The 10 best NYC neighborhoods for college grads in 2015
What do you do with a B.A. in English? Hope-filled graduation speeches notwithstanding, you certainly don’t move to the heart of Manhattan without a roommate the summer after commencement. That’s according to a new tool from apartment-search website StreetEasy that maps out the best neighborhoods for recent college graduates. With the median rent for a studio in Manhattan at an average of $3,203, according to the brokerage firm MNS, it’s clear most college graduates will have to sacrifice something to find a rental they can afford. (And this goes for most other undergrad degrees besides English, too. NYC is expensive, yo.)
"We've found that for people who are just graduating, it's more about the commute than the space," says Phil Lang, co-founder of TripleMint, a real estate brokerage and Brick Underground partner ."You don't care about how big the bedroom is because you're usually living at work," Lang explains. "And people who are just starting work are very concerned about face time in the office and making sure they're on call, especially in a very demanding field like finance."
Though it's still a pricey endeavor to move to New York to pursue your dreams, enclaves of Brooklyn, Queens and pockets of upper Manhattan are still (relatively) within reach for roommates on a budget. (Be prepared to spend half your income for the privilege, even if you live way uptown or in the outer boroughs.)
Did you know that winning an apartment through the NYC Housing Connect can lead to savings of more than $80,000 in rent payments over a 5-year period? Check out the financial benefits tab at hunterspointsouthaffordablehousing.com detailing potential savings for middle income lottery winners at 5241 Center Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens. Apply now, before the lottery closes on November 23, 2020.
While the city's the least dangerous it's been in decades, safety's still a consideration, especially if you're moving to an unfamiliar area. Due diligence is a must: Do your research, both online (tips on that here) and in person; visit a potential new apartment during the day and night to get a sense of what it's like at all hours and how well-lit and populated the streets will be if you're coming home late. It might look busy during office hours when you're not even in your apartment, and dreary and isolated at night.
Safety tends to vary heavily by neighborhood—even block by block—so check in with friends who live in the area. Talk to potential neighbors in the building you're considering and ask what it's like; chat up locals at cafes and stores. And don't make judgments based on assumptions: Even in the most sterile stretch of midtown, it's not a great idea to walk around with your iPhone out or your headphones in at 1 am. These may sound like common sense tips, but they bear repeating.
With that in mind, we've compiled a comprehensive—though by no means absolute, as pockets of the city shift and develop at lightning speed—list of the 10 best neighborhoods for newly minted grads. Each one is scored on a 5-point rankings scale–with 5 being the best–on measures that may be important to twentysomethings, like nightlife, length of commute, and yes, Mom and Dad, who may be chipping in or acting as guarantors and concerned, among other things, about safety. (And we'll cop to a cheat: We've combined two neighborhoods, so technically, yes, inspired by Spinal Tap, we "go to 11.") [Check out our 2016 update here]
Photo Credit: Heath Alseike
1. Crown Heights (Brooklyn) Crown Heights is a hotter-than-hot neighborhood in Central Brooklyn that's exploded in popularity—and price—in recent years. If you cram into one of its many pre-war apartments with a crew of roommates, chances are your neighbors will be in the same boat. (The neighborhood has garnered so much buzz that it's sometimes branded as “ProCro” by over-enthusiastic brokers, though locals would never be caught dead using this term) . Culturally diverse, with a large African-American, West Indian and Hasidic Jewish population, much of this neighborhood still feels like a melting pot, with a wide range of restaurants and bars to match. Depending on where in Crown Heights you are, you’re close to Prospect Park, plenty of craft beer bars, and cheap eats spots, as well as several subway lines.
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Brick Underground's
Gross Rent Calculator
What's this?
Some New York City landlords offer a free month (or more) at the beginning or end of a lease. The advertised rent is the net effective rent. The net effective rent is less than the amount you will actually have to pay --- known as your gross rent --- during your non-free months.
Brick Underground's Gross Rent Calculator enables you to easily calculate your gross rent, make quick apples-to-apples comparisons between apartments and avoid expensive surprises. All you'll need to figure out your gross rent is 1) the net effective rent, 2) the length of your lease, and 3) how many free months your landlord is offering. [Hint: Bookmark this page for easy reference!]
To learn more about net effective versus gross rents, read What does 'net effective rent' mean?.
If the landlord is offering partial months free, enter it with a decimal point. For example, 6 weeks free rent should be entered as 1.5 months.
Photo Credit: Dan DeLuca
2. East Village (Manhattan) For those willing to spend more to get an “authentic” Manhattan experience (or simply want the convenience of being close to everything), there are still some enclaves of the gentrified East Village left for newcomers — but it’ll cost you an average $3,684 for a non-doorman two bedroom, according to the brokerage firm MNS. "The majority of apartments are walk-ups—five-story tenement buildings with small room sizes, so prepare for the space to be relatively cozy. However, many will charm with exposed brick and old world features," says TripleMint's Lang, observing that "while the East Village is somewhat lacking in amenities like gyms and supermarkets, it has more bars per capita than any other neighborhood." There are, in fact, more than 260 bars in the 14-block neighborhood, plenty of restaurants, and yes, cheap eats to make up for the high rent. The neighborhood is also served by several subway lines (6, N, R, F, L) and buses. That said, notes Lang, "the heart of the East Village in terms of restaurants and nightlife is really First Avenue/Avenue A, which is a little far from the subway, but most people are glad to make the trade."
