New York City has a wide spread and the decision to live in a certain area of the city is determined by several factors like the amount you are willing to spend as rent or the amount you are willing to fork out as mortgage and maintenance if you are planning to buy an apartment.
The proximity and accessibility to one’s work place also has a role to play in the choice of an apartment as does the location of a particular school zone if you plan to send your child to a public school in New York City. If, however, you plan to go the private school route then the accessibility and proximity of your child’s (or children’s) school also has a large part to play in your choice of an apartment in New York City.
Unlike other expat- heavy cities of the world, New York City doesn’t really have a designated area which is the domain of expats. Expats can be found in most parts of the city especially in the borough of Manhattan. However since New York City is a city where public transportation plays a vital role in daily life the choice of a residential dwelling is also affected by its proximity to a subway line or a bus route.
Moreover, some people have certain preferences that include having an apartment that has water views (East End Avenue on the Upper East Side, Riverside drive on the Upper West Side, Dumbo in Brooklyn) park views (Central Park West on the Upper West Side) while there are others who enjoy living in an area which has a predominantly residential feel to it (the Upper East Side and the Upper West side of Manhattan) and yet others who want to live in a distinctly trendy neighborhood (the West Village). So all these factors come into play when you are faced with making a decision as to where you should stay in New York City.
