New York City is always changing. The same goes for New York City neighborhoods throughout all five boroughs – but especially so in Manhattan. It can be very challenging to narrow down the right spot for you or your family to move to, which is why we’ve pulled together a list of five NYC neighborhoods that might be good spots to explore if you’re planning a move to Manhattan.
Of course, your choice of where to live in the Big Apple is totally dependent on what you want and need out of your living experience. Family environment? Good parks? Great schools? Easy access to the water? The options are only limited by your imagination.
While your particular needs or wants may vary, the good news is that when you decided to move to Manhattan, you’ll have access not only our free CubeSmart Storage Shuttle, but also our full service storage and our free moving truck and driver options. When it comes to storage and convenience, NYC leads the way – as it does with pretty much everything else as well.
Top NYC Neighborhoods to Keep an Eye On
Turtle Bay
This charming area on the east outskirts of Midtown covers the blocks between 43rd and 53rd Streets between Lexington Avenue and the East River. The United Nations anchors the neighborhood, which is also known for its high rate of college-educated residents and young professionals. Of note: there are no public schools operated by the NYC Department of Education in Turtle Bay. Local kids are zoned to schools in nearby Gramercy Park and Lenox Hill.
East Harlem
Also known as Spanish Harlem or El Barrio, this busy, lively neighborhood between East 96th and East 116th Streets offers easy access to both Central Park and Randall’s Island, in addition to lower rents than most other parts of Manhattan. If you’re looking for unique and varied cultures, you’d be hard-pressed to find more of a “mixing pot” than East Harlem, which features Latin American, Puerto Rican, and Caribbean shops and restaurants. Bonus: anyone in East Harlem can take advantage of our full service storage, which offers a pick-up and drop-off concierge service of your items at our 55th Street facility.
Kips Bay
No discussion of east side neighborhoods of Manhattan would be complete without Kips Bay, which lies between East 23rd and East 34th Streets from Third Avenue (or Lexington, depending on who you ask) to the East River. Home to the massive medical complex known as NYU Langone, Kips Bay is also known for its 15-screen AMC Loews theater as well as the lively pub scene along Third Avenue. While still finding its footing as a neighborhood of note, it’s definitely one to check out if you’re hoping to be close to all of the action at a more reasonable price point than many other Manhattan locations.
Chinatown
Chinatown is nestled towards the bottom of Manhattan between Civic Center, Little Italy, Tribeca, and the Lower East Side. Bustling with locals, tourists, and hipsters, the neighborhood is renowned for its food scene and high-quality public schools, as well as lots of relatively cheap grocery and retail shops. Some people absolutely love the intense urban feel of Chinatown, but it can be sensory overload for others.
Battery Park City
Located on the west side of the southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park City is a nearly 100-acre planned community that balances its distinctly urban feel with 30+ acres of green space and waterfront. Making up the Financial District along with the South Street Seaport and Tribeca, Battery Park City is quite busy during the weekday but slows down at night and on the weekends. Regardless, it has plenty of bars, restaurants, and stores to keep anyone entertained, along with magnificent views of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty.
East Village
Consisting of three distinct areas (Alphabet City, Little Ukraine, and the Bowery), Manhattan’s East Village is the hottest and happening of the choices mentioned here so far. A longtime working-class neighborhood, the East Village is also considered the heart of counterculture in New York and attracts young and old alike to its creative, artsy scene. Students from nearby NYU and bridge and tunnel tourists flood the area on nights and weekends for its clubs, pubs, and restaurants. Its popularity can be challenging to cope with if you have young kids, though the vibrancy of the East Village works well to counterbalance the crowds.
The Upper West Side
This massive, family-friendly neighborhood borders Central Park on the west side of Manhattan and stretches all the way to the Hudson River between 59th and 110th Streets. Known for its beautiful brownstones, parks, artistic offerings (including Lincoln Center), and museums, the UWS is hard to beat. Though the restaurant scene has historically not been as strong as it is in other neighborhoods, the grocers – like Zabar’s, Fairway, and Citarella – simply cannot be matched.
The Upper East Side
You can’t mention the UWS without at least nodding to its sister neighborhood directly across the park: the Upper East Side. Ritzier, glitzier, and full of more millionaires (and billionaires) than its westside counterpart, the UES has much to recommend it. Museums, restaurants, public and private schools, hotels, hospitals – it’s truly got it all. Perhaps its greatest drawback is the relative lack of public transportation, with the only true north-south line in the neighborhood running up and down Lexington. (The 2nd Avenue Subway, originally proposed more than 100 years ago, has opened up some service, but is nowhere near to being completed – and probably won’t be in our lifetime.)
Free CubeSmart Storage Shuttle in Manhattan
Wherever you decide to move in Manhattan, you’re going to have to deal with benefits and drawbacks. The great news? Most Manhattan neighborhoods, along with those in Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island, are eligible to use our free moving truck and driver. If your new place is located between 34th Street and 125th Street, you can also schedule a free ride to or from CubeSmart in an outer borough when you rent. Don’t feel like moving at all? Choose full service storage. Pack your boxes and we’ll pick them up, store them in a mini storage locker, and bring items back to you when you need them. Give us a call and we’ll get you on your way!
