New York City has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in the world.
So you might be surprised to learn that there are, in fact, neighborhoods in the city that are not only affordable but also pretty wonderful in a lot of other ways, too.
It wasn’t easy picking only five, but here are our picks for the five most affordable places to live in New York City. Buying a home in these areas can hopefully give you big city living without breaking the bank.
Another way to save? Work with a top real estate agent who knows how to negotiate and score you a lower sale price.
At Clever Real Estate, we can match you with agents in any area you're interested in — even multiple areas at the same time. You can interview as many agents as you like until you find the perfect place to call home — all at no cost or obligation to you.
Most affordable places in New York City
The City That Never Sleeps is known for a lot of things, but affordability isn’t usually one of them. However, there actually are some inexpensive and very livable neighborhoods in New York. Here are our top five picks.
1. Inwood
Our first pick is located in Manhattan, if you can believe that. Inwood is on the very northern edge of Manhattan, giving it an almost suburban feel, but with many of the cultural benefits of New York as well.
The neighborhood is split by the main avenue, Broadway, and features small, village-style commercial strips and quiet residential areas. There are also many parks in Inwood, including Inwood Hill Park, which is one of the finest parks on the East Coast, with acres of old-growth forest and abandoned summer estates to explore.
The median home value in Inwood is $531,100, according to Zillow data, and the average rent is $2,886.
2. Windsor Terrace
This quiet residential neighborhood is located on the south edge of Prospect Park, in Brooklyn. Even though it’s seen an influx of people priced out of nearby Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope, home values are still relatively low here, though there aren’t a lot of properties on the market at any given time.
The vibe in Windsor Terrace is neighborly and intimate, with zoning restrictions preventing the construction of many large, high-rise buildings. Most of the properties here are single-family homes, many in the clapboard Italianate style, featuring covered balconies, multicolored cornices, and stained-glass windows. There’s a lot of parking in the neighborhood, and the residents are friendly and look out for each other.
The downside is that there isn’t much nightlife or dining in the neighborhood, and only very limited commercial areas. The median home value in Windsor Terrace is $1,266,000, and home values here have risen 2.9% over the past year. The average monthly rent in Windsor Terrace is $2,419.
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3. Riverdale
Although Riverdale is known to many people as a neighborhood of swanky private schools and grand estates, it’s actually very affordable overall. Outside of the Fieldston sub-neighborhood, the area has a ton of reasonably priced studio and one-bedroom apartments. There are also some apartment buildings that date back to the 1920s, with pre-war architectural features.
The one downside to the neighborhood his that it’s inaccessible by subway, though there are express buses and Metro-North trains.
The median home value in Riverdale is $973,700, and the average monthly rent is $2,338.
4. Forest Hills
Much like Windsor Terrace has become a spillover destination from more expensive adjacent neighborhoods, Forest Hills is a more affordable Queens alternative to rising neighborhoods like Astoria and Long Island City. The neighborhood is known for quiet, tree-lined streets, and rambling Tudor-style, single-family homes.
Unlike some of the neighborhoods on this list, Forest Hills also has dining and retail, in addition to its residential offerings. The shops along the main commercial strip of Austin Street feature authentic Art Deco interiors, and locals flock to long time standbys like the Forest Hills Greenmarket and Eddie’s Sweet Shop.
The median home value in Forest Hills is $932,100 and the average monthly rent is $2,203.
5. Roosevelt Island
This small island in the East River between Manhattan and Queens isn’t very well known, even among New Yorkers, which might account for its unusual affordability. Only two miles long and 800 feet across, at its widest point, Roosevelt Island was once home to the New York City Lunatic Asylum, the Smallpox Hospital, the Penitentiary Hospital, and a prison.
Today, it’s home to several massive planned communities that were drawn up by the architect Phillip Johnson in the middle of the 20th century. One of the towers from the former asylum is now a 500-unit apartment building. The island features architecturally unique high-rise apartment buildings, plazas, and meticulously designed green spaces. It’s serviced by not only the subway, but by the Roosevelt Island Tramway, one of a very small number of urban tramways in the United States.
The median home value on Roosevelt Island is $942,800, which is actually an 8.7% decline compared to a year ago. The average monthly rent there is $3,365.
How a good agent can make your home purchase more affordable
If you're just researching affordable places to live, you might wonder why you need a real estate agent. They're the ones that help you once you've already decided on a house, right?
Not necessarily. The truth is, it's never too early to start looking for an agent. In fact, talking to a realtor early on in the process can help you narrow down your options much faster than doing research on your own.
A real estate agent's job is to know everything about their local area. They'll find the best deals in desirable neighborhoods — and might just help you snag your dream home for an affordable price. Let a Clever agent help you discover your options today — all while you enjoy cash back!
Buy your dream home with a top local realtor from a trusted brand like Keller Williams or RE/MAX. Keep more money in your pocket by earning cash back on eligible purchases.
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