New York City consists of five boroughs, each of which is in a different county. Each borough is made up of a variety of neighborhoods and enjoys a relatively unique streetscape and quality of life. Find out more about Manhattan and the outer boroughs to help you decide where to live. Manhattan Manhattan is the part of New York City that most people think of as New York. It’s home to skyscrapers like the Empire State Building, major attractions like Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, and Central Park, as well as Downtown NYC, and the Financial District. Manhattan is the financial, cultural, and administrate center of New York. Manhattan consists of 22.83 square miles and is home to 1.66 million people, making it the most densely populated area of NYC. Most of the borough sits on Manhattan Island; the Harlem River divides Manhattan from the Bronx. Several adjacent islands, including Randall’s Island, Wards Island, Liberty Island, and Governors Island, are also part of the borough. Housing in Manhattan is famously expensive. Expect apartments to be much smaller than similarly priced rentals further from the center of NYC. Battery Park City, West Village, the Flatiron District, NoMad, and Tribeca are among the areas with the highest rents. These neighborhoods are home to hip converted lofts with high ceilings and open floor plans, private townhouses, and 19th-century row houses. You’ll find the most affordable rents in Harlem, East Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, and the Lower East Side. If you’re looking to purchase real estate, you’ll find expensive penthouses and extravagant amenities in SoHo, luxury high-rises, and warehouses renovated into large lofts in Tribeca, and other luxury housing in Central Park South, Chelsea, West Village, Hudson Square, and Midtown. Manhattan is home to multiple top public schools, although attendance zones vary depending on the neighborhood in which you choose to live. These include the highly-ranked Stuyvesant High School, Townsend Harris High School, and New Explorations into Science, Technology, and Math School. Population: 1.66 million County: New York County Median home value: $1,190,800 Median rent: $3,475 Something to try: Take a walk through the massive lush Central Park and enjoy a verdant oasis in the middle of the city. Brooklyn New York’s most populous borough, Brooklyn is located on the western end of Long Island. It’s known for its diversity, independent art scene, and distinctive neighborhoods. In recent years, Brooklyn has become a hub of entrepreneurship, start-up companies, and postmodern art and design. The borough covers 70.82 square miles and is separated from Manhattan by the East River, which pedestrians and cars can cross via the Brooklyn Bridge. Newtown Creek separates Brooklyn from Queens to its northeast. Brooklyn boasts beautiful outdoor spaces like Prospect Park and is home to affluent families and young professionals. Apartments in Brooklyn tend to be more spacious than those in Manhattan, and a little less expensive, although costs depend on the neighborhood. The most expensive neighborhoods in Brooklyn include Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, and DUMBO. The least expensive include Mill Basin, Brownsville, Canarsie, and Flatbush. Top public schools in the borough include Brooklyn School for Global Scholars, Success Academy Charter School, William Alexander Middle School, the Math and Science Exploratory School, and Brooklyn Technical High School. Population: 2.65 million County: Kings County Median home value: $776,800 Median rent: $2,500 Something to try: Visit Coney Island, the long beachfront shoreline that’s home to one of the oldest amusement grounds in the country. Queens With an area of 108.63 square miles, Queens is geographically the largest borough in New York City. It’s on Long Island, just north and east of Brooklyn. Known for a more relaxed and suburban feel, Queens is an ethnically diverse area with major populations of Chinese, Indian, Korean, and Filipino Americans. It’s easy to travel to Manhattan from Queens, and many people who work in the city, Westchester, or White Plains, live in Queens. Most of the housing in the borough is apartments and condos, and the priciest neighborhoods include Whitestone, Ditmars-Steinway, Hunters Point, and Fresh Meadows. The most affordable include Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Rego Park, and Flushing. Astoria is also a popular neighborhood among young professionals. Attractions in Queens include Citi Field, home of the New York Mets; Rockaway Beach; Cunningham Park; and Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The borough is home to two of the busiest airports serving New York City: John F Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. This accessibility makes Queens an excellent place to live if you plan to travel frequently. The most highly-ranked public schools in Queens include the Active Learning Elementary School; Queens College for Math, Science, and Technology; and Townsend Harris High School. Population: 2.36 million County: Queens County Median home value: $646,100 Median rent: $2,300 Something to try: Travel to Queens’ southern peninsula to visit Rockaway Beach, where you can go surfing, have a barbeque, or lounge on the waterfront. Bronx The Bronx is located north of Manhattan, just over the Harlem River. It’s the only borough located on the mainland. A historically Black and Latinx area, the Bronx typically has had lower housing and living costs than other boroughs in New York, but it’s beginning to gentrify. The borough covers 42.10 square miles. With an area of 2,700 acres, Pelham Bay Park is New York City’s largest park, more than three times the size of Central Park. It includes two golf courses, numerous nature trails, and an equestrian center where visitors can take riding lessons or go on a wagon ride. If you have kids, take your family to explore the Bronx Zoo, or visit the New York Botanic Garden. Sports fans can catch a New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium. Just north of Manhattan, the Bronx is a convenient and more reasonably priced place to live for those who work in the city. Housing in the Bronx is affordable, with lower rents and home values. You’ll mostly find co-ops, condos, and apartments available. Subway and Metro-North Railroad lines make for a quick commute to Manhattan. The most popular neighborhoods include Riverdale, Fordham (home to Fordham University), Mott Haven, and Concourse. Top schools in the Bronx include Icahn Charter School, Success Academy Charter School, and Bronx High School of Science. However, some schools in the Bronx have received poor ratings, so if you have children, it’s best to check which schools serve the neighborhood. Population: 1.47 million County: Bronx County Median home value: $436,000 Median rent: $1,836 Something to try: Attend a New York Yankees Game at Yankee Stadium. Staten Island Staten Island is the southernmost borough in New York City, accessible from Manhattan via a free 25-minute ferry ride. It’s the least-known borough and provides cheaper housing with a more suburban, family-friendly lifestyle. Attractions in Staten Island include a zoo, botanical gardens, and abundant parks spread over the borough’s 58.37 square miles. Over one-third of the island is protected environmental land, and crime rates are lower than New York City and US averages. For those residents with a car, they can reach Staten Island from Brooklyn via the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Public transport on Staten Island is less robust than in other parts of the city, so some residents feel owning a car is necessary to get around. However, it’s possible to travel by bus, and the Staten Island Railway serves the eastern side of the island. When traveling to other boroughs, be sure to factor in time to take the ferry. Homes on Staten Island have a more suburban feel than in other parts of New York City. You’ll find homes built in Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Victorian, and Colonial architectural styles, and many have backyard pools and garages. Staten Island is popular among families, and several of its public schools are strong performers. Highly ranked schools include Huguenot Public School, the Clove Valley School, Tottenville Middle School, and Staten Island Technical High School. Population: 479,458 County: Richmond County Median home value: $528,700 Median rent: $2,225 Something to try: Take a walk through the Staten Island Greenbelt, one of New York City’s last undisturbed forests. It spans 2,500 acres and includes 28 miles of walking trails. * * * If you’re ready to start planning your move to New York City, New York, Great Guys Moving will help you find the best vetted, licensed, and insured moving services at the most affordable prices. Contact us for a free quote today!