New York City houses numerous top universities worldwide, including the City University of New York and Columbia.
However, it’s not only the universities in the city that make it popular; there are other reasons people love traveling to this city.
The five exciting boroughs of New York City also contribute to the interesting aspect of this beautiful city; the athletes, fashionistas, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and many more.
It’s a city that never sleeps and the capital of the world. So naturally, with all these great activities and how famous and attractive the city is, even often nicknamed Big Apple, it’s no surprise that accommodations will be expensive. But that doesn’t mean you won’t find affordable and cheap places to stay.
How to choose a safe neighborhood in New York City
When you want to rent an apartment, there are some calculations you must make; for example, do you want personal space, or do you like to share it with other people? Do you wish to live near a park or off a subway line?
These and other related questions are important when choosing a place to live in the Big Apple. Below are a few key points to check when selecting a neighborhood in New York City.
Know the borough first
There are five boroughs in New York City, and before you pick any place to live in, you must choose a borough. The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. The site you want to live in will depend on many factors, but each area has advantages and disadvantages.
For example, whenever New York City is mentioned, Manhattan is the first place that comes to people’s minds because it’s the heart of the city, the most populated, and contains several businesses.
On the other hand, Staten Island is less inhabited than Manhattan and has many single houses spread across its neighborhood. It’s called parks boroughs because of its greenish nature.
Know your neighborhoods
After identifying your desired borough, the next thing to do is to check around the neighborhoods.
The best way to figure out the best is to check the internet, like this article on safest areas in NYC by SharedEasy. And it’s best to use the internet since the place is vast, so it’s impossible to do the research physically.
Understand what matters to you the most
The three essential factors people look at when renting a home are price, location, and size. However, finding an apartment that will meet all these demands is not easy.
Once you figure out what matters most, you can start searching. If the best location is what you are looking for, you might end up paying more, but if price and spaces are your searches, then you are likely to spend less.
You are probably going to walk a lot
Regardless of the neighborhood you choose to rent in New York City, you will likely spend quality time on your feet.
Even though it’s not easy to find a place that is not pedestrian-friendly, there are areas of the city that offer better walkability because they have promising regions surrounding them, such as parks, grocery shops, and bodegas.
Manhattan houses many shops, bars, and restaurants, and Brooklyn offers many walkable areas like Boerum hill, prospects heights, etc.
Spend time in the neighborhood before committing
Once you find the house you feel has met all your needs, it’s near the subway, close to a grocery shop with many greenish scenes surrounding it, and most importantly, it’s affordable.
You can’t see what’s not perfect about the place, and you are ready to sign the lease. Not so fast, some things are perfect on paper, but you may find problems later.
Before you sign the lease, try to visit the neighborhood at different times and intervals. You should check in early in the morning, in the afternoon, and sometimes at night.
Also, check on weekends when everybody is around and on weekdays when most people have gone to work.
Remember to check the noise level of the place, especially if you are the type that prefers quietness.
It’s time to move in
Now that you have selected a neighborhood and have already signed the lease. It’s time to get out and explore the Big Apple. New York is a big city filled with many interesting areas; it offers many things that might take you a lifetime to finish.
Five safest neighborhoods in New York City
1. Tribeca
Tribeca is the safest place to live in New York City. It’s nestled in Southern Manhattan; it’s a neighborhood for rich and famous people. For the past two decades, Tribeca has focused on reducing crime in the city, and this makes it the most expensive and safest place to live.
2. Battery Park City
Battery Park City is the second safest place to live in New York City. It is located on the Southern Tip of Manhattan. The area is vast in greenish lands. It’s estimated that in Battery Park City, among 100,000 people, you will only find 1,373 crimes.
3. Kips Bay
Kips Bay is situated in midtown Manhattan on the island side. For the past 30 years, Kip’s Bay crime level has been reduced by 80%. With only 180 crimes per 100,000 people.
4. Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights has been around since 1834. The area is filled with historical buildings and low-rise architecture. Since the early 1990s, Brooklyn Heights has experienced an 84% crime reduction, with 375 crimes per 100,000 people.
5. Greenwich villa
Greenwich is also among the safest places to live in New York City. It’s located on the west side of Manhattan. It has the lowest crime rate, with just 100 people incarcerated per 100,000.
Conclusion
Finding a place to live in a big city like New York can be overwhelming. However, with a good guide, you will find it easier than you imagined.
Before choosing a neighborhood, know the city’s boroughs first, explore your communities, understand what matters to you the most, whether it’s space, location or price, and lastly, move ahead to check the internet to find the best houses in New York City.