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Photo Credit: Jakehall
3. Harlem (Manhattan) Generally speaking, the further north you go in Manhattan, the better the deals. As of this writing, East, Central, and West Harlem offer 184 listings with at least one bedroom (including a handful of three-bedrooms) asking $2000 and under, per Streeteasy — not bad if you're splitting the rent. Plus, the housing stock's architecturally interesting—brownstones stand next to graceful prewars and modern condos—and there are plenty of bars, restaurants, and nightlife. Boldfaced names have long been regulars to eateries like the iconic Sylvia's and the exclusive Rao's, but Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster has joined their ranks with its inventive fare. That's not all: In Central Harlem, Frederick Douglass Boulevard has new stores and cafes springing up seemingly by the week. And green space access is more than decent, with Central Park on the southernmost border at 110th Street; Morningside Park on the western flank, and Marcus Garvey Park due east. Moreover, says Lang, "subway access is one of the most important things college graduates look for, and Harlem can be fantastic because you can be near the express train to Midtown," with a commute of about 15 to 25 minutes to the West 40s, and 35 to 45 minutes to the Financial District.
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Did you know that if your annual household income is between $63,000 and $160,000 you could qualify for rent stabilized, middle income housing through the NYC Housing Connect lottery program? Securing a rent stabilized apartment through the affordable housing lottery not only means you’ll pay a much lower monthly rent; you’re also guaranteed a stabilized rent for the duration of your lease (unlike a market rate apartment). For example, if you qualify for a middle income 1 Bedroom apartment at 5241 Center Blvd, on the Long Island City waterfront, you could save over $83,000 in rent payments over a 5 year period and more than $180,000 within a 10 year period. Visit hunterspointsouthaffordablehousing.com to learn more, and apply now, before it’s too late! Applications must be submitted online no later than November 23, 2020.
Photo credit: NYCstreets
4. Washington Heights & Inwood (Manhattan) Yes, these are two separate neighborhoods but they run along the same subway line next to each other, so we've combined them, given their popularity among artists, musicians, writers and other creatives. Inwood is sleepier of the two, though it's hard to generalize as swaths of Washington Heights—like Audubon Terrace in the 150s by Riverside Drive, for instance—have a similar genteel vibe. “Washington Heights has been a go-to for some time now and it’s still a value,” John Mazurek, of the Mazurek Team at Douglas Elliman, says. “You’re a slave to the A train, but one-beds in cool pre-war buildings can be had for $1,100 and 2 beds start at $1,950.” Washington Heights also tends to have more larger prewar buildings, which will likely have larger apartments. According to data compiled by AddressReport for BrickUnderground, the nightlife is nothing to write home about, though, with only 45 bars, making the population-to-bar ratio 2,554:1. (For reference, the East Village has 263 bars, making the bar-to-population ratio only 340:1. Beers all around!). That said, there's certainly peace and quiet, and enough watering holes for a quick drink with friends before heading home (not to mention a faster commute than you'd have in a lot of outer-borough areas).
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Photo credit: Eli Duke
5. Bedford-Stuyvesant (Brooklyn) While this Brooklyn enclave is often talked about for the skyrocketing sale prices of its signature brownstones, Bed-Stuy—which is bordered by Bushwick to the north, and Clinton Hill to the south—has become a hugely popular option for young renters, too. Its local wine bars, cafes, and restaurants like Saraghina and Peaches Hot House, part of a veritable United Nations of food choices like Caribbean, Southern, and even Senegalese, are luring plenty of fans, says Ronica Webb, a real estate broker with Brooklyn’s Realty Collective. And there are plenty of financially feasible availabilities: As of this writing, there are, according to StreetEasy, 16 two-bedrooms under $1,700; around 120 studios and one bedrooms: and about 300 two-bedrooms that are shareable for roommates paying anywhere from $800 to $1,200 apiece. Depending on where you live in the neighborhood—and whether your nearest train is the reliable A or the beleaguered G—transportation is hit or miss. This is a neighborhood best navigated by bike, or by the numerous local buses.
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Photo Credit: Georgia Kral
6. Clinton Hill (Brooklyn) Wedged between Fort Greene, Bed-Stuy, and Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill was another tony turn-of-the-century neighborhood for affluent New Yorkers. These days, it’s home to everyone from Pratt Institute students to professionals to young families, lending it an artsy, effortless vibe. It’s not a superlative — you won’t find the most of anything here (there are around 50 bars in the area, for instance), but that's all part of its laid-back charm. It’s scenic, pretty, and very safe, with an average of one crime per 1,000 residents. In addition to low-key local favorites like Emily and Outpost, it's an easy walk to neighboring Fort Greene, meaning there are plenty of dining-out options, not to mention access cultural institutions like BAM and BRIC. As with Bed-Stuy, you'll be reliant on either the A/C or the G.
