Nancy A. Ruhling

The waterfront Queens community of Howard Beach is known for its boating and fishing. Its commercial corridor and proximity to Brooklyn provide lots of options for shopping and dining out.

Canarsie, Brooklyn, is a middle-class neighborhood that fuses a suburban setting and a big-city vibe. Most of the houses come with driveways—a car is necessary to get around this far-flung neighborhood that is accessed by only one subway line.

Whitestone, Queens, offers suburban-like waterfront solitude without the sky-high property taxes. The area is residential with tree-lined streets, and there are stores on virtually every major corner.

Bath Beach is now populated by immigrants from Italy, Russia, the Middle East and China. And while it may not have the cachet of nearby Bay Ridge, residents revel in its family-friendly, down-home vibe.

The central Brooklyn community of Kensington is known mainly for two things: Its cultural diversity and proximity to Prospect Park. Many streets have a suburban feel—thanks to the front yards and porches you’ll find here.

Sunset Park, Brooklyn is a quiet, low-profile area that’s beginning to draw buyers and renters priced out of other parts of the city, but listings are limited.