It can be rather difficult to consider where to live in NYC in your 20s. New York City has an unmatched energy that you really can’t find anywhere else. Between the fast paced lifestyle and the 24-hour attitude, NYC has a lot to offer.
Once you settle on the Big Apple as your destination, you’ll be surprised to find that there are dozens of small neighborhoods dotted across NYC. In this article, we’re looking at what makes each neighborhood so desirable for 20 somethings.
Manhattan
Manhattan is possibly New York’s most popular borough. It is a long island surrounded by the Hudson River, East River, and Harlem. Manhattan is known for its culture, media, finances, and entertainment. It even served as the United States capital from 1785 to 1790. It can be pricey to live here, depending on which section you are in what your budget is. This moving to NYC blog has some really helpful resources when deciding where to choose from to live.
Murray Hill
- Location: 4
- Affordability: 3
- Space: 1
Murray Hill is a neighborhood on the East side of Manhattan, bordered by the East River. It has an urban feel to it and has tons of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and parks. It is in a super convenient location, as it is a short walk to catch the subway. Murray Hill has a below average crime rate, making it a safe place to live in NYC.
Chelsea
- Location: 3
- Affordability: 4
- Space: 2
Chelsea is a large and fun area of NYC to be in. It is located on the western side of Manhattan and is pretty close to most popular hot spots. It is within walking distance to the Chelsea Market and is a short walk to the High Line. It doesn’t have as much of a neighborhood feel as some other village areas, but it is a beautiful place to live.
Greenwich Village or West Village
- Location: 5
- Affordability: 4
- Space: 4
West Village is a smaller section of Greenwich Village in NYC. Greenwich is a neighborhood on the west side of lower Manhattan. Greenwich is in a fantastic location with such a nice neighborhood vibe. The streets are filled with character and it is in close proximity to many nice restaurants and cute boutiques. If you are familiar with the TV show “Friends”, this is the neighborhood where the building from “Friends” is located.
East Village
- Location: 3
- Affordability: 5
- Space: 3
East Village is a neighborhood on the East Side of lower Manhattan. It is known to be laid back during the day, but has such a fun nightlife. There are tons of bars, restaurants, and even speakeasies. People of all ages live in the East Village, but it mostly consists of NYU students and graduates. It is one of the most fun spots for a younger crowd to reside in.
Upper East Side
- Location: 4
- Affordability: 2
- Space: 5
The Upper East Side is obviously located in the upper East side of Manhattan. Here you will be able to find some of the nicest apartments. This area is known to have more space in its apartments, but is a bit more pricey depending on what your budget is. Living here, you will be close to many amazing shopping options, like Bloomingdale’s. A lot of families reside in the Upper East Side and it is one of the safest areas to live in NYC.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a borough in NYC that is separated from Manhattan by the East River and is surrounded by the upper and lower bays of New York, the Atlantic Ocean, and Queens. The price to live in Brooklyn has been slowly rising over the last few years. Brooklyn is a great place to live though if you want to be close to the city.
Bushwick
- Location: 3
- Affordability: 5
- Space: 3
Bushwick is located next to Williamsburg in NYC. Being that the price to rent has gone up in Williamsburg, Bushwick is continuing to increase in size and popularity. Bushwick used to be an area full of abandoned warehouses but now it is full of art studios and galleries. It is a cheaper alternative to living in Williamsburg, but is just as cultured.
Crown Heights
- Location: 5
- Affordability: 4
- Space: 3
Crown Heights is located right in the center of Brooklyn. There are excellent restaurants and bars in this area and it is very close to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. If you are interested in art, the Brooklyn Museum is close by, holding nearly one and a half million pieces of art. If you love sports, you are within walking distance of the Barclays Center for Nets and Islander games. Crown Heights is definitely a neighborhood worth checking out if you are in your 20s and want to reside in an up and coming area, which is one of the most popular reasons to move to New York.
Dumbo
- Location: 4
- Affordability: 2
- Space: 3
Dumbo stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It is one of the most popular hot spots in Brooklyn. Dumbo is situated right under the Manhattan Bridge and its residents have easy access to Manhattan. Dumbo has many great pizza restaurants and is generally populated with a young crowd. Rent can be high living here, so depending on your budget, it may or may not be the best place for you.
Queens
Queens is next door to Brooklyn, with Long Island to the west and Nassau County to the east. Two major NYC airports are located in Queens – JFK International and LaGuardia. The borough of Queens is also home to the New York Mets baseball team.
Astoria
- Location: 3
- Affordability: 3
- Space:3
Astoria is a large and diverse neighborhood in Queens. It originally was an Italian neighborhood, but later on became a place for Greek immigrants to settle. If you take the subway, Astoria is a quick 15 minute trip to get to Midtown Manhattan. It is pretty affordable to live here in this awesome town, with lots of international culture and dining.
Flushing
- Location: 4
- Affordability: 4
- Space: 3
Flushing is a neighborhood in the north central portion of Queens. Flushing is incredibly historical and is the heart of the Chinese community in NYC. Downtown Flushing is well known for its restaurants, bakeries, Asian specialty stores and easy access to transportation. Flushing has many spacious apartments and condos available at an affordable price.
Final Thoughts
Depending on your budget, where you want to live, and how much space you are looking for, one of these towns might be the right fit for you. New York City, the city that never sleeps, is one of the top 10 cities in America with the fastest growing salaries – making it an incredible reason why to move to New York.
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