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To rent an apartment in New York City, most landlords require you to earn an annual salary of at least 40 to 45 times the monthly rent. If you don't—or if you’re an international employed person, self-employed, non-employed with assets, retired, or an international student or US student—you’ll need to find a guarantor for your lease who earns at least 80 times the monthly rent and lives in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. Or you can turn to Insurent Lease Guaranty. Accepted at more than 4,700 buildings across the city representing over 475,000 apartments, Insurent Lease Guaranty is a quick and easy way to get the apartment you want. Click here to learn more.
Photo Credit: Harold Navarro
7. Bushwick (Brooklyn)
Another Brooklyn spot with high inventory and relatively low asking rents is Bushwick, which borders Williamsburg to the west and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood to the north. “Bushwick has been a destination for a while now as people flood over from Williamsburg and Greenpoint,” Mazurek says. “Good subway access along the JMZ and L lines and you can still find renovated three-bedroom apartments for $2,800 a month.” While this neighborhood is known for being an artist’s enclave (and thus has arguably some of the best coffee shops and galleries in the city), it also has a more serious crime problem, with more than 1.5 crimes per 1,000 people, per the NYPD crime map, about 50 percent more crime than other Brooklyn neighborhoods. But if nightlife is what you're after, you can't do much better—a new bar or restaurant opens in the neighborhood seemingly every week.
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Photo credit: rootneg2
8. Sunset Park (Brooklyn)
Transportation is the linchpin for most new grads, since no one wants a three-subway transfer just to get to work. Enter the unlikely MVP of Sunset Park. “It’s bursting out,” Mazurek tells us, noting the D and N express trains and the local R lines. And thanks to more than $1 billion in funding from Industry City, the Silicon Valley-esque tech incubator in Sunset Park, expect to see this post-industrial neighborhood boom in the coming years thanks to an influx of tech and startup jobs, per Capital New York. And with hip nightlife hotspots like Hotel BPM, a music-themed inn, expect a more robust nightlife scene to develop. In the meantime, drinks with friends can be sought elsewhere, or had at one of 29 bars in the entire neighborhood (relatively low in comparison to other areas), according to AddressReport. Still, “rents right now in the area are still very affordable,” Mazurek says, with a typical three-bedroom asking around $2850, or $950 per person.
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Photo credit: Violette79
9. Bay Ridge (Brooklyn)
“I’m from Bay Ridge! We have manners!” laments an indignant Peggy Olson in season 1 of AMC's Mad Men.” But it's more than polite now. The same sleepy waterfront neighborhood that gave birth to the fictitious secretary turned creative tour-de-force is also an unexpected sleeper hit for post-grads hoping to make it in the big city. (A bonus: It's got very little crime to speak of). With plenty of pubs, charming old-school restaurants and a burgeoning crop of cocktail bars, there’s something for everyone. Downside? It’s the last stop for the often-problematic R train, so that could be a deal-breaker if seamless subway access is your jam.
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Photo credit:The All-Nite Images
10. Astoria (Queens)
Once a middle-class neighborhood of predominately Irish, Italian, Israeli, and Greek immigrants, Astoria is now a haven for young working professionals, thanks in part to a bustling downtown and relatively lower rents (though they're rising as the area continues to get attention). That's in part thanks to a convenient commute into Midtown via the N and Q trains, which takes only a half hour. And once you get here, it's hard to leave, not only because of the charming, true neighborhood-y feel, but because of the gastronomically diverse and delicious food options (hat tip to Time Out's food guide) like Greek, Egyptian, and a whole host of coffee shops, bars, and pubs, not to mention, its own winery.
Bonus points for all aspiring filmmakers – Astoria has its own massive studio, Kaufman Astoria Studios, where entertainment-types have filmed shows like “Nurse Jackie,” “Orange Is the New Black,” and even “Sesame Street” in the past year. And for cultural aficionados not willing to make the schlep to MoMA, Astoria has several top-notch cultural spots, like the Museum of the Moving Image, and plenty of arts and culture activities, especially in the summer months (check out We Heart Astoria's extensive listings)
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Plus, a runner-up: An entry on last year's list of college-grad-friendly neighborhoods, Ridgewood, Queens is still a contender, with its large apartments and proximity to Bushwick and East Williamsburg, it's attracting hipsters and artist types priced out of those areas. Many buildings were developed in the early 20th century, keeping an old-school feel to the area, and there’s a large supply of row houses, many on serene tree-lined streets. But the subway options are limited, so test out your commute to see if it's doable.
TIP: Need to stretch your budget? Sign up here to pay a lower broker fee using a broker from BrickUnderground partner TripleMint. Founded by two Yale grads to provide a better rental search experience, TripleMint typically charges around 10% of a year's rent versus the standard 12-15%.
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