NYC’s Best Neighborhoods For Raising A Family

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Picking the right borough to settle down in when moving to New York City is crucial, especially if you have small kids. NYC is a great city for living full of diverse communities, rich culture, a great schooling system, endless ways to have fun, beautiful parks, and nature. Whether you want to rearrange a more laid-back family-oriented lifestyle, or you have the desire to live in the very middle of all the bustle, NYC got you covered.

We are happy to tell you that many neighborhoods in this city are family-friendly and each one of them has its unique signature. Most importantly all of them are relatively affordable, have a close-knit community feel, great schools, and an abundance of institutions that provide events in the field of arts, culture, and sports for both children and parents!

That being said, we decided to write the list of NYC’s best neighborhoods for raising a family just in case if you need some friendly inspo!

Best Neighborhoods For Raising Family

The best strategy for choosing your new neighborhood is according to which factors are important for you and your family. This, of course, adds some complexity to your search, but with a little bit of our guidance, we are sure you’ll choose the right space for your family’s unique wants and needs. Here are some of our suggestions.

Astoria, Queens

This neighborhood became very popular in recent years. A lot of young people choose to raise their families here. The uncrowned Greek capital of New York has everything a young family needs in close proximity. Amenities like affordable housing, a great transporting system, cultural diversity, an abundance of parks and playgrounds, and 38 schools to choose from, including the highly graded I.S. 141 The Steinway.

Astoria is just a 15-minute ride from midtown with the N, R, W, or M line of the subway. This neighborhood sports a casual middle-class vibe, and what you’ll all love about it is the lower rents, peace, and quiet. But don’t think that a lower price tag limits you with the good stuff. Queens is well known as a place where your options are limitless in every single way since it is a multicultural neighborhood.

You can take your kids to a local skatepark, or an indoor pool, in case you are more into sports, you can visit Rainey Park and let your kid hit some ball on the baseball court. When the weather is gloomy and rainy, take them to Queens Library which has a program offering for kids in age 0 to 12! When you feel like doing something educational yet fun with your kid, visit the Museum of Moving Image, New York Hall of Science, Queens Zoo, or Botanical Garden.

The starting rent for a two-bedroom apartment or house is around $3,000, which is still a great price since we are talking about NYC.

Battery Park City, Manhattan

If living in Manhattan is your thing but neighborhoods like UES and UWS are too crowded and vibrant for your family, we have just the right solution for you. Think about Battery Park City. Yes, this area is also vibrant and bustling with activity, but those that are more suitable for families with kids. When you live in Battery Park City everything that you need is within walking distance.

New parents will agree that when you decide to move to another part of the city because of the kids you usually sacrifice your social life. You choose districts that are safe and have great schools but most of them offer no nightlife options, even the restaurant scene is usually very poor. Luckily for you, that isn’t the case with Battery Park City!

This part of Manhattan is easily accessible by public transportation, it has everything that will help you keep your kid occupied and happy, a selection of high-quality elementary and high schools, and a lot of green spaces. A lot of parents move here so their kids can attend one of the best schools in the city – Stuyvesant High School. When you and the kids crave some outdoor fun visit Rockefeller park and playground, or The Esplanade. Chase after the ball in the Community Ball Fields. During the winter visit the Winter Garden or Museum of Jewish Heritage, or New York Kids Club.

The rents here are a bit higher, but hey that’s Manhattan. You’ll need around $6,000 to $7,000 for a two-bedroom apartment in this hood.

Park Slope, Brooklyn

Brooklyn was always the first choice for people who prefer artsy neighborhoods and a hip vibe. For years hoards of hipsters and Millenials decide to make Brooklyn their permanent address. However, this district has a lot to offer, especially to families with small kids. One of the most family-friendly areas in Brooklyn for sure is Park Slope. Full of greenery, open spaces, and parks this hood is perfect for raising kids.

If you have a talented kid that loves music, you’ll happy to know that Park Slope is a home of great educational institutions such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music.  The academy has a lot of different programs and sections for kids of different ages. Besides the BAM, Park Slope can offer you a wide variety of top-notch private and public elementary and high schools, such as Brooklyn Technical High School.

Since parents are always concerned for their kid’s safety, it is good to know that Park Slope is a very safe and quiet place. Also, Brooklyn is well connected with all other parts of the city by subway or bus, so getting around is straightforward for you as well as for your kids. You can spend your free time strolling through Prospect Park with your little ones, or you can take them to Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Brooklyn Museum is the place you don’t want to miss out on.

One more great thing about Park Slope is a cost of living. On average, rent for a two-bedroom house or apartment will cost you from $2,700 up to $6,000.

Riverdale, Bronx

If you want to live in NYC without living in NYC, then you choose to move to the Bronx. In the past Bronx was a weekend getaway place for wealthy New Yorkers but since Big Apple was expanding very fast this part of the city soon became one of the most popular suburban areas. When it comes to the Bronx, people with small kids usually decide to move to Riverdale, and we can see why.

Riverdale is an exceptionally quiet and family-oriented community. Today, Riverdale is mostly known for its wide offer of the best private schools in NYC and beyond. If you are aiming for schools such as Horace Mann, Fieldstone, or Riverdale Country School then moving here is the best decision. Spend some family time biking and hiking at Van Cortlandt Park or visit their Museum House, one of the oldest houses in the Bronx. You can take your kids to play some hoops at Seton Park. On the other hand, girls will love visiting shows at Riverdale Rising Stars Performing Arts Conservatory where they can even attend some of the classes for talented kids.

Housing in Riverdale is quite affordable since we are talking about NYC. Here you’ll need to cash out between $3,000 and $5,000 for a two-bedroom home.

Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Greenpoint is a great place for living, but somehow neighborhoods such as Williamsburg and Park Slope overshadow him, but we are here to change that. This charming part of Brooklyn is more suitable for families than Williamsburg and much more affordable at the same time. In past, this was mainly an industrial area, which is why the housing scene here is very versatile. You can rent condos, row homes, warehouses converted to cute homes, and classic walk-ups ere. The price range is very flexible so everyone can find something for their budget.

This district is home to three great elementary schools and two high schools of which one is ranked 9 on the list of top 10, the PS 31 Samuel F. Dupont. One of the biggest attractions in Greenpoint is a specious waterfront where you can take a jog or a stroll with your family day or night. If your family is more sport-oriented then visiting McCarren Park will be your daily routine. Here kids can play volleyball, handball, soccer, as well as softball.

The public transportation in Greenpoint is mainly focused on the subway or ferries, both will take you to Manhattan in no more than 30 minutes. The rent for a two-bedroom apartment here will cost you on average around $4,000.

Raising A Family In NYC Doesn’t Have To Be Stressful

We understand that moving to NYC with small kids is a decision that is very hard to make. A lot of young and new parents think that big cities aren’t safe enough for raising a family. However, the safety mostly depends on the part of the city you choose to live in. Luckily for you, we are here to expand your options and assist you in every aspect of your relocation.

If you already found your dream home and you are looking to team up with a reliable partner then you are at the right place. We at iMOVE NYC will make sure to help you make your new real estate feels like home in no time. Our team of specialists provides all kinds of services related to moving so don’t hesitate to book our services on time.

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