Making Living in NYC a Rewarding Experience for All Lifestyles

NYC, the Big Apple, the City That Nevermore Sleeps. It sounds terrific to visit with its fantastic nightlife, stunning architecture, and rich history; perhaps though the thought of actually living in such a vast, bustling place with a population of well over 8 million people is somewhat intimidating. It need not, though – with brownstone building-lined streets that remind you of sesame street to impressive sky scrappers, there is a place and space for everyone here. What you will find with all large cities is that they are not one homogenous expanse of the same-same, heaving throng of crowds but rather a patchwork of neighborhoods and communities that blend. By breaking it down to these smaller areas, it is possible to find your fit.

Making Living in NYC a Rewarding Experience for All Lifestyles

New York City is comprised of five boroughs, all of which have their charms and possibilities. 

Manhattan is the original borough of NYC, and instantly what you think of when you hear the words New York City. Initially home to Algonquin tribes, then to the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, which eventually became New York under British rule. This rich history is seen in the island's varied neighborhoods, which undoubtedly make it the most exciting part of the city to live in.

The downtown area is famed for its eclectic mix of people and places. Chelsea is full of fantastic art galleries, alternative shopping options, and many theatre venues; you will find plenty of NYC condos for sale here. Greenwich Village, the bohemian capital of America, home to a large LGBTQ community, NY University is also situated here. Chinatown is different again. As the name says, it is home to a large ethnic Chinese population reflected in the streetscape, restaurants, and entertainment. Housing here is predominantly older tenements, although this is changing, as with everywhere, old makes way for new.

Heading North through to Midtown, you move into the world's largest CBD. Living here can be expensive due to the eye wateringly expensive property prices, but it's worth it if you have the means. There is so much appeal to the area with Times Square (what a fantastic place to people watch!), Grand Central Station, and the Empire State Building. Who wouldn't need all of such on their doorstep?

Heading up past Central Park, you'll find Harlem with its melting pot of people and communities, vibrant jazz clubs, and restaurants catering to the cuisine of various nations. Yum! In this area, you'll also find the likes of Inwood, home to the Metropolitan Museum, the fifth largest museum in the world, and Inwood Hill Park. And Washington Heights, where it is still possible to find a reasonably priced apartment for under 350k if you keep an open mind and ditch the home office. If you aren't looking to buy, there are also excellent places to rent at very reasonable prices. You can check out the apartments for rent at 600 Washington St 10014 Apartments New York NY.

There are a few downsides to living in Manhattan that you should consider. While there are many excellent tertiary educational faculties here, for those with younger families, there are not very many elementary schools (especially to the South) or high schools (especially to the North). The schools like NYC Charter Public School are all of good standing, but you need to consider how far your child will need to travel and how they will travel across the busy city.

Travel in Manhattan is both easy and complicated. The subway system is excellent, with stops found regularly around the city; thus, all manner of people, from the Mayor to students, use it for their daily commute around the long streets of the island. Other rails services, both around the island and out to other areas, serve the city well. There is a comprehensive bus service through the neighborhoods and a ferry service for those commuting from places such as Staten Island and New Jersey.

While there are many parks around Manhattan, from the vast sprawl of Central Park to the more intimate playparks of residential areas, if you find living in an apartment with a family or even pets isn't for you, perhaps look further out.  The remaining four boroughs may suit you better, offering more flexible options.

In complete contrast to the sky scrappers of the CBD, Staten Island is the least populous of the NY boroughs and has so much space there are two state parks and many wetlands and beaches. It is possible to own a family home with a yard and a car here and commute across the river via ferry for the best of both worlds. Or you may find your niche keeps you on SI the majority of the time.

If that sounds a little too laid back for you, then Brooklyn offers city living with more space to breathe both inside and out. While still comparatively pricey, apartments are a big step down from Manhattan prices, and you will also have greater access to green spaces. There is an enduring art scene here and fun nightlife. 

The Bronx similarly gives that big city feeling with more space; however, it is also very different from Brooklyn, with a more cosmopolitan vibe. Home to the Yankees baseball team, this is the place to be if you are a fan! Due to the affordability of the Bronx, plenty of students choose to live here, bringing that University town feeling to the place as well.

Finally, Queens, the geographically biggest borough of the city, offers a suburban feel much like Staten Island, yet with the proximity to the big city and all that happens there. Not that Brooklyn isn't without its attractions, including the NY Hall of Science and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home to the US Open Tennis Tournament. The population of Queens is comprised of a large number of migrant communities making it very diverse and a wonderful place to immerse yourself in other cultures.

Whatever your lifestyle, it is possible to find a place for yourself to settle in the vast sprawl of New York City.