NYC is an incredible place to live that has spawned millions of stories. We’re not joking when we say that location is everything in the Big Apple. It tells you your status and can make the difference between living in fear and living free. You need to know your neighborhoods if you are currently seeking out a new place in the City that Never Sleeps. Here are the best places to live in NYC.
15 Best NYC Neighborhoods to Live in 2022
- Chelsea
- NoHo
- Rockaway, Queens
- Sunnyside, Queens
- Midtown Manhattan
- SoHo
- Financial District
- Tribeca
- Gramercy Park
- Astoria, Queens
- Williamsburg, Brooklyn
- West Village
- East Village
- Upper East Side
- Hell’s Kitchen
Chelsea
Chelsea is one of the best neighborhoods to live in NYC thanks to its unique charm that blends old-world NYC with updated, chic, and trendy vibes. The reason why this neighborhood remains popular is easy to see. Along with beautiful homes, Chelsea boasts low crime rates and excellent community upgrades.
Chelsea is a wonderful place to live if you want to get great restaurants, smart shopping, beautiful boutiques, and amenities galore. The neighborhood also offers many outdoor activities with the High Line Park, Chelsea Piers, and the Hudson River Esplanada. In addition, the schools in Chelsea are also excellent.
NoHo
You probably heard of SoHo, but did you check out its cute counterpart, NoHo? As it turns out, Houston’s got a lot of good on both sides of the street. This petite neighborhood is a favorite of young professionals who want (literally) everything within an arm’s length.
Great nightlife, a quick walk to the East Village, slightly more affordable pricing, and the dense feel of New York City are what make NoHo a major hotspot for people who want to have a full city experience.
Rockaway, Queens
Most people forget that New York City does have its own fair share of beaches. Rockaway is one of the most popular places for people who want to have new developments in their ownership. This area is right on the outskirts of Queens, near the S and A trains.
Beach living is surprisingly affordable here, and it’s not unusual to see surfers hanging out late at night in the area. This area of New York City offers a surprisingly beachy, coastal vibe for all the access to big-city beauty.
Sunnyside, Queens
If you love the idea of tons of brownstones with a very homey feel, you might be surprised by how awesome Sunnyside is. This neighborhood is currently in flux. This means that you can get a slice of old-school New York City if you want to. However, if you want a trendy loft, you can get it too.
This is a fairly controversial pick for best places to live, simply because it’s a neighborhood people either love or hate. If you are in need of a place that gets you (a little) away from the main pull of the city, this is it.
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown is what most people think of when they think “New York City.” It’s all about soaring high-rises, access to the city’s biggest offices, fantastic entertainment, and a ton of great restaurants to try. It’s also where you’ll find landmarks like Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, and the Empire State Building.
Anyone who wants the action and bustle of living in a truly big city needs to consider Midtown. It’s tourist-filled for a reason. The one big drawback of this place is the crowds. Incidentally, that’s also why people move here. You will never be able to run out of cool stories to tell your friends.
SoHo
South of Houston Street, SoHo is one of the most popular places to live if you want to join the chic, trendy, and pretty crowd. I mean, it’s basically fashion central. This is a good place for anyone who wants to have a “movers and shakers” location.
The shopping here is excellent, and the neighborhood is simply charming with its picturesque cobblestone streets and cute boutiques. You can’t hate this place if you try. If you are looking to network in the circles that act as tastemakers, then you can’t go wrong with SoHo. Oh, and if you are a fan of chic bookstores? Yep, SoHo is big.
Financial District
It should not surprise anyone that many people who work on Wall Street live in this up-and-coming NYC neighborhood. The Financial District (or FiDi) embodies everything that American commerce is all about. It’s all “go, go, go” here—and that means success is around every corner.
FiDi is one of the best places to live in NYC for young professionals. Aside from proximity to work, the biggest perks are the relative affordability of the neighborhood, its proximity to neighboring Tribeca and Battery Park City, and all the amazingly sleek bars and restaurants filled with people who are just as excited about their careers as you are!
Tribeca
Tribeca is one of those NYC neighborhoods you just can’t go wrong with. It was recently nominated as the “#2 place to raise a family” in all of New York City. Why? Because the public schools here are some of the best in the country and because the community is remarkably kid-friendly.
Most people recognize this neighborhood from the Tribeca Film Festival. It’s true. There are a lot of Hollywood types around here, and if you are attending a casting call, it’s usually either here or in the Theater District.
Gramercy Park
Gramercy has a lot of vibes of the classic New York City look that you might see in something like The Devil Wears Prada. There are tons of brownstone buildings, classy cafes, and quick subway rides to almost every major trade spot in the city—and beyond!
The weird (and beautiful) thing about Gramercy is that it doesn’t really feel like New York City. It has a very intimate and almost quiet vibe to it. Needless to say, it’s popular with celebrities.
Astoria, Queens
Most people don’t think of affordability when thinking of New York City. However, it’s very doable in some NYC neighborhoods. Astoria is a great place to live if finding an affordable neighborhood is your priority.
But don’t assume that you’re not doing well if you’re here. Astoria is on the up and up. Trendy restaurants and tons of fantastic cultural locations make this an excellent place to live. Moreover, you still get some of that classic NYC grit. Finally, the diversity makes it worth a look-see, even if you prefer Manhattan living.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a part of the five boroughs, and it’s also one of the trendiest places to live. Why? Well, it’s hipster central. There are tons and tons of arts outlets everywhere, and they constantly change things up. Gorgeous vintage stores are also par for the course.
If you are a fan of great food, good nightlife options, and a ton of craft beer, you might want to check out this hotspot. You can’t say you live in Williamsburg without sounding like you’re bragging.
West Village
The West Village is the best NYC neighborhood if you can afford it. The West Village offers an incredible slice of old New York charm combined with modern luxury. This is one of the best places in New York City simply because it’s chill, relaxed, and elegant in that way only New York City can be.
Beautiful brownstones, proximity to tons of museums, and excellent schools make this a cerebral person’s dream come true. If you are looking for safety? The West Village has it all.
East Village
If you were a club kid in the 90s, the East Village holds a lot of good memories with you. This does not mean that it’s still the same edgy area it once was. While the East Village still retains a lot of its artsy flair.
Cool coffee shops, fascinating art galleries, and chic clubs are still here. They are just a little more adult than they once were. Oh, and it’s also still the LGBTQIA+ hotspot it always was. Yay! Unlike other neighborhoods on this list, the East Village makes a point of keeping things unpretentious.
Upper East Side
When millionaires and billionaires ask where they would want to live, it’s almost always the Upper East Side. This is where people of status live, and rightfully so. Homes here are famous for being the choice of major names thanks to their epic amenities and proximity to Central Park. Some of the most expensive NYC residences are Upper East Side mansions on Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue.
Excellent access to schools and community centers make it a great place for kids. Parents like it for the nightlife and restaurant selection, too. When you say that you live on the Upper East Side, you will be bragging—even if you don’t mean to do this. It’s the way that it’s perceived.
Hell’s Kitchen
Hell’s Kitchen is one of the places that most people associate with food. Though most people stick to traveling through here for a delicious meal, the truth is that Hell’s Kitchen is some seriously hot real estate—especially among the trendsetters.
Fans of excellent cuisine and trendy home goods stores will enjoy both Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea. On a similar note, this particular neighborhood is notorious for being the place where nightlife fans and theater fans enjoy their time.