New York City is a dream locale for most people, but we can’t deny it’s a costly city. NYC’s uniqueness lies in the fact that it’s constantly changing and finding new ways to reinvent itself. While that’s reason enough to learn more about some of the upcoming neighborhoods in the city, we also need to know that finding a room for rent in New York in the right area, with the perfect rent, will be a challenge. We may find one but not the other because rental prices are skyrocketing every day, forcing people to look for affordable options elsewhere.
Thankfully, NYC’s boroughs give us a wide range of places to choose from. Regardless of whether you’re a long-term resident or an outsider, searching for an ideal neighborhood may seem like finding a needle in a haystack. So, to make your room-hunting process a little less daunting, we’ve put together a list of 10 neighborhoods spread across the five boroughs that you should check out in 2021.
1. Washington Heights
Washington Heights is situated in the northern part of Manhattan. With more than 600 acres of parks, the neighborhood offers stunning vistas of the Hudson River and the Palisades, consisting of sharp cliffs.
A large percentage of the residents in the area comprises immigrants from the Dominican Republic. If you’re in the mood for some lip-smacking and affordable Dominican cuisine, you’re in the right place! The nightlife scene here is fantastic as well. Since the area is pretty close to the City College of New York and Columbia University, students of both colleges frequent the area whenever they get a chance. The Met Cloisters are a key attraction of the place. The neighborhood exhibits a community feel.
You’ll find apartments with reasonable rents, so finding a room for rent in New York here may not be an issue.
2. The Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is the most well-known family-oriented neighborhood in NYC, although it’s expensive. So, do some research and figure out if you can afford the rent before getting a rental room in New York here. The neighborhood’s flanked by Central Park and Riverside Park on either side.
If you’re looking for some exciting places to see, you can head over to Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History.
3. Bedford-Stuyvesant
Bedford- Stuyvesant, or Bed-Stuy, is a pleasant family-oriented neighborhood, not to mention warm and welcoming. It also happens to be the biggest neighborhood in the city and is home to a massive number of minority businesses, more than any in NYC! The area’s famous for its Victorian brownstone houses surrounded by greenery aplenty.
The neighborhood was home to celebrity rappers such as Jay-Z and Biggie. So, this seems like a great place to look up a room for rent in New York.
4. Park Slope
Park Slope is an excellent neighborhood for families and is situated at the edge of Prospect Park. Thanks to its 19th-century houses, which are many, it’s regarded as the most prominent historic district in the entire city! In addition, the area offers several recreational activities for young professionals.
The area provides terrific restaurants, bars, and shops for the benefit of its residents, besides beautiful parks and a robust school system for families with children. It’s also located near the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens for those who wish to find comfort and solace amid nature.
5. Greenpoint
Greenpoint is an upscale, developing neighborhood with a significant Polish influence. In fact, you’ll get to see bakeries, such as the Old Poland Bakery, serving mouthwatering baked goods even today. The residents stand up for what they believe in, and the place has a community feel. In other words, people look out for each other.
Polish bakeries aside, you’ll find brownstone houses, cozy cafes, boutiques, parks, and plenty of greenery. There are a number of art galleries owned by artists that accentuate the appeal of the area. The nightlife scene’s roaring!
With reasonable rents, this might be a great place for you to find a room for rent in New York.
6. Astoria
Astoria is an affordable neighborhood situated in Queens that’s becoming more and more popular because the rents are far more reasonable than many notable areas in Brooklyn. Since it’s located on the East River, you get to experience breathtaking views of Manhattan.
The neighborhood is primarily Greek, but you’ll find residents from various other cultures, such as Brazilian, Irish, Baltic, Italian, and Egyptian. The influence of multiple cultures can be found in the cuisines served in the restaurants in the area. The place draws a multitude of professionals, so it’s worth checking out.
7. Jackson Heights
Jackson Heights is a sort of melting pot where roughly 60 percent of the folks you come across have a birthplace outside the United States! The people you’ll find here are mostly from Asia and South America, and speak over 150 languages! How amazing is that? It’s an inclusive neighborhood. The area’s family-oriented with several parks and a good public school.
The apartments in the area are pretty reasonable. If global cultures and cuisines captivate you, this is the place you should consider calling home!
8. Pelham Bay
Home to Pelham Bay Park, a 2772-acre park and the biggest one in the USA, Pelham Bay is a friendly neighborhood with a community vibe and reasonable rents.
Almost everything you find in the area seems to be from another time. For instance, you’ll find many bakeries here that sell delicious treats you may not find elsewhere in the city. While the quality of food may be questionable, there are plenty of dive bars. Here’s another sign of an area that’s happy in its own place and doesn’t feel the need to follow the herd!
9. Riverdale
Those who don’t wish to live amid the city chaos, yet need some city perks to survive, will find Riverdale appealing. The area’s charming and homey because of its amenities, such as eateries, parks, gorgeous views of the water, and plentiful parking. This is the perfect neighborhood for you if your personal and professional life doesn’t require you to travel to Manhattan or other places in NYC.
10. St. George
St. George has a large population of young professionals who find it easier to commute to Manhattan by ferry. You can reach most places in the area by walking and will find many excellent restaurants where you can grab a bite.
Although the community has a ton of apartments, the rents are a bit steep. So, while this is an ideal neighborhood for millennials, you may want to check affordability before searching for a rental room in New York here.
So, what are your final thoughts on NYC’s choicest neighborhoods? Feel like you can’t wait to move to the city? We believe so too! A city that welcomes people from so many different cultures and communities worldwide and gives them a home, is undoubtedly one that goes beyond excellence! We hope you get to find the neighborhood you belong to and experience all that the city has to offer.
