Searching for the best New York neighborhoods for families can be a dreadful mission if you are new in this city. However, with some guidance, we do believe that anyone can find the right places in Big Apple. We all know that there is a time in life when you need to make life-changing decisions. Raising a family is a wonderful thing but there is a lot of sacrifices you need to make to provide the safe and quiet lifestyle they need.
Or do you?
Did you know that you can still manage to live in a big city and raise a family in a peaceful, family-oriented community? Here is the list of NYC’s neighborhoods that is most suitable for raising a family!
Best New York Neighborhoods For Families With Kids
When choosing a new place for living you should always go according to which factors are important for you and your family. Naturally, this will add some complexity to your search, but at the same time, it will give you a lot of options. When you make thorough research and sort out all the potential neighborhoods, the chances are small that you will make a bad decision. No matter which neighborhood you choose you won’t make a mistake.
Here is our list of the five best New York neighborhoods for families with small kids.
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 nearby. 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 from 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 offered for kids 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 the 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 to 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.
Are You In Search For The Best New York Neighborhoods For Families With Small Kids?
Life in New York City is exciting and fast-paced, but there are some parts of the city where all the hustle and bustle stops. For a moment you might feel like you aren’t in the same city anymore. A lot of people think that Big Apple isn’t a family-oriented city, but that is a wrong assumption.
There are a lot of neighborhoods in this city that are offering you a great schooling system, safe environment, and a care-free lifestyle that every kid needs. If you are currently on the lookout for a new place to live you are at the right place. We don’t like to complicate things so we singled out five best New York neighborhoods for families with kids that you need to take into consideration.
When you make a final decision, make sure you schedule appointment with some of our estimator so we can plan your next step.
