evolving hub of people! Let’s try and break it down. You’ll find a plethora of activities to enjoy in Brooklyn, from museums, to parks, to views and dining, there is really something for everyone here – whether you’re a millennial, a family, an artist, whoever! Two of the most popular areas in Brooklyn: Williamsburg, and DUMBO (the “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass area”). Here resides families, older couples, younger couples and tons of different lifestyles all around! Brooklyn is also home to one of the largest Hasidic Jewish communities around the world! Safe to say, there is lots to see in Brooklyn from art, food, parks, greenery and museums! Architecture is big here, so the Real Estate market has been on a steady rise in this area of New York!
These are just a small handful of the little nook and crannies that lay in the center of Manhattan and Brooklyn, and it’s safe to say there are many in-between! So, what area are you? After reading this list, you might be able to find yourself a little bit of here, and a little bit of there. That’s fine! The more the merrier. You are always just a subway ride away. Do you research, find out where you work, and what you absolutely cannot compromise on. You will find the beauty in every neighborhood! It’s important to be ahead of upcoming trends to focus on the “what will be” that we mentioned earlier!
Where will you reside in New York City? Let us know if you have any questions regarding any specific areas! We are an email away.